Ghana launches new wildlife policy

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on Wednesday launched the Ghana Forest and Wildlife Policy-2012, designed to introduce a new approach to manage the country’s forest and wildlife resources.

Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said the policy was developed to replace the first formal Forest Policy of 1948 and was formulated for the protection of forest reserve estates.

“Studies have shown that the cost of degradation of the nation’s forest and wildlife resources is estimated at 10 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product and this should be a major concern to all Ghanaians,” he added.

The Minister said the new Forest and Wildlife Policy-2012, has been designed to align itself with current national development agenda and stakeholders expectation since it was aimed at shifting consumption use of the forest to a non-consumption use.

He said the focus of the new policy is a shift from over dependent on timber revenues to biodiversity conversation and ecotourism development so as to maximise the benefits that forests provide.

The Minister said as part of efforts to promote trade in legal timber in both domestic and export market, the Voluntary Partnership Agreement, is currently being implemented with the European Union so that Ghana could ensure that only legally produced timber  enters the Unions market.

He urged development partners to continue providing the necessary support for the development of the forest and wildlife sector.

The Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission Mr. Samuel Afari Dartey said about 65,000 hectares of forestry and wildlife resources have been depleted and warned that if care is not taken the country would have no forest in the next 21 years.

“Apart from the agricultural expansions, which contribute about 50 per cent of the drivers of deforestation and degradation, illegal harvest, illegal mining and expansion in settling are some of the other factors that destroy the forest,” he added.

The Paramount Chief of Dormaa, Osagyefo Oseadeyo Agyemang Badu II said the policy would be used to develop Ghana’s forestry sector.

Nana Agyemang Badu II asked partners and stakeholders to support the project in order to help promote the country’s development.

Source: GNA