Akwidae (W/R), Sept. 26, GNA - Mr Alex Akwoviah, Director of Operations of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, has expressed worry over the depletion of wildlife resources in the country as a result of over exploitation by estate developers. He expressed the concern when he inaugurated a 22-member Cape Three Points/Princess Town Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) at Akwidae in the Ahanta West District at the weekend. He said pressure on forest conservation areas and wildlife was increasing leading to the depletion of the nation's store of biodiversity.

Mr Akwoviah, who presented certificates of authority to members of CREMA, said the concept of CREMA was aimed at empowering local communities to manage their own natural resources as well as encouraging the conservation of major ecosystems and wildlife in the country. He said the government had adopted the Forest and Wildlife Policy as working documents for forest and wildlife protection. "From the policy, the Wildlife Division developed clearly defined futurist objectives and strategies for the wildlife sector in its communities and collaborative wildlife management policy of 2000," Mr Akwoviah said.

One of the key strategies in the policy is to encourage the conservation of major ecosystems and wildlife outside protected areas using local community institutions as well as devolving authority for managing these resources to the local authorities, he said. Mr Akwoviah therefore urged the Ahanta West District Assembly and other stakeholders to continue to support the newly established CREMA to succeed.

The Caretaker Chief of Akwidae, Nana Francis Tawiah, expressed concern about poor road network, inadequate teachers and non availability of electricity in the area and appealed to government to come to their aid.