Dambai (V/R), July 18, GNA - Mr Obed Kass-Yerenchi, Deputy Volta Regional Manager of the Forestry Services Division (FSD) says Ghanaians would suffer the consequences of forest degradation if measures were not instituted to check over-exploitation of forest resources.

He called on stakeholders, especially Chiefs and fringe communities of protected areas to rise up to the task, or "collectively, we sign our death warrants, because when the forest dies, mankind also dies".

Mr Kass-Yerenchi was speaking at a two-day capacity-building Forestry Legal Framework workshop at Dambai in the Krachi East District. It was aimed at equipping forest fringe communities about forestry laws and their responsibilities towards their sustenance. It was organized by the Forestry Resource Use and Protection Management (FORUM) Project and funded by GTZ and KfW, both German organisations.

He said the forestry and wildlife legislation enjoined all stakeholders to assist in the protection of the nation's forests and most importantly renewable natural resources.

He said ownership of land in the forest was not altered after reservation implying that its protection resided in the local authority and the fringe communities.