Project Detail

INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF ITURE MANGROVES TO REHABILITATE THE DEGRADED ABAKAM-ELIMINA COASTAL WETLANDS AND RAMSAR SITES IN THE CENTRAL REGION

Iture mangrove swamp on Kakum river estuary on latitude N50709 and longitude W0010 19.087 is estimated to have a mangrove cover area of 2km2. It is not used in a sustainable manner by local community on its fringes as some area have lost their mangrove cover as a result of unplanned and indiscriminate harvest of fuel wood from the mangrove swamp and other use such as sand winning and discharge of solid and liquid waste by the local community that borders the mangrove.

Survey conducted on Iture mangrove swamp indicates that over cutting and pollution scores have 35% and restoration scores 86%. The survey reveals that though the vegetation of the mangrove is dense and shrubby most trees reaching up to 4m tall, however the above scores indicates that the Iture mangrove is moderately polluted and over stressed and it is very suitable for restoration. The Iture mangrove is a place that could be reserved because of its species richness to conserve the biological diversity of the mangrove swamp.

It is against this background that Rural Action Foundation a natural resource conservation focus non-governmental organization have developed this project in collaboration with the local community bordering the Iture mangrove swamp whose activities tend to degrade the biodiversity of the mangrove after having been sensitized on the importance of mangroves to enable them take a positive and resolute action to save the Iture mangrove swamp from further extinction. The primary objectives of the proposed project are:

4.0 PROJECT GOAL, OBJECTIVES & OUTPUTS

4.1 Goal

The goal of the project is to contribute to the restoration of coastal, marine and freshwater ecosystems of the southern dry margins for conservation of biodiversity and improvement in the living standard of the people

4.2 Specific Objectives

i. To create awareness among the community members on the economic potential of the mangroves and aquatic weeds.
ii. To build local capacity in the rehabilitation of the degraded mangroves and sustainable management of the wetlands for the restoration of coastal biodiversity
iii. To promote effective utilization of the mangroves and aquatic weeds through compost production and cage aquaculture as rural enterprise.

4.3 Project Outputs

? Capacities of fisherman and farmer groups developed in sustainable management of mangroves and coastal wetlands
? 50 ha of degraded mangroves and wetlands brought under sustainable through natural regeneration and enrichment planting
? Skills of farmers in compost production and aquaculture developed to set up rural business.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

RURAL ACTION FOUNDATION

Country:

Ghana

Area Of Work:

Biodiversity

Operational Phase:

OP4 - Y2 (Jul 08 - Jun 09)

Grant Amount:

US$ 24,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

US$ 7,000.00

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 12,000.00

Project Number:

GHA/SGP/OP4/Y2/CORE /2008/031

Start Date:

11/2008

End Date:

10/2010

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Capacity - Building Component

? 50 farmers and fisherman in Abakam would be trained and resourced to invest in integrated compost production and cage aquaculture . ? Two demonstration farms in the utilization of the compost for crop production and two cage aquaculture demonstration farms would be established .

Gender Focus

? Women shall form part of the Project Management Team (PMT). ? Women and youth shall be trained as trainees in the use of aquatic weeds in compost production and in cage aquaculture. ? Youth would take lead role in the successful implementation of the training programme in compost production and cage aquaculture. ? The women and youth shall sell compost and fish produced from cage aquaculture for financial gain. ? Women, youth and children shall participate in community durbars ? Women and the youth shall partake in project reviews.

Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods

A Cooperative of Compost Production Farmers (30 members) established and provided with micro credit, as start up capital for the production and utilization of compost 30 youth supported to establish cage aquaculture as business enterprise.

Policy Impact

Contribute to the implementation of National biodiversity strategy

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Createw awareness on biodiervisty with emphasis on marine and freshwater ecosystem management

Inovative Financial Mechanisms

Credit rotation will be introduced

Notable Community Participation

The need to take effective measures to ensure the continue conservation of the Iture mangrove swamp would be of concern to the target community on the fringes of the mangrove reserve since from the inception of the project they would be involved to enable them recognize that the value of the mangrove swamp include the generation wide range of produce and the important environment services for them to agree to participatory protect the Iture mangrove from further degradation. The target community would be involved in all aspect of the project from mobilisation, participatory planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation stages of the project. For sustainability of the project, the target community members would choose some people of their community to form Iture mangrove management committee and would be provided with technical skills to manage and conserve the mangrove at all times. All the target community would be involved to participate in planting trees around the mangrove swamp as green belt. The community would be guided to see to the growth of the trees planted. In a bid to develop wetlands of Iture mangrove by the target community on the fringes of the mangrove for fish and crab farming to improve their income levels, the following would be undertaken: a. Community leaders and relevant community groups would continue to take active role in the planning and implementation of the project. As well as provide inputs into the project implementation strategies. c. The community leaders would assist to advertise the project to members of the beneficiary communities. d. The Project Management Team (PMT) would be selected from the participating community groups, with women forming a core part of the team. e. The PMT, under supervision of Rural Action will perform the day-to-day activities of the project. f. Regular meetings would be held between the PMT and the communities within the project duration. g. Issues on assessment, monitoring and evaluation of the impact of the project on the community would form part of the regular meetings between the PMT and the communities. h. Grant would be provided to serve as an incentive for the production of compost and establishment of cage aquaculture. i. Compost sales outlets shall be established in the beneficiary communities to motivate prospective compost dealers to boost compost sales and the community leaders and the community-based organizations would take lead role in establishing these compost sales outlets

Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples

The proejct area in a migrant community but provision would be made for the participation of indigenous settlers

Project Results

1. Two (2) demonstration farms established in the utilization of compost for crop production
2. Seven member (7) project management team formed and trained on cage aquaculture at a five-day sensitization meeting.
3. Fifty (50) manuals on cage aquaculture and compost production has been produced and distributed to the various communities.

3rd Quarter
3 groups of 30 persons formed to embark on goat rearing
Some individuals and families expressed interest to invest in tree planting
Interested families and individuals have acquired knowledge and skills in tree nursery and planting.
Individuals expressed interest for forming cooperative for goat rearing
Members of goat rearing cooperative have acquired knowledge on business management skills
Community to adhere to local bye laws for protection of the mangroves and wetlands

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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 1

Empowerment

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

Empowerment

Number of women participated / involved in SGP project 30

Empowerment

Number of indigenous people participated/involved in SGP project 10

Empowerment

Innovative financial mechanisms put in place through SGP project 1

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) 200000

Livehood

Increase in household income by increased income or reduced costs due to SGP project 75

Livehood

Number of households who have benefited* from SGP project 20

Livehood

Number of individuals (gender diaggregated) who have benefited* from SGP project 50

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