Need to sustain Atewa Forest Reserve for water security

NEWS COMMENTARY ON THE NEED FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE ATEWA FOREST RESERVE FOR WATER SECURITY.
Fresh water is a precious resource essential for sustaining life and undertaking many productive activities. Unfortunately management of this precious natural resource has often left much to be desired. According to reports released by the Water Resource Commission not too long ago a total of 748 million people still lack access to portable water worldwide. It is no gain saying that there cannot be any efficient strategy to battle poverty in the absence of an enhanced system of managing water resources. Efficient management of water resources implies progress in all the three pillars of sustainable development namely, social, economic and environment. Ensuring access to safe drinking water is fundamental towards enhancing good health.
Research findings have it that as a result of bad water management practices, water related diseases kill an estimated three million people a year in developing countries. It is important to note that one priceless life support system that is essential for water security is the forest. The forest is responsible for releasing moisture into the atmosphere which returns to the ground as rainfall. When the forest is destroyed through negative environmental practices it thus disrupts the water cycle leading to increase in temperature which naturally affects rainfall pattern. By inference we can have favorable rainfall when we give due regard to efficient management of our forest cover.
Unfortunately, available records have it that Ghana loses about two percent of her forest cover every year through negative environmental practices. One important forest reserve that has been the focus of discussion in Ghana in recent times is the Atewa Range Forest Reserve in the Eastern region. It is internationally recognised as one of the highest priority ecosystems in West Africa. Aside the divers variety of plants and animal species abundant in the Atewa forest, its importance for water security cannot be overemphasised.It is known to be the closest rainforest to the capital city, Accra. More than five million Ghanaians are known to benefit directly from the Atewa forest reserve. Rivers such as Ayensu, Densu and Birim take their source from the Atewa Forest. These rivers provide water for majority of people in the Eastern and Greater Accra Regions. Aside from the water security that the Atewa Forest provides, it is known to be the home for over 960 million metric tonnes of bauxite. This is also priceless for Ghana’s development if well harnessed.
Unfortunately, not a single month passes without one report or another of mismanagement of the Atewa forest through illegal environmental activities. The latest one being the arrest of eight persons allegedly engaging in illegal mining activities in the Atewa forest. With the potential of bauxite in this forest for national development, there have been declarations of intention for mining of bauxite to be done in this forest reserve. As much as this move can generate income for the Nation, organisations such as A-Rocha Ghana and many other environmentally conscious organisations have advocated the Atewa Forest reserve to be upgraded to a National Park that will ensure its protection as a reservoir for water security.
These environmentally conscious organisations hold the view that mining that involves digging through several meters of rock and clay which is how bauxite mining is done will adversely affect the forest cover. This is in spite of explanation from the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources that mining in the Atewa forest reserve can be done in an environmentally responsible manner that will not affect the forest. It is in view of this that further consultations towards consensus building will be appropriate towards efficient management of the Atewa Forest reserve for now and the future.
When World Environment Day was marked last year, the organisers thought it appropriate to commemorate it in Ghana with special focus on deforestation. A year down the line this important forest cover is still under threat. This is an indication that more ought to be done to protect this priceless forest reserve. This can only be done if the Ghana First attitude becomes prime in these discussions.
BY OWUSU-AMOAH, CULTURAL COMMUNICATOR AND HEAD OF RESEARCH AT THE INFORMATION SERVICES DEPARTMENT.