Forest conservation experts have raised an alarm over the rapid destruction of the environment, warning that continued degradation is threatening the survival of several tree species across the country.
They attribute the situation to illegal mining, rampant logging, unauthorised farming, and widespread encroachment on forest reserves—activities that are severely damaging vital ecosystems and endangering rare and indigenous tree species.
Speaking at the 2nd National-Level Stakeholder Workshop on Threatened Trees Conservation on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Project Coordinator at the Forest Research Institute of Ghana, Dr. James Amponsah, said the development poses serious challenges to scientific research and biodiversity preservation.
“At the moment, there are four tree species that are critically endangered. Some of these trees are so rare that, throughout our five-year search across Ghana’s high forests, we have identified only seven individual specimens,” Dr. Amponsah disclosed.
He described illegal activities within forest zones as a major setback to conservation efforts.
“Illegal farming contributes to forest degradation, but our main challenge has been illegal logging and mining. You may earmark a tree for study and propagation, only to return the next day to find it destroyed by illegal miners,” he lamented.
“I think when we all work together, and raise awareness, we can all protect rare tree species.”
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