Women must have voice in resource management – CRI
Dr. Stella A. Ennin, Chief Research Scientist at the Crop Research Institute (CRI), says women should have a powerful voice in matters affecting the sustainable management of the nation’s forest resources.
She said women in the local communities, who depend on the forest for daily household activities, should not be sidelined by policy-makers when taking decisions on forest governance.
“Let us bear in mind that the woman fetches the fuel wood, draws water from the stream for cooking, and sometimes washes in that same stream.”
Dr. Ennin was addressing the Forestry Commission Ladies Association (FCLA) at their first anniversary celebration held at Akyawkrom in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality.
“Climate change invitation and adaptation: The role of the woman” was the theme for the event.
She said recent extreme weather conditions – floods, drought and excessive heat, provide a glimpse of the risk facing the world, and the need for people to get their acts together to stop the wanton destruction of the environment.
Dr. Ennin said it was heart-warming that global leaders were making efforts through the adoption of international conventions and protocols, to tackle climate change and the looming danger.
Ghana, for instance, is embarking on a number of interventions to promote biodiversity conservation, and enhance forest carbon stocks.
She appealed to the association to intensify its public education on forest conservation, and said this must be extended to children in basic schools.
Miss Stella Sankah, National Secretary of the FCLA, said they wanted to see better management of the nation’s forests for the benefit of both the present and future generations.
They had been engaged in tree planting exercises and the education of school children on environmental issues.
Mr. Edward Obiaw, Director, Resource Management Support Center of the Forestry Commission, urged them to help make issues about climate change easily understandable to the people.
Source: GNA