Government to check land degradation

Akwatia (Eastern Region), 15th June ?

The government is introducing measures to redress land degradation and to improve the environment, Mr Edward Dzoboku, Eastern Regional Manager of the Forestry Department, has said.

The measures include the adoption of a new forestry and wildlife policy, a forestry development master plan and a 10-year natural resources programme.

Mr Dzoboku was addressing St Rose's Secondary School Wildlife Day celebrations organised by the Wildlife Club of the School at Akwatia at the weekend.

He said the government is increasing public awareness on the need to protect the environment and to get individuals and communities actively involved in afforestation.

The regional manager called for the formation of more wildlife clubs in schools and communities to make them participate actively in the crusade to protect Ghana's remaining forests and to embark on massive afforestation programmes.

Mr Korankye Ababio, Kwaebibirem district chief executive, said the government's programme as contained in Vision 2020 "addresses all the issues relating to land and forest conservation and the general environment".

In broad terms, the programme includes sustainable forest and savannah management, propagation of forest base products, forest industry rationalisation and wildlife conservation.

He said the government through the Forestry Department has introduced measures to properly control timber harvesting both on and off forest reserves and to curb the spate of illegal timber and chainsaw operations.

Mr Gerard Boakye, project officer of the Ghana Wildlife Society, speaking on "the importance of wildlife to the Ghanaian economy", said Ghana realises about 250,000 dollars in wildlife tourism a year and the wildlife department has a long-term potential revenue of one million dollars.

He said a figure of 500 million dollars is commonly given as the estimate of the total wholesale value of bushmeat consumed in Ghana each year, adding that harvesting of wildlife products is also of much importance to the economy.

Examples of such products are medicinal plants, sponges, snails, shea butter, honey from bees, raffia palm, marantaceae leave for wrapping food, cane for basket and furniture and grass for thatch.

The Rev Fr Andrew Campbell, Parish priest of the Good Shepherd Catholic Church at Tema, regretted that selfishness had led people to destroy natural habitats of animals. They cut down trees and cause soil erosion due to their failure to replant the trees to replace those felled.

He said "the mining industry is attracting many investors who have become rich at the expense of the poor farmer whose farms have been destroyed and who is offered very little compensation".