New Bakanta (W/R), Aug 12, GNA 97 The French Government has provided 44,000 euros support for the Amansuri Estuary, Mangrove and Swamp Forest Conservation Project in the Ellembelle District. The French Fund for Environment under the French Committee on International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has agreed to support the project for 18 months.

The project will give the Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS) the opportunity to develop the ecotourism potentials of Amansuri wetlands in areas such as Old and New Bakanta, Azuleluenu, Ampain, Sanzule and Alabokazo in the Ellembelle District. Speaking at the launch of the project at New Bakanta on Thursday Mr. Reuben Otoo, the head of Community-based Natural Resource Management of the Ghana Wildlife Society, said the project would involve biodiversity surveys= , conservation education programmes, socio-economic surveys and demarcation o= f Amansuri wetlands as community reserves. Mr. Otoo said the project would make Amansuri estuary preferred touris= m destination for both local and foreign tourists. He called for cooperation and support from the beneficiary communities to ensure successful implementation of the project, adding structures would be put in place to enable the community to own it. Mr. Otoo said the project is an extension of the Amansuri/Amanzule Conservation and Integrated Development (ACID) project in the Jomoro District, started in April 2000 with funding from the Netherlands Embassy. Mr. Daniel Eshun, District Chief Executive for Ellembelle, expressed appreciation to the French Government, GWS and other development partners. He said the project had come at an opportune time when there was high rate of depletion of the Amansuri estuary since it would restore sanity to the conservation area.

"The Assembly is also in the process of gazetting its bye-laws to gi= ve legal backing to enforce the laws designed to protect the environment," h= e said. He appealed to traditional authorities to desist from outright sale of land to investors but rather use them as equity in business. The President of Nzema Maanle Council, Awulae Annor Adjaye 111, urged the people to desist from unnecessary felling of trees along the Amansuri wetlands. He appealed to the people to be watchful to report any oil spillage in the area.