African Advisory Council urged to protect rain forests

Accra, April 7, GNA- The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, has urged members of the African Advisory Council of the Prince's Rainforest Project (PRP) to intensify efforts to protect the rain forests as a means of slowing the rate of climate change. A statement issued by the office of the Okyehene said the Prince, who was speaking at a meeting in London said," As important and concerning as the global financial crisis is, its challenges and consequences will pale into insignificance when compared with the scale and extent of human misery and suffering, social and economic actions to tackle climate change are too little or too late or both." The Prince told the group that, "Listening to the voice of scientists and other experts, I like many others around this table have come to the conclusion that the first and essential step in the battle against climate change is to help rainforest nations curb tropical rainforest destruction".

The Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, challenged African leaders to participate fully in the on-going green revolution which is intended to save the world for future generations. He said, "We cannot afford to miss the opportunity to be part of the drive to save this planet through carbon sequestration to combat climate change. Africa cannot be guilty bystanders while we watch our ecosystems being degraded and destroyed at an unparalleled rate as a result of reckless activities on natural resources" It said Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin reiterated that one rule which must govern all of us is the rule of nature, which urges one to live in harmony with one's environment and not dominate or destroy it. According to the Okyehene, one of the ways to reduce climate related risks is to improve the living conditions of our women in accessing new skills, education and knowledge and raising their income levels as well as emphasizing how research shows that the more educated a woman is, the fewer children she has and the healthier and better lives those children live.

The statement said the two royals discussed advanced plans for opening the University College of Agriculture and Environmental Studies in Bunso.

Prince Charles closed the meeting with an assurance to the team that, "Stopping deforestation is the most readily achievable and cost effective action we can take in the short-term. It is the low-hanging fruit which we must grasp as soon as possible"