§ Mr. Parkerasked the Secretary of State for the Colnies what steps are being taken to conserve rain forests in the cocoa-producing districts of the Gold Coast, in view of the serious desiccation which has set in there?
§ Mr. Ormsby-GoreThe Government of the Gold Coast is alive to the danger to the cocoa-producing districts arising from the destruction of the rain forests, and the Forest Department is engaged in establishing forest reserves in order to provide protection for the growing crops. Much of the trouble is due to clearing forest for making food farms. A system of shifting cultivation is followed by the native farmers and this involves new areas being cleared each year for farming purposes. The Government is, however, endeavouring to awaken the farmers to the dangers of this system which is detrimental to their own interests. Investigations are also being made with the object of testing the possibility of introducing more permanent systems of agriculture. I would remind the hon. Member that in the Gold Coast Colony the Government has no rights over the land.