Ghana Government Implements Measures to Protect Forest Resources and Increase Forest Estate
Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, has highlighted the measures being taken to protect the country’s forest resources. At a recent press briefing, he explained that Ghana has around 6.6 million hectares of forest, with 1.2 million hectares being closed and 5.4 million hectares being open forest. Unfortunately, illegal mining and logging are putting these forests under threat.
The Minister emphasized that the fight against deforestation and forest degradation is a continuous process, and that Ghana has lost 80% of its forest since 1900. However, the Government has implemented various measures to combat this problem. These include suspending exploration in forest reserves, banning the harvesting of Rosewood, and issuing CITES permits. The Green Ghana Project, the Forest Plantation Strategy, and the Youth in Afforestation Programme are all initiatives aimed at increasing the country’s forest estate.
The Minister also highlighted Cabinet’s directive for the National Security Coordinating Committee to work with the Forestry Commission to flush out those involved in illegal operations in forest reserves.
John Allotey, CEO of the Forestry Commission, identified agricultural expansion, illegal logging, illegal mining, wildfires, overgrazing, and infrastructural development as the key drivers of deforestation and forest degradation. He mentioned the Apamprama, Oda River, and Subin Shelterbelt Forest Reserves as particularly impacted by illegal activities.
To tackle this issue, the Forestry Commission has implemented several law enforcement measures. These include training field officers, procuring pump action guns, inaugurating rapid response teams, and training forest managers to prosecute forest offences. The Commission is also using technology to trace timber from the forest until final disposal to ensure that only legally sourced wood is allowed on the market.
To increase Ghana’s forest estate, the Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy has already cultivated 690,436 hectares of forest between 2017 and 2022. The Commission is also reclaiming degraded forests through the Forest Investment Programme and the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small Scale Mining Project.
Overall, Ghana’s Government and the Forestry Commission are committed to protecting and preserving the country’s forest resources. They urge all stakeholders, including traditional authorities and civil society organizations, to support their efforts.
Source: Starrfm