In 2022, we started a reforestation project in Ghana with support of SDC on improving effective ecosystems management through community landscape and agroforestry strategies. The aim is to conserve biodiversity, sustainably develop the ecosystem goods and services whilst enhancing sustainable utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) to enhance livelihood options.
So far, we have undertaken extensive analysis and community engagement, which have given a solid basis for piloting the interventions. The analysis has allowed us to choose and define the most impactful and realistic target behaviours. As a first step, we aim to plant 60.000 trees together with the local communities and support of Mole National Park staff and local NGOs. The RANAS behaviour change campaign and trainings serve to ensure that seedlings are planted and cared for, thus increasing survival – often a critical issue in reforestation projects. Additionally, campaigning for the protection of existing trees will take place to reduce harmful slash-and-burn practices, uncontrolled animal grazing, or logging for charcoal production. Our findings also serve to recognize that communities needs to choose the types of trees they prefer to plant, and to involve existing community structures like landscape managing groups, so-called CREMAs, youth groups, women groups, and representatives of alternative livelihood opportunities, for example, beekeeping clubs.
We aim to pilot different campaigns and then upscale the most promising one, with the vision of it leading to 120.000 trees being planted and nurtured during the next year and a sustainable tree planting system being developed for the long term.
For more information, please see these links:
