Project Detail

CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT BY VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES FRINGING THE WOROBONG SOUTH FOREST RESERVE

Past management of the Worobong south forest reserve has resulted in the entire reserve being classified as a convalescence reserve given its poor stocking and regeneration potential. Continual degradation has necessitated the conversion of an increasing number of compartments into forest plantations.
Extreme land hunger exists within the communities fringing the forest reserve. These communities have participated in Taungya developments in the past and are currently engaged in same. Key issues resulting in the failure of the past Taungyas have been identified as the land ?insecurity? of the participating communities, the absence of a share in the tree plantations, the resultant lack of a sense of ownership in the plantation development as well as the inability of the FSD to effectively maintain the established plantations.
Poverty is high in the forest fringe farming communities of Worobong Forest Reserve in the South Akyem Portion (Begoro). Most of the land area is degraded (Plate 1) and arable land for cultivation is scarce. Farming is the main source of occupation and livelihood activity. However, income earned from farming is seasonal and inadequate to cater for the numerous household needs. This often leads to financial stress during most of the year. Moreover, farmers idle during certain times of the year, especially in the off farming season. Any activity to generate income for the poor farming communities either in the farming season or most especially during the off farming season will improve their living standards. The modified taungya system operating in the forest reserve may not be sustainable in the long run in that the farmers will be allowed to farm on the forestland as soon as the planted timber tree species close canopy. Hence, introduction of the alternative livelihood scheme by the project will increase income levels and reduce poverty in the communities.
The farmers mainly employ family labour for their farming activities. The only external assistance has been provided by the Forestry Services Division?s under the National Plantation Programme that offered technical advice and financial incentives on timber tree plantations from the taungya system. This activity has been short lived and contributed to temporal relief of communities? poverty, calling for the need for sustainable livelihood schemes to improve living conditions in the forest fringe communities.

To effectively rehabilitate the Worobong south forest reserve, the FSD requires the assistance of the fringe communities to undertake the establishment and protection of the plantations from fire. The communities shall also be required to undertake the tending and protection activities for the plantations. This requires that alternative livelihood avenues need to be developed as part of the plantation programme, for the communities to maintain their interest in the maintenance of the plantations.
To win the confidence of the fringe communities in the execution of this programme, there is the need to outline in detail, the extent of the programme, the various roles to be played, the benefits to be derived and incentives provided to facilitate the participation of the communities.

Developmental objective of the project is to alleviate poverty and ensure sustainable rural livelihoods through the development of rural micro enterprises.

The specific objectives are to:
? Develop and improve viable community alternative livelihood off-farm enterprises.
? Build local entrepreneurial capacities for micro enterprise production, management and marketing.
? Reduce over dependence on meager seasonal farm incomes and minor forest products

The expecyed outputs of the project are:
1. Local capacities in integrated natural resource management and biodiversity conservation developed and sustained.

2. Degraded areas within the forest reserve restored through integrated taungya system and enrichment planting.

3. Alternative livelihood activities that conserve biodiversity supported in six vulnerable communities

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

WOROBONG SOUTH INTEGRATED COMMUNITY FOREST MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Country:

Ghana

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity
Land Degradation

Operational Phase:

Phase 3

Grant Amount:

US$ 24,300.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 201,000.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 43,500.00

Project Number:

GHA/OP3/Y2/06/104

Start Date:

8/2006

End Date:

7/2008

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

The negelectd forest fringe communities would be involved in the implementation of the project.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

The objectives of this component are to create employment opportunities, improve and diversify source of income and improve food production and availability. The selected micro-enterprises for the communities are small ruminant production (Sheep and Goats); poultry production (introduction of exotic cocks); Livestock; Petty trading and beekeeping Support to Poultry Production: Almost every household rear poultry species around its compound and the project would strengthen farm families already in this enterprise. The project will assist farmers with improved cockerels to mate local hens to help increase body size, egg weight and clutch size. These improved products would attract better prices than what they have been getting previously. Support to Small ruminant/Livestock production: Small ruminants here refer to sheep and goats. Many farmers are having stocks of sheep and goats in the selected communities which serve as sources of food, income generation and short-term cash reserve. Materials for feeding these animals are abundant (crop residues, household wastes and pasture) in these communities. Due to their rapid attainment of marketable weights, returns on small ruminants are quick and attractive. The project intervention would be to support producers with improved and well-adapted rams and billy goats to improve stock performance. Support to Beekeeping: This enterprise would be encouraged in some of the communities because of the presence high bee population due to the cultivation of cashew, mangoes, and cocoa. The honey and allied products have immediate market and the prices are attractive.

