ATEWA RANGE FOREST RESERVE- Ghana's New Life
Atewa Range Forest Reserve is very unique. Aside its richness in biological resources, it can also boost of rich bauxite deposits. Together with the Tano Offin hills, they represent the only upland evergreen forests in Ghana. Atewa holds about 106 endemic plant species endemic to the Upper guinea Hotspot, 143 butterfly species, 155 bird species, 37species of mammals and 6 primate species. These numbers include endemics, new records and species new to science. Atewa protects the headwaters of the three river systems, the Ayensu, the Densu and Birim River.
Unfortunately Atewa is under threat by illegal logging, hunting and agricultural activities. Due to the presence of large deposits of bauxites, Atewa together with other similar deposits are prone to surveys and prospecting in a quest to explore them for their resources. This has led to the construction of roads to the summit of Atewa making it possible for logging to take place there. ALCOA in 2006 entered into an agreement with Conservation International to help give a better understanding of the biodiversity of Atewa so as to incorporate biodiversity components into its EIA and Risk Assessment. The results clearly showed that keeping the forest intact will be a better option than mining the forest for the mineral resource is finite but the forest will be there forever.
The present and most injurious threat now is the activities of surface gold mining. It is learnt that a small-scale mining company, Solar Mining, has been given license to mine 50km into which will mean loss of forest cover within more than 50km into the range in no time. Where destruction can be prevented, I do not think restoration does not come in play. Coupled with this is the problem of logging and bushmeat hunting. They both alter the ecosystem integrity of the forest and leave it vulnerable to harsh conditions and an unproductive state.
If water they say is life, then Atewa is giving life to about 30% of people of Ghana including those who live along the course of the three rivers and also River Pra, and inhabitants of Accra. Most of these settlements depend on these rivers for irrigation and industry. Also they derive economic activities (fishing) from these rivers. The rainfall pattern in and around the East Akyem District is regular due to the establishment of a stable microclimate by the presence of Atewa.
Although efforts have been made by government in the past to rescue Atewa from total degradation more needs to be done to salvage the present threats that confront Atewa. The first and foremost step will be full protection of the Atewa by raising its protection status to a National Park (IUCN category I). This will delimit and establish an integral protected area to keep intact the remains of the Upland Evergreen Forest. Secondly, alternate economic activities for people in and around the forest reserve should be sort so as to reduce the dependence on extractive industries and bushmeat hunting. To further facilitate this, the ecotourism potential of Atewa should be revealed and properly marketed so as to bring income to the local people.
Atewa is not for conservationist but the whole of Ghana. We all cannot look on while Atewa is being pulled down. For we should have it at the back of our minds that mineral wealth is limited and will one day run out but the beautiful forest on the mountain, Atewa, will forever remain and continue to give us life.
.jpg)
