Project Background

The Dangbe East district is located at the Eastern part of the Accra region. It shares common boundaries with north Tongu District in the north, South Tongu District and Dangbe West Districts at the east and west respectively. At the south is the Gulf of Guinea which stretches over 45 kilometers. The district covers a total land area of about 909 sq. km.

The district form part of the central portion of the Accra plains depicting a topography that is generally gentle undulating. The average rain fall is about 750 mm. The vegetation is basically coastal savanna characterized by short savanna grass interspersed with shrubs and short trees.

The district is associated with the internationally designated Ramsar site ? Songhor lagoon (wetland site) and Volta river estuary. Other major water bodies found in the district include Akplaba, Lahue, Ke, Taliba and Kajah Rivers.

Mangrove exploitation is prominent in Adodoajikope, Amlakpo and its environs. About 75% of the people are farmers with 15% engaged in agro-trade .The main sources of energy in the communities for lighting is firewood (55%). The underlying causes of wetland degradation are indiscriminate felling of mangrove for fuel wood, hunting activities leading to species extinction. The effect of these activities leads to loss of biodiversity and low soil fertility leading to abject poverty.

Other socio-economic activities found among the people include vegetable production and cattle rearing. It is believed that as many as 10,000 cattle were reared in the project communities.

2.2 Problem Definition

The proposed project site Amlakpo, Adodoajikope and its environs is part of the coastal zone of Dangbe East District that has received little or no attention over the period.

The pattern of natural resource use, particularly mangrove exploitation and degradation of wetlands in Kenya, Asigbekope Amlakpo, Adodoajikope and its environs has been unsustainable. The mangrove forest has fallen prey to variety of encroachments largely by individuals and community users. The mangrove forest found within the project area is the primary resources of primary importance for the livelihood of the people of the area. Over 75% of the land under mangrove has been destroyed due to indiscriminate feeling.

The underlying cause of the problem is poverty. The type of mangrove species has been destroyed are the RHIZOPHORA SP (RED MANGROVE) and AVICENNIA SP (WHITE MANGROVE). The problem persists due to breakdown of community rules and regulations and ignorance on the part of communities on the consequences of their actions on the environment. The barrier to traditional environmental protection has seriously been weakened. The project area is under the treat of biodiversity loss and climate change.

In the past when community rules and regulations were held in high esteem, biodiversity of the area including mangrove forest population flourished. During the time, different species of herbs were easily accessible for herbal formulation and administration.
Modernity as well as religious beliefs has eroded the strong traditional beliefs that used to protect the environment. All the taboos that helped protect the environment can scientifically be explained now.
If the current trend of events continues the district could lose the potentials of its ecology which could consequently affect productivity, exacerbate famine and perpetuate poverty.

Overall project Goal

To contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable coastal zone management for livelihood improvement in Dangbe East District. .

Project Purpose

To enhance the capacities of cooperative groups in Amlakpo, Asigbekope Kenya and Adodoajikope to restore degraded coastal wetlands Songor RAMSAR sites in the Dangbe East District

Project Outputs

Output 1: Farm-based organizations in Dangbe East District trained in sustainable coastal wetland management.

Output 2: Farmer based organization supported to replant degraded of the Songhor Ramsar site in the Dangbe East District

Output 3: Project beneficiaries supported to invest in livelihood support enterprises

PROJECT ACTIVITIES

1.1 Introduce weekly environmental programme on local FM station.
The project will promote weekly environmental education on radio Ada. These local FM station have wide coverage of the project area.
Resource persons will come from forestry and wildlife division MOFA and HATOF this activity will be carried out through out the planned project period.

1.2 Organized community fora in five communities
Community fora will be organized in Amlakpo, Asigbekope Kenya and Adodoajikope to sensitize the community members on the project. This activity will help change behaviour and attitude to enable community members to contain environmental problems resource persons will drawn from MOFA, FSD, Dangbe East district assembly and department of oceanography and fisheries, University of Ghana.

1.3 Organize (2) workshops on Integrated Coastal Zone Management for stakeholders.
Two workshops will be organized for 200 farmers on integrated coastal zone management and natural resource management. This will serve as trainer of trainers (TOT) for other members of the community in the project area. These workshops will help the farmers acquire skills and knowledge on judicious use of natural resource of sustainability. Resource person will come from MOFA FSD and HATOF and the activity will come within the early part of the 1st quarter of the project.