Notable Community Participation

The participating communities represented in the organization are all located outside the forest and included Kumfere, Ankesu, Owusukrom, Akwamu Kotoku, Asarekwao, Miaso, Pillar 10, Feyiase, Mianya and Ayigbe town

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

The proejct will support the formation of forest vigilantees who will help cjhange the attidue of people towards forest management and biodiversity conservation.

Gender Focus

The project will promote women capacity in marketing of forest-based products

Capacity - Building Component

The project will provide training to local community groups in:  Nursery construction and maintenance (identification of improved seed source, germination treatments and techniques for the selected species, nursery soil treatment, watering regime, nursery nutrition, pest control, etc)  Handling of planting materials (lifting and transportation and storage of seedlings to minimize casualties)  Pegging and planting (Methods and equipment used)  Pruning techniques and procedures  Thinning techniques and procedure  Wildfire control and prevention techniques  Plantation timber harvesting and transportation The staffs of the Forest Services Division and Ministry of Food and Agriculture would also be trained in specialized skills and knowledge in: 1) Forest plantations records keeping 2) Identification of pests and disease infestation 3) Monitoring of tree growth and yield 4) Methods and practice of thinning 5) Forest protection laws (Fire, hunting, commercial tree protection etc) 6) Extension Training will be conducted by the project through workshops and field visits. Training timetable will be drawn for the project area in consultation with the FSD and MOFA district offices, and the participating communities. Producers training would include enterprise production technologies; training of local artisans in the construction of recommended housing structure; harvesting, processing and storage of bee products; simple record keeping; training of Community Livestock Workers; leadership and group management skills etc. The project would support Producer to producer cross visits to facilitate information exchange. Field staff trainings would cover problem identification and diagnosis using PRA tools; refresher courses on grasscutter, poultry, small ruminants, mushroom and snail production and beekeeping; group development and facilitation skills; monitoring, evaluation and report writing etc. Training would be required for the parties involved in the implementation of the project. This would be mainly in the area of nursery establishment, tree tending, Agroforestry extension, and fire management.

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

The project would facilitate the creation of a Community Development Fund to aid expansion of micro-enterprises and serves as an immediate source of support for community development initiatives

Policy Impact

Will support the policy of devolving power to local communities in forest management

Project Results

The provision of sustainable livelihood is to play a significant role in the lives of the beneficiary farmers. The livelihoods are to be important sources income generating activities. However, the implementation of the livelihood has been delayed due to the late disbursement of funds from other stakeholders including GEF, European Union, etc. As a result, the sustainable livelihood support scheme was suspended. In spite of the lifting of the suspension because of the release of funds from the GEF, it has also affected the strategies and modalities initially to be put in place for the actual take off of the livelihood activities.

The implementation of sustainable livelihoods is potentially expected to contributing significantly to the socio-economic development and well-being of the beneficiary communities. It is in this regard that the Community Forestry Management Project (CFMP) aims at alleviating poverty and ensuring sustainable management and utilization of the country?s forest resources through collaborative forest plantation development with forest fringe communities. Its objectives are to improve household incomes and increase the supply of timber to meet the present and projected supply demand gap. The design of the project was based on contributing to improve the living standard of farm families based on the principles of the Modified Taungya System (MTS).
The project has four components; namely Integrated Forest Management; Alternative Livelihood Support Scheme; Capacity Building and Institutional strengthening. This progress report is a component of the sustainable livelihood support scheme and it aims at raising the household incomes of the project beneficiaries? through investment whiles supporting plantation development. The Community Forestry Management Project (CFMP) under section 4.5.10 in the project appraisal is to provide support for the implementation of a sustainable livelihood scheme to raise the incomes of the project beneficiaries.

