Buea, May 2, 2008 - The Minister of Forestry and Wildlife, Prof. Elvis Ngolle Ngolle, has said forest exploitation is beneficial only if the effects of global warming are taken into consideration.

He was speaking at the graduation ceremony of some 274 technical staff of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife, MINFOF, after a 45-day paramilitary course at the Camp du Régiment du Génie Militaire, Douala, on April 25.

"No one can deny that forest exploitation is beneficial, but it equally has an adverse effect on climate change if done irrationally," Ngolle Ngolle said. The radical climatic changes observed recently, the minister asserted, is connected with irrational forest exploitation.

Prof. Ngolle Ngolle also emphasised that sustainable forest management was necessary, to avert climate change threats. He unveiled government's efforts, together with development partners, to attain the sustainable management of Cameroon's forests.

Prof. Ngolle Ngolle, however, derided unscrupulous exploiters, warning that serious sanctions would be meted on defaulters. The Minister explained that the persistent violation of the law on forest exploitation necessitates physical efforts to combat it, thus the paramilitary course to train technical staff for MINFOF, thanks to assistance from the Ministry of Defence.

Military Discipline

Meanwhile, Prof. Ngolle Ngolle told the 274 paramilitary staff of MINFOF that they have to be disciplined and show respect for each other and for hierarchy.Also, Ngolle Ngolle called on the personnel of MINFOF to eschew all forms of corruption.

The minister said members of the technical staff of MINFOF, who have undergone military training, can make their core a highly respectable one in the eyes of the public, by nurturing a spirit of hard work and moral rectitude. He urged the technical staff to strive to stand firm at all a times, against any attempts by some unscrupulous forest exploiters to corrupt them.

The functions of the trainees, the Minister prescribed, also include the protection of wildlife.

The Minister warned that severe sanctions shall be meted out against any one of them found carrying out clandestine controls, involved in any form of anarchy, or carrying out any act which goes contrary to professional ethics and norms of the administration.

Tree-Planting Campaign

After the proclamation of the results, which saw all the 274 technical staff performing above average in their different categories, diplomas and epaulets were then awarded to them. This was followed by a military march past. The MINFOF Boss, alongside some dignitaries present then planted trees to practically propagate the tree-planting campaign being carried out by his ministry.

The MINFOF Boss was accompanied to the occasion by the Secretary of Sate at MINFOF, Joseph Roland Matta, Littoral Governor, Fai Yengo Francis, Wouri SDO, Bernard Atebede, the Country Director of UICN, among other personalities.