By Florence Afriyie Mensah, GNA
Numerso (Ash), May 20, GNA – The Forestry Commission has inaugurated and handed over 10 forest protection camps and two checkpoint camps to further enhance its operational capacity.
The establishment of these facilities is part of a strategic partnership between the Government of the United Kingdom, through its Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Government of Ghana, through the Forestry Commission to improve forest governance in Ghana under the UK-Ghana Forest Governance Partnership.
This partnership seeks, among other objectives, to strengthen the capacity of the FC to deliver on its mandate of protecting, developing and sustainably managing Ghana’s forest and wildlife resources.
The forest protection camps are located at the Oda River Forest Reserve (Numerso), Subri River (Abrewa Nni Nkran), Subri River (Benso Asamang), Apamprama (Kobro), Apamprama (Odaho), Oda River (Bepotenten), Oda River (Watreso), Offin Shelterbelt (Anwiafutu), Offin Shelterbelt (Mmmoframfaadwen), and Nsadweso.
The two check points are located at Kintampo (Buru) and Maluwe in the Savannah Region.
Officers stationed at these forest protection camps will help improve rapid response to illegal activities of logging, mining (galamsey), encroachment, or wildfire outbreaks before extensive damage occurs.
The camps would strengthen surveillance, monitoring, and intelligence gathering.
The checkpoint camps would also help reduce the illegal overland timber exports and improve the monitoring of forest products’ movement.
Dr. Hugh C.A. Brown, Chief Executive, Forestry Commission, speaking at the handing over and inauguration of these facilities to officers at the Oda River Forest Reserve near Numerso in the Amansie Central District, said the continuous presence within the forest reserves would serve as a strong deterrent to illegal operators.
He indicated that siting the camps within the reserves could reduce the operational difficulties associated with travelling long distances to remote forest reserves as well as improving coordination among Forestry Commission personnel, security agencies, local communities, and traditional authorities in combating forest crimes.
Dr. Brown said illegal logging and mining continued to threaten our forest reserves, water bodies, biodiversity, and the livelihoods of millions of Ghanaians, and called for multi stakeholder actions in environmental conservation.
Dr. Terri Sarch, Acting Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana, indicated that Ghana’s forests were invaluable assets.
Protecting these required effective policies and partnerships, but it also demands the right tools, facilities, and support for officers and communities working on the front lines, she explained.
She reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to working with Ghana to strengthen forest protection, support sustainable forestry, and help ensure that Ghana’s forests endured as a source of resilience, prosperity, and national pride.
Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, in a speech read on his behalf admitted that the forestry sector was under severe siege and protecting these natural resources required constant visible and rapid response.
GNA
Edited by Yussif Ibrahim/Linda Asante Agyei
Reporter: Florence Afriyie Mensah
Email: [email protected]