June, 2009

FORIG NEWS

Inside this issue:

CSIR Celebrates

Scientific Renais-

sance Day of Africa

2

W o r k s h o p o n

Chainsaw Lumber-

ing in West Africa

3

Staff Promotions 4

New Appointees

Dr. Foli Represents

Ghana on ITTO

5

5

FORIG Constructs

Solar Kiln Dryer at

Aburi

Revival of FOR-

NESSA

6

6

IUFRO & ITTO

Corner

7

Volume 4, Issue 2

Scientific Renaissance Day in Pictures

April - June, 2009

Cont’d on Page 3...

FORIG NEWS

Fo r es t r y Resear ch Ins t i t u t e o f Ghana April - June, 2009 Volume 4, Issue 2

T he Council for Scientific and Industrial Research

(CSIR), consisting of 13 Research Institutes cele-

brated Scientific Renaissance Day of Africa at the

CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana in Kumasi on

30th June, 2009. The theme for the occasion was “Clean

Technology for Sustainable Sanitation”.

The ceremony was attended by over 150 participants

comprising researchers, policy makers, chiefs, students

and other stakeholders. The day was a special one as it

had been earmarked to create awareness about the bene-

fits of the application of science and technology to eco-

nomic, cultural and social endeavours.

The Guest of Honour was Nana Wontwi II, representative

of Otumfo Osei-Tutu II. He was ably assisted by the

Chairman of the occasion Alhalji Mohammed Boakye

Agyeman, District Chief Executive of Ejisu Juaben Mu-

nicipal Assembly. Dr. Omane Boamah, Deputy Minister

of Environment, Science and Technology was the Key-

note Speaker.

Chairman’s Opening Remarks

In his opening remarks, the Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed

Boakye Agyeman, District Chief Executive of Ejisu Jua-

ben Municipal Assembly, pointed out that the people of

Ashanti have lived with four of the CSIR institutes in Ku-

masi and highly appreciate their contributions to national

development through scientific and technological inter-

ventions in addressing some of the challenges faced by

Ghana and beyond. Alhaji Mohammed Boakye Agyeman

further stated that the current state of environmental sani-

CSIR CELEBRATES SCIENTIFIC RENAISSANCE DAY FOR AFRICA

Director General of CSIR

tation in our nation and Africa require urgent attention

and the application of science and technology to achieve

sustainable environmental sanitation. He then urged all

highly respected scientists of CSIR to join hands to de-

velop sustainable sanitation systems for Metropolitan,

Municipal and District Assemblies.

Welcome Address by Director-General of CSIR

Dr. A. B. Salifu stated that the celebration of Renaissance Day draws attention to a re-orientation of CSIR strategy in which waste management must become an integral part in order to achieve clean technology.

The Director General emphasized that CSIR has engaged in various research and development efforts with the pur-pose of solving sanitation-related challenges in the coun-try. For instance, the Institute for Industrial Research has designed and constructed bio-sanitation toilet systems for various District Assemblies and other clients.

...Cont’d from Page 2

Page 3 FORIG NEWS

-

WORKSHOP ON CHAINSAW LUMBERING IN WEST AFRICA

O n 25h May, 2009 Dr. E. Marfo, a Research Sci-

entist at the Forestry Research Institute of

Ghana presented a report at a two-day Tropenbos-

European Union (EU) Regional Workshop on Chainsaw

Lumbering in West Africa, in Accra.

As project leader, he made the presentation on behalf of

the FORIG team including Dr. Adam, Dr. Darko-Obiri,

Mr. F. W. Owusu, Mr. K. Gyamfi and Mr. E. Nutakor.

The Workshop formed part of a five-year (2007-2012)

EU Chainsaw Project aimed at developing alternatives to

illegal

chainsaw lumber production through stakeholder dialogue,

share country experiences and identify best practices to

salvage the fast depleting forest reserves.

Dr. Marfo, in his presentation said in spite of the banning

of illegal chainsaw milling activities in the country, the

practice continues to boom. The resulting effect among

others is that the government potentially lost $18 million

in stumpage revenue to illegal milling last year alone.

technology development agenda.

• Closely examine the CSIR structure and working

environment to see if they provide the necessary

synergy, flexibility and motivation for maximum

scientific outputs.

• CSIR and the scientific community should take up

the challenge to give substantial attention to the de-

velopment of clean technologies that could help

manage our environment.

Speech by Nana Darko Wontwi representative of

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, Asantehene

In his delivery, Nana Darko Wontwi II, representative of

the Asantehene reiterated that our streams continue to dry

up, thousands of children and adults suffer from prevent-

able diseases such as cholera and malaria, simply because

of the problem of poor sanitation and waste disposal. He

acknowledged the concerted efforts of scientists to effec-

tively develop, promote and maintain healthy sanitation

practices.

Nana Wontwi II threw a challenge to CSIR in general,

particularly CSIR-Institutes in Kumasi to come up with a

model for improving environmental sanitation in the

Ashanti Kingdom”.

