Nkawkaw (Eastern Region), 8 Oct.,

The National Secretary of the National Sawyers Association, Mr. W.K. Adjare, has called on members of the association to cooperate with the forestry department to clamp down on illegal chainsaw operators. He advised all regional and district executives of the association to intensify their education on the ban on the felling of 12 species of timber and report all illegal chainsaw operators to the appropriate forestry authorities.

Mr. Adjare was addressing members of the Kwahu South district branch of the association at Nkawkaw yesterday. He said they should realise that they are partners in the timber industry and in the preservation of forests. They should, therefore, cooperate to weed out illegal operators who tarnish the image of those in the industry. The association, he said, is negotiating with the forestry department to review the quota of trees each member is allowed to felled in the region and urged them to exercise restraint and desist from any illegal activities which would hamper the discussions. The National President of the association, Mr. P.K Awuah appealed to the district executives to mobilise the members to plant trees to supplement the government's afforestation programme. He said the association has planted a 20-acre teak plantation at Akim Tafo. Negotiations are going on to acquire several hectares of land at Kwahu Tafo and Subingya, near Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo region, to plant other species of timber. .