A three day summit aimed at finding ways of protecting natural resources from destruction in the Western Region has begun in Takoradi.

Organized by the Western Region Development of NGOS (WERENGO), the summit is on the theme, “the impact of natural resource exploitation to women’s access to land and water resource”.

The Western Regional Minister, Mr Ebenezer Teye Addo, in a speech read on his behalf, said there was the need for the strict enforcement of legislations to deter people from vandalizing natural resources and the environment.

He also called for closer collaboration amongst all stakeholders, including the security agencies, non-governmental organizations and traditional authorities among others, to ensure that all activities relating to the destruction of natural resources are clamped down.

The Minister said while forest reserves are under siege, water bodies under threat, sacred groves being plundered for timber, illegal mining was also threatening the environment by unscrupulous citizens.

He said the situation had made life precarious for women because, not only have they been denied access to land for subsistence, but their precious time is wasted looking for water to meet their household needs.

Mr Kwame Mensah, Coordinator of the WERENGO, said there was the need for the stakeholders to reflect on the impact of the destruction of the environment and come out with recommendations to feed the national agenda.

Awulae Annor Adjaye, Paramount Chief of Western Nzema, appealed to the youth to remain vigilant and ensure that the society’s natural resource was protected.