1. PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND INTENDED RESULTS
1.1 Background to Project Area:
Gomoa Adam is a farming community in Gomoa District in the Central Region, about five (5) kilometers of Apam ? Cape Coast road near Kyirem Junction. The population of the community is about 2,100 people. The major occupation of the people in and around of the community is farming; including maize, cassava, plantain vegetables, trading and gari production.

Historical account, according to the elders of the community, has it that the people of Gomoa Adam migrated from Tekyiman in Brong Ahafo Region and have lived this land for so many year. The people lived peacefully near to a large forest which part of it was declared for the home of their forefather?s fetish and burial grounds of the chiefs. These places were named after the gods and the first chief who led them from Tekyiman (Onya eku and Nana Sumuru); Onyaaku shrine forest was formally measured about 36 hectares, and Ssumuru was about 60 hectres. These forest habour different species of animals example species of monkeys, grasscutters, porcupine, antelopes, dears, birds, reptiles etc trees and medicinal plants in the forest, there is a very large pond which the inhabitant use for drinking and domestic activities.

Survey conducted by Global Habitat about the community and the two sacred groves revealed that Onyaaku and Sumuru forests are the only forests which people in Adam and surrounding villages have regarded as wildlife, peace, and hope; as at now people visit the shrine in the forest and play for peace, birth, and lot of request and their request considered. It?s customary rites are performed during annual Ahobaakese festivals in 2nd and 3rd weeks of August led by the chief and elders, including the fetish priest Okomfo Ama Akondoh.

1.3 Problem Justifying the Implementation of the Project
These peaceful wildlife habitats are being destroyed and encroached upon by the indigenous people through indiscriminate felling of trees and shrubs without replacement, improper farming practices, and illicit group hunting as well as annual wildfire outbreaks. The structure and composition of the forests have been altered and although the area has not been farmed before, the richness of the forests is nothing to write home about.
The two forests is a watershed for the only stream in the area that provides all year water to the communities. The continuous destruction of the forest has led to water pollution and drying up of the streams during the dry seasons. This has greatly affected the health of the people who have to travel several kilometers before getting water to drink in the dry season. Finally, the farmers in the area also use chemical to hunt for wild animals by placing poisoned foods in the forest for the wildlife to feed on so that they can trap them. The use of chemicals for farming and hunting is gradually having a negative effect not only on the vegetation but also on the health of the people.

Fortunately there are still respect for local taboos and regulations. The shrines in the Groves continue to play a significant role in the lifestyles of the people. The Chiefs and the people have expressed grave concern about the situation of the forests and people living in and around Gomoa Adam are being encouraged to conserve and protect all the forest in the area especially the traditionally protected lands in order to save biological diversity and community resources. It is for these reasons that Onyaaeku and sumurum forest at Gomoa Adam have been chosen to be developed and conserved in order to save them from total destruction. People at Gomoa Adam need to be educated to help conserve and develop the ecosystem for eco-tourism, bio-fuel, and morning a establishment.

1.4 Project Goal
The main of the project is to develop the capacity of the people of Gomoa Adam to conserve, develop and sustainable manage the Onyaaeku and Sumuru sacred groves for the restoration of biodiversity, wealth creation and sustainable development of the Gomoa Traditional Area..

1.5 Objectives of the Project
To achieve the goal the following objectives would be pursued:
o To conduct environmental education and awareness creation at on bio-fuel and morning a Project at Gomoa Adam and surrounding communities.
o To restore, preserve and protect Onyaaeku and Sumurum sacred groves at Gomoa Adam to save the biodiversity in the forests.
o To establish and operate ecological training centre to serve as training and ecotourism for the farmers, schools and others in and around the Gomoa District as well as the Central Region.
o To introduce improved farming methods, agroforestry and construction and use of efficient wood fuel stoves n in order to reduce the excessive harvesting of indigenous trees as firewood and production of charcoal from the sacred groves.
o Introduce the farmers to the commercialization of apiculture, snail farming and the cultivation and processing Moringa, Olifera, Jatropha, and sunflower as income generating activities.

1.6 Project Rationale
In spite of the environmental, economic social and spiritual significance of the traditionally protected lands, these last refuges of animal and trees habitat have come under intense pressure leading to a massive degradation and total destruction. The areas are being encroached for farming purposes whilst gang hunters and bushfires are allowed to sweep through every year. Farmers farm very close to the ponds, burn charcoal near to the sacred groves, and harvest firewood without due regard to the resources being destroyed. The destruction of these resources has affected the wildlife and medicinal plants in the area which undermining the biological diversity of the community. The traditional authorities and other opinion leaders of the community have become worried due to the destruction of the sacred groves affecting the social, economic and spiritual wellbeing of the people.

The project falls under the biodiversity conservation focal area of GEF / Small Grant programme. The people of Gomoa Adam are committed to implement the project through communal labour and provision of local materials like land water and others for the project. The Ministry of Food and Agrcviulture as well as the Gomoa District Assembly have committed themselves to the implementation of the project.