He concluded by saying that the Council for Scientific

and Industrial Research would continue to pursue the

applications of Science and Technology to increase

Ghana’s economic competitiveness and nurture sustain-

able development.

Minister’s Speech

The Deputy Minister of Environment, Science and

Technology, Dr. Omane Boamah in his speech indicated

that to fully meet the ideals of sustainable development,

there was the need to use technologies that are not

harmful to the environment. The Minister emphatically

called on scientists to be innovative in designing clean

technologies.

Dr. Omane Boamah assured participants that the Minis-

try, in collaboration with CSIR management will con-

tinue to explore ways to address issues related to inade-

quate funds for research, conditions of service of scien-

tists and the attendant consequences of high research

staff attrition rate.

The Deputy Minister concluded his speech with three

thought provoking points namely:

• The need for a collective effort, particularly a

stronger partnership between government, indus-

try and the CSIR to inspire excellence in our

Page 4 FORIG NEWS

...Cont’d from Page 3

STAFF PROMOTIONS

The following members of staff have been promoted as

follows:

• Mr. John. K. Agbozo, promoted from Principal

Technical Officer to Chief Technical Officer, effec-

tive 1st January, 2008.

• Mr. Michael. Mensah, promoted from Principal

Technical Officer to Chief Technical Officer, effec-

tive 1st January, 2008.

• Mrs. Evelyn. O. Agyeman, promoted from Principal

Technical Officer to Chief Technical Officer, effec-

tive 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Kwabena. P. Bandoh, promoted from Senior

Technical Officer to Principal Technical Officer, 1st

January, 2006.

• Miss Sandra. Owusu, promoted from Technical Of-

ficer to Senior Technical Officer, effective 1st Janu-

ary, 2006.

• M. Emmanuel A. Manu, promoted from Technical

Officer to Senior Technical Officer, effective 1st

January, 2008.

• Mr. Kwame S. Bonsu, promoted from Technical

Officer to Senior Technical Officer, effective 1st

January, 2008.

• Mr. Richard K. Adjei, promoted from Technical

Officer to Senior Technical Officer, effective 1st

January, 2007.

• Mr. Samuel O. Anti, promoted from Accounting

Assistant to Senior Accounting Assistant effective

1st January, 2009.

• Mr. George K. Kpodo, promoted to Security Assis-

tant Grade 1, effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Emmanuel K. Antwi, promoted to Security As-

sistant Grade 1, effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Edward Okyere, promoted to Junior Foremen,

effective 1st January, 2003.

• Mr. Kwame Asiedu, promoted to Tradesman Super-

visor, effective 1st January, 2009.

He said the continued booming of the practice in Ghana

was as a result of the inability of successive govern-

ments to muster the political will to enforce the law that

banned it.

He stated that about 100,000 people are involved in

chainsaw-related activities nationwide. Last year, over

84,000 people were engaged in the practice in eight for-

est districts studied in the country.

Dr. Marfo again mentioned that chainsaw operators

alone felled about 2.4 million cubic meters of trees, a

figure above the annual allowable cut of 2 million cubic

meters given to licensed loggers. He therefore called on

government to take a definite policy action on regulariz-

ing the operation or ensure full enforcement and that the

status quo presents a glooming picture for the country’s

rainforest. He reiterated the need to find alternative live-

lihoods for people engaged in chainsaw operation if full

enforcement is chosen as the policy option.

Over 60 participants mostly from African countries in-

cluding Cameroon, Congo, Ghana, Guyana, Kenya, Ni-

geria, South Africa and Uganda attended the workshop.

Others include:

• Mr. Maxwell Adjei, promoted to the grade of

Overseer, effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Emmanuel Y. Appiah, promoted to the grade

of Overseer, effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Joseph Owusu, promoted to Tradesman Grade

1, effective 1st January, 2007.

• Mr. Samuel K. Agyarkwa, promoted to Assistant

Overseer 1, effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Kwame Sasu, promoted to Assistant Overseer

1, effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Seidu Mohammed, promoted to Assistant

Overseer 1, effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Paul Assuming, promoted to Supervisor Grade

1, effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Stephen Baah, promoted to Supervisor Grade

1, effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Evans Adusei, promoted to Senior Caretaker,

effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Kofi Kumah, promoted to Supervisor Grade

1, effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Sampson Nketiah, promoted to Supervisor

Grade 11, effective 1st January, 2009.

• Mr. Haruna Issaka, promoted to Supervisor Grade

111, effective 1st January, 2009.

Page 5 FORIG NEWS

NEW APPOINTEES

...Cont’d from Page 4

Four Research Scientists and a Technical Officer have

been employed by CSIR-FORIG as follows:

• John Kobina Mensah, Research Scientist assigned to

Forest and Wildlife Management and Governance

Division, effective 1st March, 2009.

