Forestry Commission losing fight against deforestation

The Forestry Commission of Ghana is unable to effectively protect forest reserves in the country due to adequate logistics and human resources.

Currently 30% of the 48 forest reserves in the Eastern region have been lost mainly through the activities of illegal mining and illegal chainsaw operators.

The Eastern regional Manager of Forestry commission, Mr.Atta Owusu in an interview with Ultimate News’ Kojo Ansah said his office is understaff with no monitoring vehicles to work with making it difficult to efficiently protect the forest reserves, hence improvising with the help of the communities along the forest belts.

He also lamented over slow pace of prosecution of forest offences and lenient conviction of offenders as another challenge.

March 21, 2017 marked International Forest Day which is a day set aside globally to raise awareness over the importance of forest hence the need for reservation.

Ghana is said to be among countries with the highest deforestation rate.

The current deforestation rate of Ghana is estimated to be around 2%.

Since 1950,Ghana has lost about 60% of its forest reserves.