Illegal settlements in the Bounfuom Forest Reserve to be dismantled

Agogo (Ash), March 26, GNA - One Hundred and Fifty (150) illegal settlements within the Bounfuom Forest Reserve are to be dismantled within a month.

Mr Raphael Yeboah, Executive Director of the Forest Service Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission, said this had become necessary to stop the plundering of the reserve and its resources.

The FSD Executive Director told a stakeholders forum that brought together chiefs, farmers, herdsmen and timber contractors at Agogo that the impunity could no longer be allowed to continue.

He said they had set up a special team to liaise with the security agencies to halt the encroachment thousands of acres had already been ravaged and given way to food crop farms.

Mr Yeboah said huge sums of money would have to be spent to reforest the denuded portions adding that six companies have been contracted to restore the forest.

He said there was the need for a firm and decisive action to remove Fulani herdsmen, occupying the reserve with their cattle saying it was only by doing this that the success of the reforestation programme could be assured.

Mr Yeboah spoke of the implementation of a new 'Taungya' farming scheme, under which farmers who nurtured the growth of planted timber species would be entitled to 40 percent of the total proceeds when the trees are harvested.

Nana Gyasi Amoako, Hwidiemhene, called for all stakeholders to act together to protect the country's vegetative cover and help forestall the environmental degradation.

GNA