Professor Daniel A. Ofori, Director of Centre for Scientific and industrial Research (CSIR) Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, has stated that the poorly managed landscapes and ecosystems are more vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.

This, he said has led to loss of ecosystem services, human well being as well as social disruption.

According to him, Forest plantations establishment has been identified as one of the interventions to curtail forest degradation and deforestation in Ghana.

He said, the Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy for 2016 to 2040 was launched on November 23, 2016, as the strategic national blueprint to provide the overarching framework for forest plantation development interventions in Ghana.

Prof. Ofori was addressing Scientists and Researchers at a symposium on advances and emerging issues in Forestry by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Forestry Research Institute of Ghana.

• 

The topic for the symposium is “Emerging insects pests and Diseases: A Rising threat to Forest plantation development in Ghana, and wood identification technology to combat illegal logging in Ghana.”

According to him, a total area of 126,521.8 hectares of forest plantations was established during the first seven years of implementation of the Strategy (2016-2022).

Additionally, enrichment planting was undertaken over an area of 23,172.6 hectares while 20, 225,476 trees seedlings were distributed for planting within farms during the period of implementation.

He noted that pests and diseases are inevitable, therefore, needed urgent attention.

In the same vein, management of landscape in a sustainable manner, and other emerging threats like illegal logging activities undermine the restoration forest programme.

Prof. Ofori expressed worry over the rate of forest degradation and deforestation in Ghana as alarming, because of largely to illegal logging, slash and burn agriculture, wildlife, unsustainable mining practices and urbanization.

He pointed out that CSIR has a role to play in all this as an institution set up by the state to address issues on scientific and technological advancement and advise the government.

The overarching goal of CSIR is promoting accelerated socio-economic development through research and innovation.

He added that CSIR also do partner with the Private and public sector research organisation to build capacity, and promote the application of technologies for sustainable management of forest resources for the benefit of society.

Prof Opuni Frimpong, Deputy Director of CSIR-FORIG, also revealed that about 5 million hectares of land that provided the country with timber have been degraded, due to human activities such as illegal mining, farming, and urbanization.

He is of the view that unless the countey consciously plant tree like Mahogany, ticks and other spices to sustain the timber industry, that market will be lost forever.

The matter is even getting out of hand because the transition forests in Ivory Coast and Togo are now degraded.

He disclosed that currently the forest lands in Ghana is less than three (3) million hectares whereas it was about 8.9 million hectares.

Prof. Opuni called for the need to do research and come out with tree spices that can be planted and can mature in a short period of time to savs the timber industry .

From Ernest Best Anane, Kumasi