Ghana has lost three-quarters of its trees since 1957
Ghana has lost three-quarters of its trees since 1957
In 10 days the average UK citizen emits as much CO2 as the average citizen of Ghana emits in a whole year
Our projects - Ghana
Kapok trees like this will be planted at Damongo to absorb carbon and to provide the local community with food, medicines and valuable fibre.
The children of Damongo look forward enthusiastically to planting and caring for the new trees.
Location
Ghana
Partners
A Rocha South Africa
Msunduzi Municipality Conservation Division
DUCT
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Offsets
400,000 tonnes CO2
In recent years Ghana’s forests have been devastated. Since 1990 the country has lost more than a quarter of its forest cover. Trees are cut down for the timber export trade, or to increase the area available for cocoa cultivation, or simply for firewood.
Our pioneer project in Ghana invests in many small-scale tree-planting programmes through A Rocha’s network of school and university groups and rural communities. Planting is currently in the area of Kumasi in central Ghana and Damongo in the drier North of the country.
A mix of native trees, including mahogany and kapok, will be planted on designated sites to suit local needs. Local people design and manage the planting and aftercare from beginning to end. Despite the heavy flooding during the 2007 rainy season all the plantings survived.
Climate Stewards funds the materials, management, and training for community and student participation, with best practice rewarded.
The involvement of the wider community will ensure the success of the project as families, churches and businesses see the social, economic and environmental value of tree-planting.
The Climate Stewards project in Ghana is planned to meet the exacting standards of the Climate Community Biodiversity Alliance which ensure that the local community is properly consulted and involved as well as enhancing the wildlife value of the area.