The Government Plantation Development Programme for Ashanti and Brong Ahafo Regions, has planted a total of 1,250 hectares of teak and cederela trees in the Desiri Forest Reserve in the Atwima-Mponua District. Mr William Oppong, Zonal Coordinator of the programme said several thousands of cocoa trees planted illegally in the forest reserve by some farmers have also been cut and replaced with tree seedlings. Mr Oppong was speaking at this year's fun games and awards ceremony for workers of the programme in the Desiri Forest Reserve at Wansamire, near Nyinahin in the Atwima-Mponua District. He said the objective of the programme, which was started four years ago was to embark on forest plantation development in the degraded forest reserve and off-reserve areas to restore tree cover. The coordinator said the programme had created jobs for the rural people, increased food production and improved the living conditions of the communities. Mr Oppong commended the Supervisors and workers living at Wansamire, Asuokokor, Achiase, Domeabra and Sienkyem for the good work done. He, however, expressed his concern about the encroachment on the Desiri forest reserve by illegal farmers, and said this year; four massive operations by the military and Forestry Service Division personnel had destroyed many illegal farms in the area. He said about 100 hectares of the retrieved lands would be replanted with tree seedlings in the next planting season. Mr Peter Agyei Yeboah, Assistant District Manager of Forestry Services Division at Nkawie, commended the Zonal Coordinator, Supervisors and the workers for their hard work. He said there was more work to be done to save the forest reserve from deforestation. Mr Lawrence Kwabena Brobbey, Desiri Forest Reserve Plantation Supervisor, commended the government for introducing the programme to restore degraded reserves, increase food production and creating employment for the people. He said most of the foodstuff produced were getting rotten due to the bad state of the roads in the communities and appealed for tractors to convey the foodstuff to the marketing centres. Soutce: GNA