1.1 Objective
The objective of this report is to provide update of strategic livelihood investment activities being undertaking towards the preparation of the beneficiary communities to undertake sustainable livelihood enterprises.
2.0 Progress report
2.1 Plantation achievement
The CFMP aims at alleviating poverty of the forest fringe communities as collaborators to ensuring sustainable management and utilization of the country?s forest resources in the development of forest plantation. The long gestation period of the plantation which the farmers have benefit share of (40%); the project?s sustainable livelihood support scheme component is to serve as incentives to generate incomes whiles waiting for the long-term benefits from the planted trees. The reports from the project sites indicate that there have been considerable achievements in the plantation development in the project working forest reserves by the beneficiary communities. The table below indicates the plantation achievement by the beneficiary communities in the various project sites:
Plantation achievement for 2006
District/
Municipality Forest reserve No.of community Target (ha) Achievement (ha)
Sunyani Yaya 10 880 862
Offinso Afram Headwaters 12 745 988*
Techiman/
Offinso Asubima 10 310 310
Begoro Worobong south 9 138 138
Akim Oda Esuboni 2 2
Total
988*= including 745ha for 2006; 125ha deficit of 2005; 118ha by other non-beneficiary farmers
The plantation achievements as indicated in the table above show that the beneficiary communities are making considerable impact in the rehabilitation of the degraded forest reserves.

2.2 Sustainable Livelihood Enterprises Development Training
The grant capital to start up the alternative livelihoods has been provided by the GEF. The grant is supposed to be put into CDF from which finances for alternative livelihood enterprises would be provided. A number of training programmes have been outlined to prepare the beneficiary communities to access the fund to undertake sustainable livelihood enterprises.
The purpose of the training programmes to equip and assist in investment in ensuring success of the activities towards the implementation of alternative livelihood enterprises.

The project unit and MOFA in consultation with the beneficiary communites have identified training needs for successful livelihood investment. The following training programmes which have been outlined for the beneficiary communities including:
? Group dynamics
? Determination of mode of operations of livelihood groups and formulation of bye-laws
? Investment strategies on the preferred livelihood options
? Management of selected livelihoods including the construction of livestock pens and other cages
Training programmes on group dynamics and determination of mode of operations and formulation of bye-laws have been provided for the beneficiary communities. On the average, the livelihood group size is 15 people of farmers. The group dynamics training have been undertaking with the objective of putting in place local institutional structures on management of sustainable livelihood enterprises through formation of functional and effective groups. In Agricultural Extension initiatives, it makes sense to work with groups as working with individuals is very expensive, time consuming and laborious. Groups can easily take risks than individuals because cost and consequences are shared among the group members. The mode of operations and formulation of bye-laws are to regulate the individual farmers in the group based on schedule of activities and rules and regulations. In live with the above training programmes, the beneficiaries would continue to be equipped with knowledge on livelihood.

2.2.1 Institutional structures and management
In order to ensure smooth operation of the CDF, the beneficiary communities were called upon to elect local executives who will ensure that the livelihood activities function well within each community. It was also important for the formation of District level executives who will be representatives of the various local executives. The main mandate of the District executives is to steer the disbursements of the funds to communities, supervise implementation, collate and submit field reports of activities in all the project communities within the District in collaboration with the District Implementation Committee (DIC).

3.0 Global Environmental Facility Fund and Reporting Format
This Global Environmental Facility (GEF) has committed US$300,000 to support in financing income generating enterprises under the sustainable livelihood support scheme component. Currently, the GEF has released an amount of about HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($100,000). This has necessitated the need to provide training and other support to the beneficiary communities to investing in preferred livelihood enterprises.
Following the released of the funds institutional structures; the various livelihood groups have been formed. There have been elections of Local and District livelihood enterprises executives. The duties and responsibilities of the executives among others are to see to the operationalisation of the Community Development Fund (CDF) and investment activities.

