Some stool land owners have expressed their displeasure about the ineffectiveness of the Forestry Commission (FC) which had led to the loss of a lot of money to chainsaw operators and other commercial land investors.
"Sometimes I get investors and chainsaw operators coming to my area to cut down trees with the permission from the FC when I have not been given any formal notice," said Nana Akouku Sarpong, Omanhene of Agogo Traditional Area.
Speaking at a forum organised by the FC for stool land owners on Wednesday, Nana Akouku appealed to chainsaw operators to respect agreement reached between them, the FC and land owners by not cutting down more trees than the number agreed upon.
Mr Henry Atta Paidoo, Human Resource Director of the Forestry Commission, said the main aim of the forum was to educate stool landowners on the Benefit Sharing Scheme for commercial plantation developers which had been approved by the cabinet.
He said the Benefit Sharing Scheme was approved in July 2008 and it was incumbent on the FC to educate the chiefs on what it entailed.
"So far we have signed this agreement with 46 communities in four regions and this approval has thus paved the way for us to extend the signing with commercial plantation developers as well," he added.
Explaining the importance of the Forestry Policy to the chiefs, Mr Francis Amoah, Director of the Plantation Department of the Forestry Commission, noted that its main aim was to promote the effective reforestation programme that could lead to the restoration of degraded forest areas.
He noted that it was also for the development of a private sector led investment in commercial plantation, increased community participation in commercial plantation as well as boosting tree planting activities.
"It is also to meet the domestic timber market and the nation's export requirements as well as the overall rehabilitation and restocking of the nation's spoilt forests," he added.
Dr Victor Agyemeng, Director of the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), noted that the value of any land depended largely on its production potential, proximity to urban areas and local customs and practices.
He said over 75 per cent of areas originally covered by forests had been cleared since 1981 and urged the chiefs to do well to protect their forests from illegal logging since its negative toll on the environment was immeasurable.