Bushfires on the decline in Upper West - Survey

Wa, Sept. 15, GNA - A survey conducted in April this year in thirty communities of the Upper West Region by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed that the trend of bushfires was declining. Out of 900 respondents, 79.2 percent said the trend was decreasing; fifteen percent thought the contrary was the case, while 5.8 percent registered no change in their communities.

Mr Asher Nkegbe, Regional Programmes officer of the EPA made this known to journalists at Wa on Monday.

The survey, the first of its kind in the region, evaluated the effectiveness of educational campaigns in the region through the measurement of the level of awareness of the causes and effect of bushfires.

Six communities were selected in each of the five districts and 30 questionnaires administered in each community.

The people said they carry out bush burning to facilitate the clearing of their farm lands, to ward of poisonous reptiles, to enable shea nut trees to blossom and hunting.

As to whether the current educational campaigns embarked upon by the EPA and its collaborators were adequate, almost 90 percent answered in the affirmative, while the rest said more needed to be done.

On the existence of rules and regulations on bushfires at the district level, 79.49 percent of respondents affirmed their existence while the rest said they were not aware of such laws.

Ninety-five percent said the level of awareness of the adverse effects of bushfires was high in their communities with five percent saying it was average.

Mr Nkegbe said PNDC Law 229 would be rigorously enforced during the coming dry season as one of the key strategies to stem the perennial bushfire problem in the region.

The Law bars indiscriminate bush burning and provides that people should seek clearance from the relevant agencies before burning the bush.