Awutu Bawjiase (C/R), Dec. 20, GNA - A day's workshop on fire fighting for forty-five members of Community Biodiversity Groups (CBAG) manning the four Global Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs) in the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District has been held at Awutu Bawjiase. The forest reserves are the Abasumba, Ahirasu numbers one and two, Obotumfo and Akrabong

It was organized by the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District office of the Forestry Service Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission (FC) to equip participants with the knowledge and techniques, especially for the prevention and control of wildfire in the fringe communities in and around biodiversity areas.

Taking them through the topic "Bush Fire Effect and Control", the Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Fire Officer, Mr Bartholomew Nketiah enumerated the harmful effects of bush fires to the environment and urged them work hard to prevent it occurrence in their communities. He cautioned them to be careful in their discharge of fire fighting duties to avoid being trapped to dead by the bush fires try to put off, saying, " we use common sense to fight bush fire and not strength and energy".

Mr Nketiah told them that the district forms part of the Coastal Savannah Zone and pointed out that the Winneba, Kasoa, Awutu, Apam and Senya areas were prone to fire and urged people in these areas to be careful in handling fire in the bush.

The Awutu-Effutu-Senya District Manager of the FSD Mr Richard Gyasi-Amoako said that, some modest gains have been made in terms of securing permanent protection for the four Biodiversity Forest Reserves in the district, since the introduction of the Community Biodiversity Advisory Groups (CBAGs), who are volunteers.

He hoped that at the end of this workshop, the participants would be expected to develop the educational and prevention campaign strategies in their respective communities.

Nai Kuao Otuo V, Chief of Awutu Mankessim and Nai Adjoku Abora VII, Tofohene of Agona Kwanyako, jointly chaired the function, as they are the custodians of the reserved areas and urged the participants to take the workshop seriously and impact the knowledge they would acquire to other people in their various communities.