Accra, Feb. 02, GNA – Ghana, in line with international best practices, has developed its first Ecotourism Handbook with Quick Response Code (QR) to promote and advertise the country’s ecotourism.
The QR code when scanned would link one directly to tourist destination websites that contain information on all the ecotourism areas, facilities, types of animals and where to locate them.
The book developed by the Wildlife Division (WD) of the Forestry Commission (FC), will serve as a guide for policy makers and prospective ecotourism investors.
Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR), who launched the book said the government, through the MLNR, was committed to the conservation and preservation of the natural ecosystem and developing it to contribute to the growth and development of the economy.
Consequently, he said the Ministry had laid before Parliament a Wildlife Resources Management Bill to provide a new legal framework for the management of wildlife resources.
Mr Jinapor said the bill, when passed, would provide the Forestry Commission with a lot more authority to be able to effectively manage national Parks and Resource Reserves.
It will also promote private sector participation and community engagements in wildlife management and improve law enforcement in protected areas.
He said: “Already, we have commenced engagements for the establishment or upgrading of three Regional Zoos in Accra, Takoradi and Tamale to international standards. Our target is to have, in all the 16 regions of our country, at least one zoo, which is of international standards.”
Mr Jinapor called on all to protect the environment, explaining that the social and economic development of humans depended on the environment and its resources.
“It is for this reason that Goal 15 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), enjoins all of us, among others, to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, as well as sustainably manage forests,” he said.
Mr Bernard Asamoah-Boateng, the Executive Director of WD of the Forestry Commission said despite the socioeconomic importance of the ecosystem, human activities, including poaching, hunting, firewood collection, encroachment, developmental projects, and fire continued to destroy the vegetation.
He said the activities of the Protected Areas in 2020 received 88,709 visitors with GH¢1,052, 825 as revenue.
Mr Asamoah-Boateng said the Division was drafting a strategic plan with guidelines to support and regulate wildlife policies, Wildlife trade enterprises and partner the private sector to develop potential ecotourism sites.
GNA