2.0 Expected Project Outputs and Results

Outputs 1. Capacity for of the people of Gomoa Adam in sustainable land, forest and wildlife management practices developed and biodiversity conservation developed.

The expected results of this outcome are:

a) Establishment of 120 ha Gomoa Adam Community Protected Area covering Onyaaeku and Sumurum sacred groves to be managed by traditional rules and regulations.
An ecological centre owned and managed by the people of Gomoa Adams established and maintained
b) Community Natural Resource Management Group for land, forest and wildlife management and biodiversity conservation formed and trained in Gomoa Adams
c) Community byelaws on wildfires, commercial tree harvesting, wildlife management and land degradation revised, enacted and enforced

Outputs 2. Degraded lands and denuded forests within the Community Protected Area areas regenerated.

The expected results of this outcome are:
a.) Community agreements, participatory landuse plan and community based land and forest restoration plans formulated and implemented.
b.) 50 ha of denuded forestlands within the sacred groves replanted with indigenous species.
c.) Water conservation and soil fertility improvement techniques introduced to control soil erosion and improve on productivity.
d.) 50 ha of individual woodlots and agroforestry with moringa olifera established in the community
e.) Establish 3ha of demonstration ecological sustainable livelihood farm planted with diverse fast growing and for the production of honey, snails, mushroom and small ruminant at Gomoa Adams

Output 3. Sustainable agro forestry technologies introduced.

The expected results are:
a. Community nursery capable of producing 150,000 seedlings annually established at Gomoa Adam
b. 10 farmers trained as trainers on agro forestry technologies
c. 60 farmers assisted to establish agro forestry technologies demonstration farms
Output 4. Small business enterprise development and livelihood activities introduced to enhance land and biodiversity conservation:

The expected results are:
a. Small businesses enterprises in the production and processing snail, honey moringa, sunflower production, small ruminants and grass cutter rearing introduced to 50 project beneficiaries.

3. PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Output 1. Capacity for of the people of Gomoa Adam in sustainable land, forest and wildlife management practices developed and biodiversity conservation developed

Planned Activities

Activities to achieve this component are to create 120ha community resource management area in Gomoa Adam to protect the 2 CPAs. Initially, through participatory rural appraisal techniques, community maps covering the entire traditional areas would be undertaken so that appropriate protection strategies could be devised with the approval of the Chiefs, and landowners and the Forest Services Division. A nine-member Community Natural Resource Management Groups (CNRMG) would be formed and trained in each community to provide leadership for implementation of the project. At the central level, a nine-member Natural Resource Management Committee will be formed to manage the project and to formulate and implement landuse, fire and natural resource management plans. Training and capacity building programmes would be prepared and implemented for specific groups, individual planters and extension workers in nursery development, staking out, planting and nurturing of trees. Training programmes will also be developed and targeted specifically at farmers to enable them to develop and pass on knowledge to other farmers about sustainable land and forest management. In collaboration with local committee, a central nursery will be established at Gomoa Adam to be operated and owned by the CNRMG group. A study tour for the CNRMG would be organized to Mankessim where similar projects are being implemented.

Indigenous knowledge and practices in land and forest management will be reviewed; new one enacted and enforced on wildfire management systems. In participation with local communities, fire protection and management plans will be developed to cover the whole project area.

Output 2. Degraded lands and denuded forests within the Community Protected Area areas regenerated.

Planned Activities

Planned activities to achieve results include finalizing and signing collaborative resource management agreements; bye-laws on the management of the CREMA, completion and adoption of the participatory landuse plans and formulating land restoration and forest management plans. The next step will be to survey and demarcate the planting sites with the CREMA with the full participation of local communities, Traditional Authorities, Stool Chiefs, and landowners. A reforestation plans to cover all planting sites will be prepared with the people. Local community groups and individuals will be registered and organized into Working Groups to plant at least 60 ha of the degraded areas in the sacred groves.
The project will establish 3ha of demonstration ecological sustainable livelihood farm planted with diverse indigenous fast growing timber species (entandrophragma angolensis, terminalia superba and cieba pentandra), woodfuel species and the production of honey, snails, mushroom and small ruminant at Gomoa Adams. Individual farmers would also be assisted to establish and own similar farms following the same model. The beneficiary farmers would be assisted with inputs to plant, nurture, monitor, and maintain the farms.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, water conservation and soil fertility improvement techniques would be introduced to farmers. Farmers would be introduced to composting, planting or muccuna and other nitrogen fixing plants.

All the sacred groves within the CREMA would be surveyed to establish their original boundaries and buffer zones created around them. Enrichment planting will be promoted within the degraded scared groves to restore their biodiversity.

Output 3. Sustainable agro forestry technologies introduced s

Planned Activities

Community awareness creation and education on need for agro forestry land use systems. Community durbar would be used to create awareness on the need for introducing agroforestry technologies as a sustainable land use systems. The community would be given the option to select about 10 people to be trained as trainers of trainees in a three weeks training, field visits and establishment of demonstration plots on agroforestry.

