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Dr Dominic Blay, a Scientist at the Forest Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has called for punitive sanctions against people who pollute and degrade the environment. He said there is the need for the government to act firmly by punishing such offenders so that the country's eco-system and bio-diversity would be preserved. Dr Blay was addressing a meeting of the Steering Committee of the Institute's Project on "Processing and Utilization of Trees on Farmlands and Logging Residues through Collaboration with Local Communities" at Fumesua near Kumasi. The Project is designed to build the capacity of local communities to turn logging residue into productive use and thereby increase the benefits they derive from forest resources. It also aims at ensuring the sustainable management of forests, the expectation being that the local population would be discouraged from condoning illegal chain saw operations that are destroying the nation's forests. The project is being piloted in a number of communities in the Western Region, including Dominase, Japa, Nsaberekwa, Ankasei and Abesewa Gyaaman. Dr Blay said the Project which commenced in April, 2007, would end in 2010. The International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO) and the Government of Ghana are jointly funding it at a cost of 523,689 US dollars. The Research Scientist expressed worry about the alarming rate at which the country's ozone layer and climate is been destroyed. He said since illegal tree-felling is the major cause, traditional rulers, civil society organizations and religious bodies should liaise with the Forestry Commission to address the situation. He also urged the stakeholders involved to mobilize resources to reclaim degraded lands.