PROJECT BACKGROUND AND PROBLEMS
Songor Ramsar site, also a UNESCO biosphere reserve is endowed with unique and diverse ecological habitats and wildlife species. The habitats of the wildlife species are continually being degraded. The animal species are also hunted for their meat and other parts.
Marine turtles are hunted in the night when they emerged to nest or trapped in fishing nets. The nests of the turtles are emptied of the eggs by some local coastal community members. Dogs, pigs and other wild animals also dig out and eat the eggs of the turtles. Sea waves erode the sandy coast, floods and exposed turtle eggs to natural predators, the sun or excessive moisture, thus terminating the embryonic incubation process. This is exacerbated by sand winning and block molding at the beach. Disoriented nesting turtles and hatchlings enter houses on the beach, trapped in mangrove thickets and even wade into lagoon or pool of stagnant water. They may be poached, eaten by predators or die eventually if not assisted. National and traditional conservation laws exist to protect these species but inadequate information sharing on the species and enforcement of national and traditional laws as resulted in poaching of the turtles and the eggs.
Currently 7km coast line of Ada, west of the Volta river estuary is being restored by Dredging International (DI). The project will provide the needed resources and logistics for effective monitoring to protect nesting turtles, nest, and hatchlings that may be negatively affected by the dredging activities.
Research indicates that the populations of sea turtles continue to decline at an alarming rate due to some documented and perceived environmental factors. Although there are laws in Ghana that makes it an offence punishable by fines, imprisonment or both to capture, kill or sell part or the whole of sea turtles, there are still high incidences of poaching and habitat degradation (through sand winning, block molding and pollution at the beach) among many coastal communities. Other migratory wildlife species within the site face diverse threats within their ecological ranges. As a Ramsar site, avenues exist for the enforcement of conservation regulations and traditional norms. Adequate information sharing, awareness creation, and tangible benefits generated through resource conservation could minimize anthropogenic threats to biodiversity within the site.
2.2 PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The primary objective is to restore degraded mangroves to protect nesting turtles and other endangered wildlife species of the site through collaborative efforts to promote ecotourism and sustainable livelihood.

Specific objectives Include:
i. Restored degraded ecological and species habitat through rehabilitation of 30 ha of degraded mangroves through the planting of 15,000 mangroves and 10,000 other appropriate tree seedlings and species within the wetlands ecosystem

ii. To monitor the nesting ecology of turtles including DI operations to ascertain influence on turtles, to establish beach morphodynamics, species diversity and trends and provide adequate protection for nesting turtle and their nest.

iii. To build local capacity in ecosystem-based adaption through training and equipping volunteers to protect turtles and other wildlife species, documenting and promoting traditional conservation laws that protect turtles at the site

iv. Create awareness in 30 schools and 20 communities within the project area to promote ecosystem management including biodiversity and environmental conservation. This will be done by organizing a tour of ecological sites for selected school children within the project area to introduce field identification and management measures.
These set objectives are important to GEF/SGP as they are as described above fit into the focal project area of biodiversity conservation and capacity development of local people to conserve nature. The project through research on the species would inform the local people to best protect mangrove species, monkeys, migratory birds, manatees and marine turtles on the coast and other ecological sites.
2.3 EXPECTED OUTPUTS
At the end of the project the following outcomes are expected:
a) 30 ha of degraded wetlands restored by planting avicennia africana species and other tree seedling species planted in degraded ecological habitats and habitat / sanctuary of wildlife species
b) Nesting turtles within the 45km coast line of the site beyond are adequately protected during the nesting periods from poachers and DI beach restoration activities the establishment of an emergency protocol to protect turtle nest in-situ, relocate threaten ones from predators, dredging activities and natural disasters
c) 30 schools and 20 communities within the project area trained and supported to promote ecosystem management through biodiversity and environmental conservation, training and equipping community volunteers to protect turtles and other wildlife species, and promotion of tour guiding and boat operation
3.0 Description of Project Activities
3.1 Turtles nest all year along the 45km sandy beach, but the activities peak between October and early December. Adequate monitoring that will be intensified during the peak season will provide biological, biometric and morphodynamics information. Threats within specific zones will be noted especially within the 7km restored areas of DI. This will influence management measures for adequate protection of the species and their habitats. This activity will begin in October 2013 and will be completed in November 2014.

