Fumesua (Ash), Feb.01, GNA – The Institute of Nature and Environmental Conservation (INEC), an NGO, working to preserve and protect plants, has initiated a project to prevent the extinction of African teak species.
It has already established a 16-hectare conservation plot within the Asenanyo and Bobiri Forest Reserves, planted and raised 70,600 seedlings and successfully monitored their growth and development
The goal is to increase the population of the species by raising awareness about how to conserve and the management of the tree species.
The African teak (Pericopsis elata) is mostly found in Ghana’s semi-deciduous forests, north-west vegetation zone in the Western, Bono, Ahafo and Bono-East regions.
The wood is highly valued on both the local and international wood markets.
It is threatened by illegal mining activities, often carried out in forest areas, illegal logging and encroachment by forest fringe communities.
The teak tree is used for furniture, decorative veneer, interior and exterior joinery, stairs, flooring and boat building, light construction, railway sleepers, vehicle bodies, agricultural implements, sporting goods, musical instruments among other uses.
Mr. David Kwarteng, the Director of INEC, speaking at a workshop to develop a conservation action plan for the species at Fumesua in the Ejisu Municipality, said the African teak had become a victim of over-exploitation and consumption largely because of its precious wood.
It was for this reason that the INEC was setting targets to prevent the unsustainable use of the near extinct species under its “Conserving Pericopsis Elata in Ghana” Project. The action plan would prioritize enrichment planting, targeted conservation education, awareness creation, encouraging farmers to plant the tree on both smallholder and large scale, identifying sites for restoration and funds mobilization.
Added to these would be advocacy for enforcement of the legislations related to the ban or minimal usage of Pericopsis elata, capacity building and training of the Forestry Commission (FC) on emerging innovations for conserving the species and campaign to stop the destruction of forest reserves harbouring the species.
“Conserving Pericopsis elata in Ghana Project”, launched two years ago, is being funded by the Fondation Franklinia, a Switzerland-based organization with support from the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), FC, and the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
GNA