In a major advancement for environmental sustainability, the European Union has funded a US$5 million afforestation initiative that has successfully planted over 600,000 tree seedlings in selected communities across the Ashanti and Bono East Regions over the last four years.
Launched in 2020, the Landscape and Environmental Agility Across the Nation (LEAN) project is focused on restoring degraded lands in 13 communities. Its objectives include bolstering government efforts to conserve biodiversity, enhance climate resilience, and lower carbon emissions from land use.
Targeting the savanna, high forest, and transitional zones of Ghana, the project also aims to improve the livelihoods of local farmers, with over 5,000 currently benefiting. Scheduled to conclude in October 2024, LEAN emphasizes integrated landscape management across three key areas and advocates for sustainable governance structures.
A recent three-day verification visit by consortium partners, including ECOCare Ghana, Tropenbos Ghana, Rainforest Alliance, and World Vision Ghana, showcased the significant progress of ongoing initiatives in beneficiary communities. Representatives from state agencies such as the Forestry Commission, Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) also participated.
The tour visited communities like Bonsua, Kyebi, and Darso in Offinso North, as well as Asueyi, Mesidan, Konkompe, Drumankuma, and Busunya. This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of local organizations and government bodies to enhance community welfare and environmental conservation.
Mr. Kwame Frimpong Sekyere, Project Manager for Tropenbos Ghana, explained the visit’s purpose “We aimed to draw lessons from other landscape management boards that could serve as models for future landscapes,” he explained.
The initiative encompasses three landscapes: the high forest managed by Rainforest Alliance, the transitional landscape overseen by Tropenbos Ghana, and the savanna area managed by World Vision Ghana.
As the project approaches its end, ensuring sustainability remains paramount. Mr. Sekyere noted the establishment of Landscape Management Boards (LMBs) to facilitate the continued implementation of the project’s goals beyond October. These boards will receive support from alternative livelihoods initiatives aimed at smallholder farmers, further enhancing the project’s long-term impact.
Beneficiary farmers expressed their gratitude during media interactions, sharing how the project has transformed their lives.
“I have successfully planted 15 acres of trees, along with interspersed pawpaw plants, on my farm. Thanks to financial support from LEAN, I was able to hire farmhands to help plant and care for over 6,000 trees,” Osei Kwadwo.