1.4 Compile community profiles of four (4) beneficiaries? communities.
An in-depth biological and socio-economic base line survey of the project area will carried out. The results of the study will provide from meaningful applied research, demonstration of land use options, the priority needs and areas of emphasis. The baseline study will afford the project management team the data base on the five communities- Amlakpo, Tamatoku, Todze, Dorgobom and Adodoajikope. Resource person will be drawn from Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of Ghana Legon. This activity will carried out within the 1st quarter of the project.

1.5 Prepare participatory land use plan
All the five (5) communities involved in the project will be helped to draw a participatory land use plan for land use for the project. Resource persons will come from Town and Country planning Department of Dangbe East District Assembly. This activity will be carried out by the 1st quarter.

1.6 Form and launch project management committee.
The project will put in place a project management committee (PMC) to organize the communities to carry out environmental enhancement activities. The PMC will formally launched at a durbar organize by chiefs, farmer based groups and the people in the project community. The committee will carry out the task of collaboration with the district assembly and traditional authorities within the first quarter of the project.

2.1 Establish a community nursery.
A community nursery of 10,000 seedling capacity will be establish to supply seedlings to all communities involve in the project. This activity will be done in the 1st quarter with resource person from MOFA, FSD and HATOF.

2.2 Establish a community Woodlot:
To reduce the pressure on the wetland (mangrove forest) as a source of wood fuel a 5 km multi-purpose woodlot would be establish to provide fodder for livestock and supply wood fuel for the community. Fast growing trees will be supply for the community nursery for propagation in the multi-purpose wood lot. This activity will be carried out within the 3rd quarter and resource persons will come from MOFA and FSD.

2.3 Establish Agro- Forestry in farms of interested farmers:
The project will encourage 50 interested farmers to establish Agro- forestry in their farms to reduce pressure on the land as well as to improve soil fertility. The activity will cover 50 hectares. This activity will be carried out by the 4th quarter and resource persons will come from MOFA, FSD and HATOF

2.4 Establish technology and systems demonstration centre
The project will establish technology and systems demonstration centre where practical teaching and learning will be conducted. The centre will comprise of capacity building, information and human resource development units. The centre will house the community nursery where all seedlings will be produced. The centre will be managed by a trained volunteer choosing from the Dangbe East Agricultural Cooperative Farmers Union.

2.5 Institutionalize Bye- Laws on prudent environmental management
All the five (5) project communities will be assisted by HATOF Foundation to revise and formulate traditional rules and regulations governing natural resource management .The rules and regulations would be documented and sent to the Danbge East District Assembly for gazette. Resource persons will come from the Ada Traditional Council, Dangbe East District Assembly.

3.1. Identify and train 100 farmers in the rearing of grasscutter, sunflower and moringa.
A training program in grasscutter rearing ,sunflower and moringa cultivation well be organized for a total of 50 farmers(20 for grasscutter rearing,40 for sunflower and 40 for moringa)interested member of Dangbe East Agricultural Co-operative Farmers Union to serve as alternative income source. Thus, reducing the burden on the mangrove forest and therefore promoting natural regeneration. It will also serve as alternative income source for those farmers who are also involved in sand winning. This training will be carried out within the 2nd quarter of the project period. Resource persons will come from MOFA and FSD.

3.2 Organize groups/farmers planting sunflower and moringa; train them on group dynamics and business plan development and business management
? Assess knowledge gap and skills of selected farmers
? Production of training materials
? Organize business plan development and management workshop
? Train the farmers on appropriate time for harvesting and transportation to the buying centers

3.3 Identify market source for grasscutter, sunflower and moringa
for trained farmers
Market source will be sought for grasscutter; sunflower and moring.For grasscutter, restaurants, hotels and chop bar keepers would be contacted for direct sales. For Sunflower and moringa, a processing company will be contacted. The activity will take place in the 4th quarter

3.4 Provide revolving credit scheme for farmers on alternative Livelihood support
A revolving credit will be provided for 50 farmers.
The activity will be carried out in the 4th quarters with resource persons from NBSSI

3.5 Document project learning and share experiences with stakeholders
? Organize a documentation workshop
? Write up document
? Publish document
? Organize workshop to share learning experiences
? This activity will be done in the 6th quarter of the project.