Madam Betty Bosomtwi-Sam, Deputy Western Regional Minister, on Wednesday said most forest reserves in the country are under serious siege from miscreants.
She said chainsaw operators, illegal miners and farmers are plundering the nation's forest resources with impunity.
Madam Betty Bosomtwi-Sam stated this in an address read for her at the 3rd Western Regional Forest Forum which was under the theme "Strengthening Partnership for Equitable and Sustainable Forest Management" at Takoradi.
The forum was organized by Care International, the Forestry Commission
and supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for selected farmers, traditional authorities, NGOs, among others.
She said in the Krokosua and Sui Forest Reserves in Juabeso and Sefwi Wiawso Districts, the story is no different.
Madam Bosomtwi-Sam said a good number of forest reserves in the region would have been devastated by now had not been the joint Military and Police and Forestry Timber Task Force.
She said the task force was facing serious challenges notably clashes with the perpetrators.
Madam Bosomtwi-Sam said in 2007 and 2008 alone about 85 major cases of such clashes were recorded in which 10 vehicles were damaged beyond repairs.
She said several male and female Range Supervisors have been assaulted and some beaten nearly to death.
"It appears that the chainsaw operations and other Forest offences have assumed national crisis and therefore, needs a serious concerted national intervention".
Nana Kobina Nketia V, Omanhene of Essikado Traditional Area, who presided, said since the colonial period, the timber industry has consisted largely of companies oriented towards the rapid harvesting of standing native forests.
He said the rate of cutting down the aboriginal forest, most especially in the last two decades in the region has reached alarming proportions.
Nana Nketia said: "Infact, only a fragment of the original native forest remains intact and yet, there is a massive and growing demand for
wood products."