CSIR inaugurates wildlife museum at Fumesua
Participants infront of the museum after the commissioning
 The Council for Scientific and Industrial ReÂsearch (CSIR) has inaugurated its Wildlife Museum at the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (CSIR-FORIG), at Fumesua.
It is well equipped with the required resources both human and equipment to carry out its functions, such as enhancing the discovery and description of new species in the country and imÂprove educational opportunities for students at all levels.
Among other benefits, the museum would contribute to the preservation of local wildlife through scientific knowledge, exÂhibitions, education, research and collaboration with stakeholders.
At the commissioning of the facility, Director-General of the CSIR, Prof. Paul Bosu noted the âmuseum has come at the right time especially in these times where our (Ghanaâs) biodiversity is being wantonly depleted.â
The ceremony coincided with the unveiling of a 100KVA solar power for the (CSIR-FORIG), at Fumesua.
Prof. Bosu indicated that 69 per cent of the global wildlife has been lost in less than 50 years.
The alarming rate of loss of the global wildlife population, he mentioned, has resulted from various land-use practices that reÂsulted in habitat degradation and the fragmentation of forests in tropical regions including Ghana.
âSuch human activities have impacted negatively on wildlife, putting many species at risk of extinction,â he emphasised.
On the solar power, he obÂserved that governments were increasingly turning to that (solar power) to reduce carbon footÂprint and mitigate the impact of traditional energy sources on the environment due to concerns about climate change and enviÂronmental sustainability growth.
He gave the assurance that the facilities would be well mainÂtained to carry out their funcÂtions.
Prof. Daniel A. Ofori, DirecÂtor, CSIR-FORIG, mentioned the importance of effective manageÂment of biodiversity for preserÂvation due to its decline.
The forests in Ghana, he said have deteriorated into quasi-open access areas with widespread encroachment and illegal forests activities including logging, huntÂing, mining and wildfires leading to wildlife habitat destruction, species migration, biodiversity loss and even extinction of speÂcies in extreme cases.
He viewed that the museum would play a crucial role in the preservation and documentation of biodiversity, encompassing living organisms, their habitats and their genetic makeup.
âIt will be a repository of high quality knowledge and informaÂtion on our biodiversity to inform decision making in environmenÂtal planning and conservation management⊠this is linked to SDG15, to protect, restore and promote sustainable use terrestriÂal ecosystems, sustainable manage forests, combat desertification, and halt degradation and biodiÂversity loss,â he explained.
Touching on the solar power, he said a huge electricity bill reÂceived a few years ago, âmotivatÂed us to explore for an alternative power supply which led to the selection of solar power as it is a renewable energy source.â
He mentioned that the energy source was linked to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Seven to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.
He said the solar power was grid-tied that could also feed into the national grid and was happy the facilities would help improve delivery to support Ghanaâs economy to grow and develop.
Chairman of the CSIR CounÂcil, Prof. Robert Kingsford AdÂaboh urged CSIR-FORIGâs manÂagement to either hire or provide training for staff specifically to ensure the museum was managed at the highest standard.
Similarly, he called on the govÂernment to leverage solar power to contribute to the global effort to combat climate change while also addressing energy securiÂty and economic development priorities
 FROM KINGSLEY E.HOPE, FUMESUA
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