Jasikan (V/R), Feb 21, GNA - A call has been made to all the 23 fringe Community Forest Management Committees (CMFC's) bordering both Odomi and Kabo River forest reserves in Ja sikan and Kadjebi Districts to protect the two forests from bushfires.

Huge sums of money had been pumped into the forest's rehabilitation by Forest Protection and Resource Use Management (FORUM). Mr Samuel Omari Nyarko, Jasikan Forest District Fire Prevention Officer made the call when he toured all the 23 communities in 15 days to educate the people on the causes of bushfires, its effects and prevention.

He said there was lot of benefits to be derived from forests such as timber, fuelwood, animals and climate amelioration.

Mr Omari Nyarko condemned the negative attitudes of some Fulani herdsmen at Kogokrom near Worawora who set fire to the off-reserve grass, which affected some portions of Kabo river forest reserve at Worawora, Kaboso Kantanga and Asukwakwa in January this year. He commended, Bodada, Teteman, Bowiri-Kyirahin, Akpafu-Todzi and Akpafu-Odomi for protecting their off-reserve lands from bushfires. He deplored the annual setting of fire to the vegetation between Asato and Kadjebi, which had affected wooden electricity poles. Some of the communities he visited were Asato, Wawaso, Guaman, Judje, Worawora, Apeasokubi Asukawkwa and Kantaga (all bordering Kabo river Forest Reserve).

Others are: Jasikan, Bodada, Teteman Bowiri-Kyirahim, Akpafu-Odomi and Akpafu Todzi (all bordering Odomi River Forest Reserve). The Chief of Guaman, Nana Ofori Appew, who is also Benkumhene of Bumen Traditional area called on the fire volunteer squads to intensify their patrolling and education campaigns in the villages to ensure that the Kabo River forest reserve is protected from bushfires this year. He also warned that offenders would be made to face the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

The Assembly Member for Asato electoral area, Mr Asiedu Biney called for unity and co-operation between the fire volunteer squads and the community so that together they could protect the Kabo forest reserve.

He asked the chiefs to enforce traditional bye laws on bushfires.