Illegal felling of trees increase in forest reserves

Breman Asikuma (C/R), Aug. 17, GNA - Illegal felling of trees by the chainsaw operators working in league with contractors is on the increase in forest reserves in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District.

Following a tip-off the Forestry Commission Taskforce in collaboration with volunteers mounted an exercise and impounded a quantity of boards and beams estimated to worth millions of cedis from the Wawashe Forest Reserve, near Breman Jamra. The impounded boards beams have been packed at the Breman Asikuma District Assembly. Leaders of the volunteer groups, Mr Yaw Ahor and Miss Patience Appeaning told the Ghana News Agency at Breman Jamra that they used a tractor to convey 255 beams and 360 boards from the forest. Mr Ahor said more boards and logs yet to be sawn were located in the reserve adding that a parcel of the land had in the reserve had turned into savannah and occupied by pawpaw plantation.

He said with the presence of the Taskforce the recalcitrant operators carried out their activities in the night.

When contacted, the District Technical Officer, Mr Kwao in-charge of the Taskforce confirmed the report and said that an appeal had gone to farmers living along the borders of the reserve to report illegal felling of trees to the Forestry Commission.