The day  organised  by the  Coastal Sustainable Landscape Project (CSLP),  was marked with  the theme “Our forest our life” to support the efforts by various stakeholders to increase awareness  for the protection of the Cape Three Point Forest, a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA), which is  under various forms of threat.

The 51.13 square metres forest is internationally recognised due to the different species, both plants and animals that can be found in it.

The forest however face the activities of illegal chainsaw operations.

Globally, the theme for the day is “Connecting People with nature “ to enhance services of protected areas and to safeguard nature heritage areas now  and into the future.

It was marked with students going on procession carrying placards  bearing messages  including ‘Let’s protect the forest together,’ ‘Protect the environment and live longer,’ ‘ Keep the environment green’ and ‘Connecting people to our nature’.

Addressing participants, the Regional Manager of the Wildlife Division of the Forest Commission, for Central and Western regions, Dr Moses Sam, said that because  some species of  monkeys  were  extinct, the  community  at Cape Three Point especially the young ones, could not adequately describe the features of the different kinds  of  the monkey families  in the area.

According to the wildlife expert, the gifts of nature were critically important and vital in the life of man as they provided recreational, medicinal, research and educational sites for scientific studies.

Again, he said, the protected areas provided environmental stability and reduced poverty through eco- tourism.

Dr Sam, however, noted, that protected areas were under serious threats such as exploitation, farming, encroachment and wildfires, warning that “this is the time to intensify awareness creation on the importance of the issues.”

The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Education Service in Ahanta West, Mr Daniel Payne, complained about the destruction of lands through galamsey, which was also threatening river bodies.

“We are gradually destroying the forest but when the last tree dies the last man dies. We need to protect God’s creation. This is the time for action to protect the forest,” Mr Payne added.

The abusuapanyin of Cape Three Point, Mr Bernard Cudjoe, called for concerted efforts to protect the forest which was blessed with different species for the   benefit of the future generation.

The Deputy Director of CSLP, Emmanuel Ntiri said that the project would continue to engage all stakeholders like CREMA in the campaigns  to protect the forest Including the wetlands against galamsey.

From Clement Adzei Boye, Cape Three Point