Chief Director of Ministry of Environment Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Mrs. Cynthia Asare Bediako has inaugurated Ghana’s chapter of National Youth Network for the Man and Biosphere (MAB) at the Ada East District in the Greater Accra region.
The inauguration marked the second National Forum on Biosphere Reserves held at the SongorRamsar Site and UNESCO Biosphere Reserve last week under the theme: “Ecosystem Services and Benefit Sharing in UNESCO Biosphere Reserves – Our Role as Stakeholders.”
The Chief Director said the essence of the inauguration was to enforce ecological protection and the benefits that are derived from it.
She underscored the importance of biodiversity, as a source of ecosystem goods, due to the food and genetic resources and changes that can be influenced in the supply of such ecosystem services.
Nene AgudeyObikyire III, theMankralo of Ada Traditional Area, who represented the paramount chief, Nene Abram KabuAkuaku III, said human beings are higher reasoning mammals, hence must endeavor to have greater responsibility to work and protect nature.
He was hopeful that the forum would help the effort to protect and preserve the resources that nature has bequeathedto humanity.
The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who also doubles as the Chairman of the Ghana MAB Committee, Dr Henry KwabenaKokofu added that how humans interact with their nature is important, adding that interaction must ensure equity and sustainability.
DrKokofu was confident that MAB programme would use knowledge from various backgrounds to improve livelihoods and efficiency in the management of natural resources in Ghana and other parts of the world.
“The MAB Programme, over the years, has employed scientific approach to addressing issues of biodiversity loss, climate change and sustainable development,” Dr. Henry said.
Biosphere Reserves project
The District Chief Executive for Ada East District, Sarah D. Pobee stated that the Songor Wetland was designated as Ramsar site in 1992 and was selected as part of the World Network of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in 2011.
She said even though numerous efforts had been invested into overcoming some of the challenges threatening the site’s existence, surrounding communities, nonetheless, mirror it as a threat to livelihood.
A total of 120 participants drawn from the MAB National Committee, University of Ghana students, Ministries, Departments and Agencies, Civil Society, Traditional leaders and stakeholders from Ghana’s three (3) biosphere Reserves (Bia, Songor and Lake Bosomtwe) were present at the forum.
The post MESTI launches MAB Programme to preserve Songor Ramsar Site appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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