Awutu-Bawjiase (C/R), Dec. 23, GNA - Global Environment Facility, an NGO, has provided Ghana of Government 8.7 million dollars grant for forest conservation in the country.

Mr Yaw Boakye, National Co-ordinator in-charge of Bio-diversity Conservation Project of the Ministry of Land and Forestry disclosed this at the inauguration of a 45-member Community Bio-diversity Advisory Group at Bawjiase on Tuesday.

Members of the group selected from about seven villages around the Awutu-Akrabong, Obotumfo, Abasumba and Anhirasu forest reserves zone in the Awutu Traditional Area.

Among their functions, would be to protect the four forest reserves against encroachment by illegal chainsaw and timber operators as well as farmers in the area.

Mr Boakye expressed government's determination to conserve the country's virgin and secondary forests and therefore, called on the chiefs and people living around forest zones to co-operate with the volunteers and officials of the Forestry Services Commission to ensure the success of their work.

Mr Carsson Yirenkyi of the Ashanti Regional Office of the Commission said government has plans to train volunteers, who are helping the Commission to protect the forest reserves in beekeeping, grasscutter rearing, snail and mushroom farming to support their incomes. He made it clear that the forest is the main constituent of the environment and that countries which lack such resources face a lot of economic problems.

Mr Yirenkyi therefore, charged Ghanaians to regard the forest reserves as their main live-wire and contribute to their effective protection and conservation.

Mr E.K. Nimo-Amoah, Winneba District Officer of the Commission appealed to the volunteers to work hard to justify their selection by chiefs and people in their communities.

Nai Kwao Otuo V, a divisional chief of Awutu Traditional Area, who presided over the function assured the government of the chiefs preparedness to contribute their quota to make the work of the volunteers a success.