Forest loss now an economic risk, not just environmental concern — RESCONI warns
The steady depletion of forests is fast evolving from an environmental concern into a direct economic threat, with implications for jobs, exports and rural livelihoods, the Resource Conservation Initiative (RESCONI) has cautioned.
Marking this year’s International Day of Forests, the organisation warned that continued forest degradation driven by human activity and climate pressures, could undermine economies that depend heavily on natural resources, including Ghana.
Livelihoods and jobs at risk
Programme Officer at RESCONI, Akosua Pokua Boakye, underscored the scale of the risk, noting that forests support more than 1.6 billion people globally and host over 80 percent of terrestrial biodiversity.
“In Ghana, the forestry sector supports over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs and generates significant export earnings. Any decline in forest resources will have direct consequences on employment and national revenue,” she said.
She added that beyond timber, millions of households rely on non-timber forest products such as medicinal plants, mushrooms, bushmeat and fuelwood for income, nutrition and healthcare.
Economic stability under pressure
According to RESCONI, countries like Ghana—where the economy is closely tied to natural resources and rain-fed agriculture face heightened vulnerability.
Forest degradation, the organisation warned, could disrupt ecosystems, reduce agricultural productivity and weaken resilience to climate shocks, with ripple effects across key sectors of the economy.
A growing global threat
The warning comes against the backdrop of increasing global deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion, illegal logging, mining and climate change.
RESCONI stressed that the current trajectory threatens not only biodiversity but also long-term economic sustainability, reinforcing the urgency of aligning development with environmental protection.
Call for urgent action
The organisation is calling for stronger enforcement of forest protection laws, increased investment in sustainable forest management and greater public awareness.
It also emphasised the need to engage young people as critical actors in reversing forest loss and advancing conservation efforts.
Failure to act, RESCONI warned, could accelerate environmental decline while eroding economic gains, particularly in developing economies heavily dependent on forest resources.
