By Nicholas Osei-Wusu
A project to restore 5,000 hectares of Ghana’s degraded forest and also empower 20,000 farmers and rural dwellers has been launched at the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) at Fumesua in the Ejisu Municipality of Ashanti.
Ghana’s forests are important for biodiversity, support climate resilience, water and food security, while serving as sources of livelihood for thousands of people, particularly fringe communities.
Yet, the forest cover faces severe pressure from mining activities, farming, logging, and wildfires.
It is to reverse or mitigate the harsh effects of the degradation that the EU is providing a grant of €2.4M, or GHC31M, to support the ‘Forest Restoration Project’ through four local non-governmental organizations. They are Goshen Global Vision, which is to implement community landscape restoration; Nature & Development Foundation, involved in agroforestry to catalyze landscape restoration; Proforest Initiative Africa, concerned with partnership for restoration of degraded Asunafo landscape; and World Vision Ghana.
These NGOs must give priority consideration to women and youth, fostering sustainable livelihoods and strengthening communities.
The project is to be implemented in the Ahafo, Bono East, Upper East, and Western regions.
Speaking at the project launch, the Head of Infrastructure & Sustainable Development of the European Delegation in Ghana, Ms. Paulina Rozycka, said the project also forms part of the EU’s Sustainable Forest and Cocoa Programme supporting climate-smart agriculture and resilient landscapes.
“This programme advocates for climate-smart agriculture and sustainable value chain and strategic landscape,” she said.
Ms. Rozycka noted that the European Union considers degraded forests as a risk to ecosystems, economies, and communities, adding that the project is a support for the government’s ‘Tree for Life’ programme to reclaim the lost forest cover.
“This year marks a very significant advancement for Ghana’s forest sector, with the initiation of FLEGT licensing for timber export to the European Union market worldwide. And this FLEGT License attests to Ghana’s commitment to forest law enforcement and better governance of sustainable development agenda,” she said.
The Deputy Director of the Forest Research Institute of Ghana, Dr. Lucy Amissah, mentioned illegal gold mining, commonly known as ‘galamsey,’ and farming as the major threats to Ghana’s forest cover and hoped the project would encourage responsible land use.
She said, “today marks the beginning of another milestone for Ghana in our effort to restore degraded forests and landscape. Your presence here today is a demonstration of your commitment to environmental protection, sustainable development, youth and women empowerment.”
A Representative of the Forestry Commission, Mrs. Valerie Fumey Nassah, pledged the support of the Commission to the project’s implementation since it aligns with the mission of the Commission to manage forests for the benefit of all.
Dignitaries at the launch planted trees at FORIG to mark the start of the project.
