Environmental non-profit organisation, A Rocha Ghana has advised the government to revoke all licences issued for mining purposes in forest reserves and other protected areas in Ghana.
The call comes as Ghana joins the world to commemorate the United Nations’ (UN) International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) on 22 May, to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issue.
In a statement to commemorate the day, A Rocha Ghana said the Atewa Forest must be designated as a national park.
“The Ministry of Lands must revoke licences already given out for mining purposes in forest reserves and other protected areas and ensure no further exploitations in these areas,” the statement said.
“Parliament must take steps to amend or even better repeal LI 2462 as it was passed without stakeholder consultations and contrary to the guidelines on mining in production forest reserves which had been in existence since 2001.
“We have over the years consistently asked that the Atewa Forest be designated as a national park. The forest is a crown jewel of biodiversity and is home to more than 1,000 species of plants, 230 species of birds, 570 butterfly species, and at least 50 species of mammals,” the statement added.
This year, IDB is celebrated under the theme, “From agreement to action: build back biodiversity”. This theme builds on the results of COP 15 to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
Click the link below for the full statement:
International Day of Biodiversity 2023-FINAL
Reporting by Fred Dzakpata in Accra
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