Takoradi: Members of the Timber Validation Committee (TVC) have completed a three-day intensive orientation session designed to enhance their ability to effectively fulfill their mandates. The TVC is tasked with ensuring that timber and related products exported from the country, particularly to the European Union market, comply with the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance, and Trade (FLEGT) legal framework.
According to Ghana News Agency, participants were educated on various topics including the legal perspectives of the TVC’s mandates and functions, an overview of the forest sector in the context of legality verification, and the roles of the Forest Service, Wildlife, and Timber Industry Development divisions of the Forestry Commission. The orientation aimed to provide both theoretical and practical knowledge to broaden the committee members’ understanding of their core responsibilities.
Mr. Philip Fiifi Buckman, Chairman of the TVC and Member of Parliament for Kwesimintsim, commented on the sidelines of the event, explaining that the orientation had significantly enhanced their oversight capabilities. He highlighted the importance of overseeing compliance with legal and regulatory frameworks governing timber products for both domestic and international markets.
Mr. Buckman emphasized the committee’s commitment to ensuring that all timber-related activities in the country adhere to legal standards, thereby protecting forest reserves for current and future generations. He stated that the committee would ensure strict monitoring and compliance with the timber legality assurance system, ensuring fairness in licensing for both local and international timber industry players.
As part of the orientation, the committee participated in a field trip to the Subri Forest Reserve. During the visit, they learned about stock surveys, tree numbering, and yield allocation. They also explored various aspects of forest management prescriptions applied in the field, including felling, stump marking, and the capture of felled tree information.