27 



Deciduous Forest, which is in an unstable state compared to the 

 Evergreen ; and any extensive area cleared in one place may lead 

 to invasion by the Sudanese flora. These areas will therefore require 

 watching. 



The maximum areas likely to be affected for the supply of fuel to 

 the railways and mines are : — 



Mines. c 



bquaie 

 Miles. 



Tarquah and Prestea area . . . . . . . . . . 150 



Obuasi area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100 



Bebianeha, Kanyanko and other mining areas . . . . 100 



Railways. 



10 mile strip on each side of the Seccondee-Coomassie line 3,34o 



10 mile strip on each side of the Accra-Coomassie line . . 3,760 



7,450 



Less length of railways passing through mining areas 



already considered, say . . . . . . . . . . 1,600 



Less length of railways passing through timberless areas, 



say . . . . . i . . . . . . . . 1,800 



3.400 



Total . . . . 4,050 



Say, 4,000 square miles. 



In considering, therefore, any policy of forest conservation, it is 

 necessary to regard 4,000 square miles of the total afforested area as 

 alienated for the supply of fuel to the mines and railways. 



A consideration of the above leaves a balance of 17,000 square 

 miles of forest country not likely to be required for any purposes other 

 than forestry. But in this area an approximation of 5,600 square 

 miles* must be allowed as swamp forest, forests on steep hill slopes, 

 and all other forests of no immediate merchantable value. 



This leaves a final balance of 11,400 square miles of merchantable 

 forest, out of a country of 80,000 square miles. 



From these figures it will be gathered that the question of forest 

 reservation to protect the existing forests is a serious and urgent 

 necessity 



* Mr. N. C. McLeod, from impressions gained during extensive travelling, estimates 

 that approximately one-third of the forest should be included in this figure. — "Statement, 

 Empire Forestry Conference, 1920." 



