Bio-diversity

Problem Identification Apart from the global climate change crisis, population explosion, limited land area for farming leading to the excessive pressure inhabitants exert on the environment the follwoing are the problems identified in the area: i. Less than 30% of the vegetation cover is now remaining. ii. destruction of watersheds, landslides, iii. degradation of the biodiversity (reduction in wildlife) iv. drying up of water bodies, etc v. seasonal food and water crisis vi. acute unemployment of the youth leading to massive migration to big cities near and beyond Nyagbo area. Now the area is faced with the challenges of degraded ecosystems within the Weto landscape, including watersheds, mountain forests, savanna grasslands, lakes, rivers and streams which are under duress. Lack of any conscious protections and management strategies exist for these resources, although knowledge about the ecosystem landscape features and resources is very high. Governance systems to regulate land-use for farming, biodiversity conservation and environmental security do not exist. Environmental security, safety and rate of recovery are slow due to unsustainable agricultural and climate change related underlying considerations. The project has identified unsustainable livelihoods at the main focal problem driving the inhabitants to turn to the forest for satisfying their needs. The causes include lack of employable skills and technology for processing most of the raw agriculture produce which are mostly vegetables and fruits that abound in the area. Low agricultural production mostly caused by poor technology application by farmers and poor quality of planting materials and seeds used for cultivation is another factor making agric not a profitable business for the youth. They migrate soon after their completion of Junior High School to cities in the big towns to look for non-existing jobs. It is also noted that for lack of inputs many young people who have some skills are not able to start their own businesses to make them earn additional income to support their families. The stakeholders affected by unsustainable livelihoods include chainsaw operators, the youth, farmers, women, hunters and palm wine tappers, construction artisans, the District Assembly, the traditional authorities and schools. Unemployment is driving able youth to turn to the forest for most of their needs. There is high level of illegal chain saw operation, wood for charcoal, hunting for bush meat, soil loss due to bad farming practices and mining of stones for sale to construction firms. The landscape though rich in natural habitats including forests, agro-biodiversity, cash crop plantations, rivers and sacred groves, they have come under severe threat of late. The conditions that have accounted for the change and dynamics in the landscape include but not limited to markets, food security and culture. Meanwhile, survival and livelihoods of people are linked to the sustainability of this ecosystem and its resources. This important biodiversity hotspot in Nyagbo stretch of Weto to Fume alone supports some 18,000 people who depend on its resources all year round. YAFOW has been working on the Weto range with stakeholders for the past four years. This was through the Nyagbo Heritage Conservation Project supported by UNDP -GEF SGP in the past and has successfully addressed some of the capacity needs of the communities. YAFOW has provided the catalyst, for establishing a small scale fruit processing factory enabling the communities to process excess fruits for domestic consumption and for sale. They project has also supported Nyagbo people on the range to adopt sustainable practices in agriculture production. However the communities continue to adopt some unsustainable agriculture production practices on Weto Mountain range especially in the cultivation of fruits trees on farms. Some of the fruits sustainably cultivated include citrus, bananas, pears, plantain, mangoes, cocoa and other fruits trees. This has lead to the creation of a Processing plant to process the excess fruits. However threats of bushfires, destruction of important sacred groves and totems persists. Poverty is endemic. With limited knowledge and systems for resilient production, coupled with limited support from state institutions, Nyagbo communities have few alternatives for livelihoods but to depend on the limited natural resources on WMRE through excessive hunting, logging and shifting cultivation. The Government of Ghana and Wildlife Division has no management plans for the range since is considered as Off- reserve area. Therefore resource use is not within the carrying capacity of the range. Cyclic use is not consciously practiced. Basic social amenities like schools, hospitals, and electricity, water, are still limited and inadequate for inhabitants of Nyagbo Communities. The various ecotourism sites are also not popular. Promoting culture and festivals is limited and is being eroded very fast by Western Christian values. 3.0 DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES 3.1 Project Goal The goal of this project is to restore the natural forest within the Nyagbo Fume portion of the Weto landscape for biodiversity conservation and wealth creation. 3.2 Purpose The purpose of the project is to strengthen community skills, in biodiversity conservation, sustainable agriculture and provide alternative sources of livelihood to reduce pressure on the mountain resources whilst reducing poverty wi

Ghana