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Chainsaw Project in Ghana launched at
Akyawkrom
Akyawkrom-Ash, Dec 13,Ghanadot/GNA- The Forestry Commission
(FC )has been asked to draw up a comprehensive programme to
link up all registered wood dealers with various sawmills
where their stock of timber would be located to provide a
one-stop shop for lumber sales to the general public.
The move, which aimed at blocking all sales outlets for
illegally sawn timber, is one of the pragmatic measures
initiated by all stakeholders in the timber industry to find
a solution to the menace of illegal chainsaw operations.
In the same vein, the Commission has also been mandated to
put into operation a log Tracking or Validation of legal
Timber Scheme, an European Union (EU) funded project under
which the FC is expected to ensure the effective monitoring
of logging, processing and export of wood products.
Mr Adjei Yeboah, Deputy Minister of Lands Forestry and Mines
announced this in a speech read on his behalf at the launch
of “Developing alternatives for illegal chainsaw lumbering
through a multi-stakeholder dialogue in Ghana” at Akyawkrom
in the Ejisu-Juaben District on Thursday.
The launch, which took place during a workshop jointly
organised by the Tropenbos International Ghana, a
non-governmental organization (NGO), Forestry Commission and
the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) for various
stakeholders aims at finding a lasting solution to problems
facing chainsaw operations in Ghana which has seriously
affected sustainable forest management.
He noted that the activities of chainsaw operators have
become a major obstacle in the country and its ban has
become a source of worry and the need for various
stakeholders, including researchers, saw millers, chainsaw
operators and others to dialogue and solve the problem.
Mr Yeboah said the Ministry has also initiated some
interventions, including the accommodation of chainsaw
operations under alternative livelihood programmes such as
forest plantation thinning, forest boundary demarcation and
clearing as well as forest plantation coppice management.
He stated that, others were the need to ensure land clearing
and other related activities on the on-going National
Plantation Development Programme, to assist timber companies
in timber harvesting.
Mr James Parker Mckeown, Coordinator of the project said it
was designed to address the numerous problems involved with
chainsaw operations.
He said the project developing alternatives lumbering
through multi-stakeholder dialogue in Ghana is to address
the negative impacts associated with chainsaw milling,
whilst maintaining and enhancing its positive socio-economic
effects for local and indigenous people.
Mr Mckeown said the five year project is to be financed by
the EU and would be implemented in eight districts in the
country, namely Goaso and Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo, Juaso
and Nkawie in the Ashanti Region, Kade, Oda and Begoro in
the Eastern Region and Assin Fosu in the Central Region.
He stated that, the project would target stakeholders of
chainsaw lumbering, particularly those directly involved and
their representatives which include national government
agencies dealing with forest, tax and law enforcement and
district assemblies.
The Coordinator said that, the objectives of the project
include reducing poverty and promoting viable livelihoods in
forest-dependent communities and their occurrence of illegal
logging to ensure the conservation and sustainable
management of tropical forest.
Professor Samuel Afrane, Dean of Faculty of Planning and
Land Economy of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and
Technology (KNUST), who presided over the function, stressed
the need for the various stakeholders to put the interests
of the country at heart and come out with effective
recommendations to help the government and policy-makers to
address the problem facing the timber industry.
GNA
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