3.2 Turtle eggs are preyed on mostly by dogs, pigs, human beings and other wild animals. The nest are normally excavated and the eggs eaten. Eggs are also exposed by sea waves, floods and when deposited in shallow sandy spots. Weekly coordinate?s data of turtle nests and beach morphodynamics will indicate extent of beach erosion and threats to turtle nests. All nests threaten by sea waves and floods will be relocated to safer spots. Nest caps will be constructed with coated wire mesh and wood to cover nests that can be preyed on by pigs and dogs. Trained volunteers, wildlife staffs and committee members will undertake these activities. This will be undertaken throughout the project and nesting season from October 2013 ? November 2014.

3.3. The community protection group would be revamped and members will be trained, and equipped with basic night survey tools. They will undertake education in the communities, redirect disoriented turtles, assist to release turtles trapped in fishing nets, protect nesting turtles and their eggs and collect basic biological and biometric data. The committee members will organize the selection and training of the volunteers. This will be undertaken in October 2013. The data collected will be analyzed to inform the conservation status of turtles and other biodiversity.

3.4 Tour guides and boat operators will receive training in safety and guiding principles. Life jackets will be purchased and placed at the disposal of tourist to provide safety on water. The trained tour guides and boat operators will work closely with wildlife division and the district tourist development group to undertake tour guiding to earn extra income. A booklet, brochure and map of tourist sites and routes will be produced and distributed to provide information and promote tourism in the district. The tourism market chain and employment will be enhanced and sustained. This will be undertaken in October 2013 to coincide with the peak tourism season.
3.5. Selected schools, coastal communities and fishermen within the project area will be educated on resource and turtle conservation regulations. Power point presentation, group interactions, knowledge and information sharing will be encouraged. Dummy turtles and preserved carapace will be used to demonstrate data collection, safe handling and release of species. Schools and communities will be provided with manuals and posters as reference and information materials. This will be undertaken by the committee and the volunteers. This information sharing aspect will begin in October 2013 to November 2014 and would be sustained.
3.6 Club leaders, students involved and with interest in conservation will be selected and trained as peers in turtle and resource conservation within their communities. They will be the nucleus of school clubs and source of information for turtles and resource conservation. A field tour and hands on demonstration will be undertaken for the students to appreciate the real threats within each zone and practical management measures. The committee will lead this with collaboration from the communities. These hands on training will be undertaken during school session in December 2013.
3.7 Inadequate knowledge of regulations conserving species and their habitat has always been given as an excuse by perpetrators of offences (poaching and degradation of ecological habitats). Information signs, manuals and posters will be produced, distributed and erected within spots of profound ecological challenges. Schools, communities and organized groups within and outside the GEF project area will receive this information based on pertaining threats. The project committee and volunteers will design and produce the information for distribution. This will be undertaken during the early project stages to adequately inform the communities of the project and its intentions, December 2013 - February 2014.
3.8 Ecologically degraded areas and critically damaged species sites will be zoned and replanted with mangroves and other tree seedlings. 15,000 mangroves and 10,000 other tree seedlings will be planted in appropriate the zones. This will provide sanctuary for wildlife species and also ameliorate climatic changes effect. This will be undertaken from May ? July 2014 during the major rainy season for optimal survival of the seedlings.
3.9 A reference document produced from data generated through field monitoring and community based knowledge (traditional norms) on turtle and resource conservation will be produced and distributed to relevant stakeholders. This will increase knowledge on turtles and influence resource conservation policy at the local authority level. The committee will collaborate to produce and distribute the reference document. This will be undertaken at the last quarter of the project September ? November 2014.

Second Quarter
1. 9 primary and basic schools, 3 communities and 3 Government Institutions trained on sanitation and conservation laws.

2. 30 club leaders, peers and community champions trained to spear head communication in sustainable resource utilization and biodiversity conservation.

3. 2,000 posters, 700 stickers produced, also 20 information signboards produced and mounted within the site.

4. Thirty 30 members trained in basic knowledge on the nesting and protection of turtle nest.

5. 25 wildlife staffs, community volunteers, fishermen trained to identify turtle nest and collaborate with wildlife staff for relocation of eggs.

6. 150 nest caps produced and 65 has been used to cover identified turtle nest against predation by pigs and dogs.
7.Twenty five turtle and boat tour volunteers / guides trained in responsible tour guiding and communication skills.
8. 250 tourist routes / maps produced and distributed to key stakeholders within and outside Ada.