The rise in demand for agricultural land has resulted in massive encroachment on forest reserves.The development, according to the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a major cause for concern.The countries reserves have been created for several purposes, including the protection of timber resources, biodiversity and water resources, hills and mountains.“Most importantly some of the reserves have been created as shelter belts to protect our cocoa plantations. So I am not very happy at all about the encroachment upon the permanent forest estates,” observed, Edward Osei Nsenkyire, Board Chairman of FORIG.He however says increase in farming and mining activities as well as human settlement on permanent forest estates are not satisfactory for sustainable forest management.Mr. Osei Nsenkyire hopes recommendations by FORIG and other related institutions would be heeded to for the protection of water resources, environment and agricultural production.He spoke to Luv Fm at an event to honour retirees and best workers of FORIG in Kumasi.Nana Dwomoh Sarpong, President of Friends of Waters and River Bodies, was also recognized and awarded for his outstanding achievement in environmental protection.He has warned against the unbridled drilling of borehole facilities, which he identified as “a great threat to our water resources” and food security.According to him, reduction in the soils moisture would make it difficult to access surface water for agricultural purposes.