How To Sustain The Forest

The following measures must be taken to sustain the forest as a resource. Forest is one of the most important resources of the land without it almost anything is impossible.

1. Afforestation Programme:

The forest as a resource must be protected and areas that have already been

depleted must be replanted with economic trees through a nationwide re-

afforestation program. Pupils, students, youth clubs, NGOs, and Environmental

bites clubs must team up with District Assemblies and the Forest Resource Commission

naud to replant all depleted vegetation. Agro-forestry, which involves the sustainable

cultivation of economic trees and quick maturing of species to sustain the energy and

economic needs of the people, must be considered a national priority.

2. Alternative source of energy:

The continuous use of charcoal and firewood must be discouraged at all levels. In

and urban centers, the use of LPG as a source of energy for cooking must be

Clara encouraged. Its price must be reasonable to meet the pocket of many people. In

(In rural areas, dried water hyacinth, and lacinia plants may be used as sources of

energy instead of firewood from the forest and savannah.

3. Construction of biogas digesters:

ons be Human and animal waste can be converted into biogas and connected to

households for heating and cooking. The pilot projects on biogas at Apollonia,

ni Eloy near Tema, and Ofori Pannin Senior High School in Akyim -Tafo in the eastern

er region have proved successful. This can be replicated in other communities and

wen to Tertiary Institutions (Universities and Polytechnics) to meet the energy needs of

people.

4. Control of bush fires:

Palm wine tappers, smokers, hunters, farmers, and herdsmen should be educated

on the harmful effects of bush fires. Fire belts and agroforestry practices can be

put in place to sustain the plants and animals in the forest and savannah belt.

5. Arresting and punishing chain saw operators:

Chain saw operators who are arrested should be given stiffer punishments by the

courts. This will deter others from cutting down trees and lumber indiscriminately or

illegally from the forests.

6. Increased use of solar energy:

We must take a second look at using solar energy for domestic heating and drying.

Community solar projects should be executed in remote locations where the extension

of hydroelectricity may be too expensive. This will reduce the over-reliance on

charcoal and firewood as the main source of energy for heating and cooking. Solar

energy is free, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

7. Creation of more natural parks and forest reserves:

New legislations or laws and bye-laws must be enacted by Parliament and District

Assemblies to create new national parks and forest reserves. This will enhance the

conservation of depleted forests and wildlife. The Forestry Commission must be

equipped to keep watch over these parks and reserves to ensure that plants and

animals are well protected against poachers, charcoal producers, and chain saw

operators.