Osenease (E/R), May 18, GNA - Chainsaw operators from more than 20 communities around the Osenase Forest Range of the West Akyem District have decided to embark on the cultivation of tree plantations to give themselves both sustained wood products operations and alternative livelihood.

Besides the wood industry, the operators, who have formed an association, have also decided to go into short-term income generation ventures such as grass-cutter and snail rearing, mushroom farming and bee keeping.

At the first meeting of the association at Osenase on Wednesday, the newly-elected Treasurer of the association, Mrs Elizabeth Kwao, promised to release more than 324 hectares she owned at Begoro-Bosanko to the association for the cultivation of fast-growing trees. Addressing the meeting, Mr Kwabena Darkwa Castro, Range Supervisor of the Forestry Commission in-charge of the Osenase Forest Range, lauded the members of the association for deciding to embark on the "praise-worthy projects" that would improve their lot and help to promote the Government's reforestation programme. He said the Government was taking reforestation seriously and by investing huge sums of money to into the programme, especially, areas degraded by illegal chainsaw logging. He pledged that the Government and non-governmental organizations including the Rural Environment Care Association would give them the necessary assistance.

Mr Castro urged District Assemblies to assist such groups like the chainsaw operators association with funds from their Poverty Alleviation Funds since their projects would help to conserve the forest. The West Akyem District Co-operative Officer, Mr Philip Biney, reminded them that since it was only by forming groups that they could attract loans and other forms of aid, they should actively participate in the activities of the association. The Chairperson of the association, Madam Dina Ohemeng Darkwa, said the association would form sub-zonal branches which would decide on what other local ventures they could undertake to improve their livelihood.