Kumasi, June 7, GNA - Mr Atta Owusu, Ashanti Regional Manager of the Forests Service Division (FSD), of the Forestry Commission, has expressed grave concern about the fast depletion of the nation's forest reserves as a result of activities of illegal chainsaw operators. He has called for concerted efforts by all stakeholders to clamp down on the activities of such nation wreckers since they posed a serious threat to sustainable forest management.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Kumasi on Tuesday, Mr Owusu said there was the need for all patriotic citizens to join hands in the crusade to curb this menace since colossal sums of money meant for national development were going down the drain through illegal chainsaw operations.

He said the situation had become so alarming that perpetrators who normally operated after midnight had resorted to arming themselves with all sorts of offensive weapons to counteract any attack from the forestry officials.

Mr Owusu added that as a result his outfit had been given military assistance to supplement its efforts to bring the situation under control.

He appealed to the various chiefs and the communities to be environmentally conscious to preserve various forest reserves for posterity.