The
research project, implemented by Tropenbos International (TBI) Ghana, seeks to
arrest deforestation and forest degradation whilst enhancing livelihoods. It
also aims at discovering ways to improve benefit flow from forest plantations
to stakeholders, especially local forest communities.
The
three year project is funded by TBI Ghana at a cost of €102,784. Proposed project
sites include resource-rich Dunkwa Forest District, resource-medium Offinso
Forest District and resource-poor Kintampo Forest District.
“Invariably,
plantations would be undertaken by smallholders but the system as it is now
does not seem to take very good care of the interests and concerns of these
smallholders who would be involved in the plantation programme,” observed Progamme
Director of TBI Ghana, Samuel Kwabena Nketia.
The
project will therefore analyze the present approaches and the different schemes
of landscape restoration and engage stakeholders to identify barriers to
plantation development. It will come up with options to inform policy for
effective and sustainable models for plantation development.
“One
key area we would be looking at is forestry extension service particularly to
support smallholder plantation developers,” said Mr. Nketia.
Tree
grower, Sylvester Amo-Quarm has been in private afforestation development for
almost two decades. He complains government’s policy is not encouraging tree
planting as a viable economic venture.
“I
have about 75acres of teak which is supposed to be marketable but companies
that treat woods cannot buy our teak so we cannot get money out of our trees
and cumbersome processes for permits before harvesting the trees are not
encouraging,” he observed.
The
main objective of the Landscape Restoration Project is to provide insights into
how plantations can be used to enhance the holistic functionality of forest
landscapes, harmonize competing land uses, stimulate local economy by creating
sustainable livelihoods and reduce some of the drivers of degradation.
Project
implementation partners include Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG),
Resource Management Support Centre (RMSC) and the Faculty of Renewable Natural
Resources (FRNR) of the KNUST.
Mr.
Kyereh Boateng of the FRNR highlighted the importance of the project to improve
the contribution of smallholder forest plantations to livelihoods, the Ghanaian
economy and the environment.
The
mechanism for project implementation, he noted, will provide analysis of the
present approaches to forest plantations development through field surveys,
stakeholder engagement and desk studies to identify policy, management and
socio-cultural barriers to successful plantation development and the support
needs to overcome them.
It
will feed into a number of government programmes, including the Ghana Strategy
for Restoration of Landscape Productivity, which has an annual target of
planting 20,000 both on and off-reserve from 2015-2040 under the forest
plantation programme.
Technical
Director at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resource, Musah Abu-Juam, says
there are new funding opportunities for the private sector to go into tree
plantation.
Through
the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a $10million facility would be available
as start-up to create the enabling environment, especially in land tenure and
training, to support plantation developments, he said.
Mr.
Abu-Juam observed Ghana is making progress in sustainable land management but
noted there are great examples in other economies for the country to learn from.
Story
by Kofi Adu Domfeh
No comments:
Post a Comment