MR. Joe Ackah, Brong-Ahafo Zonal Plantation  Manager,  has called for the enforcement of laws on illegal felling of tress, to help check the practice, especially in the country’s forest reserves.

He said the laws were flexible and expressed worry that in most cases offenders were freed without even a fine to serve as deterrent to others.

Mr Ackah who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, said the illegal exploitation of teak trees and other indigenous valuable trees at premature stage was on the ascendancy.

He said the situation must be considered a national crisis, which requires collaboration from individuals, organisations and government to preserve the forest for  future generation.

Mr Ackah said teak trees in particular helped in regenerating forests adding that degraded forests could contribute to climate change.

He cited that more than 167 trees which would mature in the next 12 years were exploited in September this year by individuals in the region.

Mr. Ackah said Yaya and Nsemire forests on the Chiraa-Wenchi  road have been targets of illegal felling of trees by unscrupulous people, who threatened to attack forest guards.

Mr. Samuel Opoku, an official of the Zonal Plantation, said the lack of transportation and logistics affected efforts in clamping down offenders since most of them operated in the night and were able to escape from forest guards and returned for tress they fell.

 He called on government to resource officials working in the forestry sector to enable them to perform their duties effectively.