Project to develop guidelines on off-reserve plantations

Tropenbos International (TBI) Ghana, a forest research and policy advocacy NGO, has launched a Landscape Restoration Project to develop guidelines for planning and implementation of forest plantation schemes in off-reserve areas.

This is being done in partnership with the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), Resource Management Support Centre (RMSC) of the Forestry Commission and the Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

The goal is not only to arrest the disturbing deforestation and forest degradation but to also better the livelihoods of the people. The €102,784.00 three-year project would analyze the present approaches and the different schemes of landscape restoration and engage stakeholders to identify barriers to plantation development.

It would come up with options and models for effective and sustainable models that would lead to “win-win outcomes”. Dr Kyereh Boateng, Lead Facilitator of the Project, told participants at an inception workshop at Akyawkrom in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality that, the objective was to provide insights into how plantations could be used “to enhance the holistic functionality of forest landscapes”.

Additionally, it would harmonize competing land uses, stimulate local economy by creating sustainable livelihoods and reduce some of the drivers of degradation. Dr Boateng said they were going to carry out studies in Dunkwa, Offinso and the Kintampo forest districts, where restoration activities had previously taken place.

He gave the assurance that project’s report, scientific publications and information sheets on how to achieve environmental quality and optimize benefits accruing to stakeholders would be published to inform government policy decisions. Mr Kwabena Nketiah, Country Director of TBI Ghana, said information and knowledge sharing were critical to sustainable forest resource management.

He said his organization was determined to conduct scientific research into various governance issues in the forestry sector to provide more reliable evidence and data to influence policy.

Mr Abu Juam, Technical Director at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, underlined the need for the private sector to increase investment in tree plantations to help restore the nation’s forest reserves.

The government, he said, has received funding from the World Bank to support forest plantation activities and invited the private sector to take advantage of that to go into tree growing.