• Elizabeth Asantewaa Obeng, Research Scientist as-

signed to Forests, Livelihood and Sustainable Devel-

opment Division, effective 1st March, 2009.

• Sarah Pentsil, Research Scientist assigned to Com-

mercialisation and Information Division, effective 1st

March, 2009.

• George K. Duku, Research Scientist assigned to En-

vironmental Services and Climate Change Division,

effective 2nd July, 2009.

• Samar Brefo Sparkler, Principal Technical Officer

assigned to Forests Products and Marketing Divi-

sion, effective 1st March, 2009.

Dr. E. Foli, Head of Environment, Land Use and Biodi-

versity Unit has been appointed by the Ministry of Lands

and Natural Resources to represent Ghana on the Interna-

tional Tropical Timber Organization’s (ITT0) Thematic

Programme Steering Committee. The Committee has been

tasked to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and For-

est Degradation and to enhance Environmental Services

(REDDES).

The Committee held its first maiden meeting in Yoko-

hama, Japan in April, 2008.

Dr. E. Foli has also been appointed member of the Na-

tional Steering Committee on REDD and the first meeting

of the Committee was held in Accra on 15th May, 2009.

Management and staff wish to say “WELL DONE” to

Dr. Foli and wish him success in all his endeavours.

DR. FOLI REPRESENTS

GHANA ON ITTO

Page 6 FORIG NEWS

The West Africa Forest Programme Office of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) contracted FORIG to construct a 25m3 Solar Kiln dryer for wood carvers at the Aburi Industrial Centre, Aburi. This was led by Mr. J. K. Appiah of the Wood Industry and Trade Unit of FORIG. The solar kiln dryer was successfully completed and commissioned on April 16, 2009.

The dryer will be used by the wood carvers to dry wood carvings at the required moisture content making the carvings more durable and less susceptible to mould and insect attack.

FORIG CONSTRUCTS SOLAR KILN DRYER AT ABURI

Solar kiln dryer Mr. J. K. Appiah

REVIVAL OF FORNESSA

In order to revive FORNESSA, a networking week was

held in Blantyre, Malawi from 22nd to 26th June, 2009.

The workshop assembled and engaged 35 middle career

and top level forest scientists from various sub regions of

Africa. The main objective of the workshop was to re-

vitalize FORNESSA and form alliances. There were

three substantive activities during the week. These were:

• Thematic Workshop

• FORNESSA Information Service and

• Heads of Institutions Meetings

The thematic workshop focused on four themes. These

were Forests and Climate Change, Forests and Poverty

Alleviation, Forest Policy and Governance, Forest Prod-

ucts Utilisation and Marketing. The workshop was at-

tended by Dr. Victor Agyeman, Dr. Ernest Foli, Dr. D.

Blay Jnr and Dr. Emmanuel Marfo. Others were, Dr. Mrs.

Darko-Obiri, Mrs. Stella B. Acquah and Dr. Joseph Cob-

binah, Coordinator of FORNESSA.

The idea to establish a web site for FORNESSA called

FORNESSA Information Service (FORNIS) was intro-

duced. FORNIS will provide a gateway for African Scien-

tists to showcase their contributions towards the achieve-

ment of the global objectives on forests. It will also sup-

port information and knowledge management systems and

facilitate efficient and effective flow of scientific informa-

tion amongst researchers, research institutions, policy

makers, forest industry and forest communities.

Dr. V. K. Agyeman, Director of FORIG was elected as

Chair of FORNESSA, Dr. B. Darko-Obiri as moderator

for the Forest Utilisation/Products/Trade thematic group

and Mrs. S. B. Acquah as FORNIS webmaster for Sub

Saharan Africa.

IUFRO & ITTO CORNER

Phone: 233 51 60123

233 51 60122

Fax: 233 51 60121

Email: forig_news@csir-forig.org.gh

To send in articles, please use forig_news@forig.org

Fo res t ry Res ea rc h I ns t i t u te o f

G h a na

P. O . B o x 63

K NUS T

K UMAS I ,

G h a na

Editorial Team

Mrs Margaret Sraku-Lartey

Mrs Naomi Appiah

Mrs Stella Britwum Acquah

IUFRO MEETINGS

20 - 25 September, 2009

International Conference on Multipurpose Forest Management

Niigata, Japan

Contact: Satoshi Tatsuhara

E-mail: tatsu@fr.a.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Website: http://www.iufro.org/events/calendar/current

CIFOR Conference

For a full list of IUFRO events, please visit http://www.cifor.cigar.org/Events/CIFOR/diversitas_conference.htm

13 - 16 October, 2009

Biodiversity and Society: Understanding Connections, Adapting To Change

Cape Town, South Africa

Contact: Maison Buffon

E-mail: info-OSC2@diversitas-international.org

Website: www.diversitas-osc.org or www.diversitas-international.org

Calendar of meetings was reproduced from IUFRO & CIFOR News.