Five Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs) comprising five Forest Reserves in the Southern Dry forest of the Winneba Forest District are being developed for ecotourism with the participation of the local Community Biodiversity Advisory Groups (CBAG).

The five GSBAs are all protected reserves with a total perimeter of 20.23 km and total area of 9.36 km square.

They are Ahirasu Numbers one and two, Akrabong, Obotumfo and Abasumba, all in the Awutu-Senya district.

Mr. Wilson Owusu-Asare, Winneba District Forest Manager, who made this known in an interview with the Ghana News agency in Winneba on Friday said the programme is being undertaken by the Forestry Services Commission and the Winneba District Forest Office.

Mr. Owusu-Asare said interesting potentials within the GSBAs include tree species such as Triplochilon Scleroxylm (Wawa), Mansonia Altissima (Mansonia) Militia Excelas (Odum cola Gigantia (Watepuo) and Pterygota Macrocurpa (Kyereye)

According to him, there are many species of rodents, squirrels, birds and a River designed as elephant bathhouse and Lion’s Cave could be found in the forest reserves.

Mr Owusu-Asare said perennial water holding rocks which serves the forest fringe communities are also found in the areas.

These ecotourism potentials, when completely developed and implemented would in no doubt provide numerous benefits to the surrounding communities, the district, and the World at large, he said.

According to him, these benefits include alternate livelihood schemes, income generation, employment, market for local products and improved standard of living of the local people and that its reliance on healthy ecosystem offers a powerful incentive to conserve and protect biodiversity.

Mr. Owusu-Asare said a multipurpose ecotourism centre is under construction at Mfafo-Bewuanum for tourists to showcase the various tourist sites in the reserve among others.

He said the Winneba forest District has jurisdiction over eleven forest reserves and a large tract of off-reserve areas in Effutu, Gomoa East and West, Agona East and West, Ajumako-Enyan Essiam and Awutu Senya districts.

The total area of forest reserves is 4,913.33 hectares with a total perimeter of 97.12 kilometers.**