Workshop on agroforestry technologies for trainers. One and half week?s theoretical training with pictorial illustrations would be organized for the selected participants. These participants will be the trainers who will impact the skills to be acquired to all members of the project community and its surrounding villages. Participants will be trained especially on how to utilize the participatory planning process for Agroforestry extension in the communities. Establishment of agroforestry technologies demonstration plots. After the field visit the trainers would be assisted by MOFA and technical field staff GHAF to demonstrate on plots within the buffer zones specific technologies they have learnt both at the training workshop and the field visits. 120 farmers would be assisted to set up 300 ha agro-forestry farms within the area.

An agroforestry extension manual would be developed with inputs from the training workshop, field visits and the community ?based demonstration plots established by the trainers. Since most of the inputs of the manual are the ideas from the community it is expected to be easily adopted and serve as a field guide to community development workers, NGOs, and other governmental agencies engaged in or likely to engage in agroforestry development

Output 4. Small business enterprise development and alternative livelihood activities established to enhance biodiversity conservation:

Planned Activities

Under this output the activities will include setting up trust groups and training them in business management and accounting. The project will evolve a revolving loan mechanism to assist the project beneficiaries to set up small businesses in snail farming, honey production, small ruminant rearing, and grass cutter rearing. Women would be assisted to trade in non-timber forest products and to develop local businesses to enhance biodiversity conservation by setting up a revolving fund.

4. PROJECT OUTCOME INDICATORS:
By the end of the planned the following would be the outcome indicators:

? 120 ha traditionally protected area preserved
? Capacity building for 100 community members to enhance their participation in land and forest management
? Participatory landuse plan and Forest Management Plan developed for the sustainable management of at least 120 ha of off-reserved forest as CREMA;
? Formation of Natural Resource Management Groups;
? 30 ha of buffer zone created around the traditionally protected areas planted with indigenous species;
? 100 people will be trained in agroforestry;
? 3 ha ecological sustainable livelihood farms
? 50 people, including community leaders, farmers, women?s groups, landowners, teachers and students, trained in silviculture and forest management, nursery and tree growing technologies and plantation development;
? A minimum of 50 indigenous farmers will have undertaken specific training and capacity building in water conservation and soil improvement techniques.
? One central nursery and local community nursery established;
? 40 members of the CREMA benefit from small business enterprise programmes;
? 3 Forest Management Agreements and bye-laws on environment formulated and signed
? 20 member of CNRMG undertake a study tour to learn best practices
? 2 sacred groves restored to conserve biodiversity.

To ensure sustainability of the project, the youth in the community including women shall be organized into activity groups. It is within these groups that 26 member volunteers shall be selected by the community?s opinion leaders to be trained as environmental and income generating volunteers and inaugurates them during official commissioning. The activities of these volunteers are to monitor the activities of farmers for organic pollution, wildfire outbreaks and protection of the conserved sacred groves against the destroyers. The ecological centre shall be the secret eye of the project by the help of the project management committee.

5. MONITORING AND SUPERVISION.

Global Habitat for Homeless (GHAF) has planned to carry out supervision, monitoring and meetings by the help of the project management committee and voluntary brigades even after the implementation period. Moringa, coconut, mango, citrus, oil palm and other species of tree seedlings shall be raised and sell in moderate price after the project implementation period of the project chiefs / elders including stake holders shall be encouraged to re-enforce the laws of the taboo and deal drastically with stubborn people defaulter who try to disregard the laws and taboo of the forests.

GHAF will organize monthly and annual meetings with the community people for the sustainability of the project. There will be an installation of machines for the processing of sunflower, jatropha, and moringa oil to enable farmers have an access to processing of their produce. GHAF is ready to create market avenues for moringa, sunflower and jatropha for the farmers.

To ensure effective implementation, the project 2 supervisor will be engaged to supervise all project activities and submit their reports to the programme director.

Nursery Assistant will monitor the activities of the 3 helping hands at the nursery in order to raise enough and quality seedlings for the project. Women Development Officer will be engaged to supervise the activities and programmes of the women in the community and submit her report to the executive director.

The executive director as program Manager will conduct monitoring and evaluation programme to rectify mistakes done by the staff, field workers, and the community people. He will compile all reports and receipts and submit them to GEF / SGP Office. These shall be done by the help of the office secretary and the accountant. Agriculture extension officer shall be engaged to monitor organic farming, moringa, sunflower and other farming activities.

RESOURCE PERSONS.

Capacity Building training, survey and mapping, and others shall be conducted by the help of group of expert from Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Forestry Service Division and Environmental Protection Agency including the District Assembly.

6. PROJECT EVALUATION

At the end of every quarter of the programme activity period, mid?term evaluation shall be conducted by GEF / SGP by the help of GHAF.

The primary objective for this evaluation is to access the impact of the project.