The CDF is an important aspect of the sustainable livelihood support scheme. It is to assist beneficiary farmers in managing investment proposals in order to be able to invest in viable enterprises. The incomes to be generated are to be reimbursed into revolving fund in accordance with the agreement of the beneficiary communities. The management of the CDF is to be determined in consultation involving the beneficiary groups to ensure ownership of the investment, increase commitment of project activities and livelihood activities which would ensure success of investment in the enterprises.

The GEF has its reporting format which is to use as guide; activity work plan which will enable the beneficiaries? access money for investment in livelihood activities. There have been collaborated training of GEF activity workplan format training involving the GEF, CFMP Project Unit, District FSD Offices, and MoFA. The training was aimed on reporting modalities on the technical and financial systems through the activity work plan. This was to enable the beneficiaries? access money and to guide the beneficiary communities to enhance smooth execution of the fund for alternative livelihood activities. The beneficiaries were again taken through the GEF Project Progress (Technical and Financial) Reporting Format. These were to help them to understand GEF Small Grants requirement for reporting. The issues of participatory monitoring systems were also elaborated using the GEF monitoring format.

4.0 Cost benefit analysis of livelihood investment

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) has been one key governmental organization providing technical services to the fringe communities under the CFMP. Regarding the alternative livelihood enterprises, MOFA mandates is to ensure that agriculture related livelihood enterprises selected by the beneficiaries would be well implemented to optimize maximum benefits.
It is therefore the duty of MOFA to ensure that the housing, the right breed of stocks, vertinary services, processing, storage and marketing of these enterprises livestocks knowledge will be well imparted to the beneficiaries.
The MoFA which is the leading collaborator for sustainable livelihood investment have provided cost-benefit analysis on the preferred livelihoods.

6.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION
This progress report has looked at the reports which indicate that strategies and modalities are being prepared towards the implementation of alternative livelihood enterprises within the project sites.

The project would be said to be successful if there is an effective establishment and management of trees in the forest reserves through local community involvement. Whilst on the same vein, there is a considerable poverty reduction through the undertaking of economic activities by beneficiary livelihood enterprises groups that will result in significant increase in income levels to improving in the standard of living in the beneficiary communities.

Through an updated baseline reports to initiate the implementation of the livelihood activities, the beneficiary communities are in a position to be equip with adequate knowledge on investment strategies.

The updated assessment of the reports and observation reveal there is the need to build the capacity of the beneficiary communities for effective and efficient livelihood enterprises management

It is being recommended that in order to invest in viable and profitable livelihood enterprises the beneficiary communities should have adequate training on investment strategies and business orientations on the preferred income generating activities. Hence, the GEF may continue to provide funds in addition to the first disbursement to the beneficiary communities. More importantly, the additional funds increase the capital base on the beneficiary communities.

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Indicators

Biophysical

Number of globally significant species protected by project 5

Biophysical

Hectares of globally significant biodiversity area protected or sustainably managed by project 200

Biophysical

Number of innovations or new technologies developed/applied 2

Biophysical

Number of local policies informed in biodiversity focal area 1

Biophysical

Number of national policies informed in biodiversity focal area 1

Empowerment

Number of CBOs / NGOs participated / involved in SGP project 2

Empowerment

Number of CBOs / NGOs formed or registered through the SGP project 1

Empowerment

Number of women participated / involved in SGP project 250

Empowerment

Number of indigenous people participated/involved in SGP project 100

Empowerment

Number and type of support linkages established with local governments/authorities 2

Empowerment

Number and type of support linkages established with national government institutions 1

Biophysical

Hectares of degraded land rest 500

Biophysical

Hectares of land sustainably managed by project 200

Biophysical

Tons of soil erosion prevented 200000

Biophysical

Number of innovations or new technologies developed / applied 2

Livehood

Total monetary value (US dollars) of ecosystem goods sustainably produced and providing benefit to project participants and/or community as a whole (in the biodiversity, international waters, and land degradation focal areas as appropriate) 2000000

Livehood

Increase in household income by increased income or reduced costs due to SGP project 500

Livehood

Number of households who have benefited* from SGP project 500

Livehood

Number of individuals (gender diaggregated) who have benefited* from SGP project 2000

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