Problem Statement

The lands in the Dorimon traditional area are being degraded at an alarming rate. The degradation is caused by unsustainable farming practices, wild fires, felling of trees for use as fuel wood and for making charcoal and overgrazing by cattle. The issue of overgrazing by cattle and more particularly the influx of cattle brought in by Fulani herdsmen from nearby Burkina Faso has also compounded the problem of overgrazing making it difficult for the soils in the area to regenerate so as to regain its lost nutrients. The situation has resulted in flooding and erosion of farm lands during the rainy season, thereby silting water bodies and making the soil infertile. This has adversely affected crop production and as a result of this many homes are poor and face food insecurity and malnutrition. Added to this, many of the young men and women migrate to the South or to the areas where ?galamsey? (illegal mining) is being practiced. Most often than not some of these immigrants return home with incurable diseases such as HIV AIDS. These unfortunate situations caused by land degradation increase the vulnerability of these poor communities, fracturing their sources of income and undermining their livelihoods as a people.

Further to this, these communities, time and again, adopt unsustainable income-generation activities which are characterized by inaccessible markets, lack of organizational skills and capital. Hence, a holistic intervention is required, in which sustainable land management practice is combined with a mechanism that sustains and increases livelihood opportunities for the communities in the Dorimon traditional area.
Project Intervention
In order to reverse or reduce the problem the following interventions have been proposed by the project:
2. Enhance the capacity of farmers to adopt sustainable land management
3. Improve soil fertility and undertake soil erosion control measures and establish windbreaks, buffer and filter strips
4. Introduce woodlot and fodder banks
5. Establish agro forestry and restore degraded areas
6. Promote and support women with alternative livelihood businesses

Rationale of the Project

One of the greatest challenges facing humanity is environmental degradation, including deforestation, desertification, pollution, and climate change ? an issue of increasing concern for the /SGPGEF. The impact of environmental disasters can be devastating on the social, economic, and environmental systems of a country or region as well as the global ecosystem. The people hardest hit by climate change and environmental degradation are those living in the most vulnerable areas, including Sub-Saharan Africa.

It is against this background that GEF was established to strengthen the capacity of NGOs, CBOs and FBOs in conserving and restoring the natural environment while enhancing the well-being and livelihood of local communities as well as empower vulnerable groups particularly women and youth so that they are able to participate as full actors in the process of development. The Ghana Environmental Management Project is implementing the National Action Programme on drought and desertification through the EPA and other local institutions and organisations, while the Wa West District Assembly under its Medium Term Development Plan is also implementing a programme to reverse land degradation in the district. The project recognizes the importance of this proposed project being implemented by GEF and the relationship with other national programmes and will work closely with GEF and other organizations to meet the one common objective of ensuring a sustainable environmental and promoting food security in the Dorimon traditional area.

The Primary Objective

The main objective is to build the capacity of the local community to reverse land degradation and to adopt sustainable land management that will improve food security and reduce poverty, thereby enhancing sustainable environment and improved livelihoods

The Specific Objectives
(1). To build and sustain capacities of farmers to identify innovative strategies, opportunities and approaches that will create incentives for farmers to increase investment in sustainable land management through market access and trade.
(2). To assist communities to restore degraded lands through integrated water and soil management, agro forestry, woodlot establishment, fodder banks, wildfire management, natural regeneration and enrichment planting.
(3). To promote and support farmers in alternative livelihood enterprises and providing market access to products

The Project Outputs

The project would deliver the following outputs:
(1). 100 farmers trained and supported to identify innovative strategies, approaches and opportunities that promotes sustainable agricultural practices and livelihood
(2). 100 hectares degraded land restored through integrated water and soil management, agro forestry, wildfires management, natural regeneration, enrichment planting and woodlot establishment
(3). 100 farmers supported to invest in alternative livelihood enterprises and providing market access to products
(4) Model Systems and Best Practices in Sustainable Land management in the savannah region documented and disseminated

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Output 1: 100 farmers trained and supported to identify innovative strategies, approaches and opportunities that promotes sustainable agricultural practices and livelihoods

1 Compile baseline information on the project area
The current environmental, social and economic situations in the project area will be compiled and stored in database to be created for each project site. The information will be used to develop monitoring indictors to assess the project performance. The activity will start in the 3rd quarter of 2013 and will be carried out by Sungmaale and assisted by UDS Students.

2 Introduce weekly environmental awareness programmes on local FM stations
The project will promote weekly environmental education at community level on Radio Progress and Radio Upper West. The main subjects of discussion will be sustainable land management practices and the negative effects of environmental mismanagement. Resource persons will come from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Forest Services Division (FSD), Ghana National Fire Services (GNFS) and Suntaa Nuntaa. This activity will be carried out in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters in 2013 and repeated in the same time in 2014 and ending in the last quarter in 2014.

3 Support District Environmental Management Committee
The project will support the Wa West District Environmental Management Committee to enforce bye laws on environmental degradation and to provide extension services on sustainable agricultural practices in the project area. This activity would be undertaken by the Wa West District Assembly and Sungmaale. The activity will be carried out in all the project sites in the 3rd and 4th quarters in 2013 ending in the 1st quarter in 2014.

4. Organise community fora
A seven member land management committee would be formed in each of the project sites. The committee would be trained and empowered to organize periodic community fora to promote environmental awareness, change attitudes and behaviours of the people to address environmental problems. The committee would organize quarterly community fora in their respective areas to introduce innovative strategies, approaches and models in sustainable land management to the people. Resources persons would come from EPA and Forestry Commission, Ministry of Food and Agriculture.
1.4.1.5 Organize natural resource management workshops for selected farmers
The project will organize training workshops for 50 farmers (selected from the beneficiary communities) on natural resource management and sustainable land management. These farmers will serve as trainer of trainers for the other community members in their respective communities. These workshops will help the farmers acquire skills and knowledge on judicious use of natural resources for sustainability, proven technologies in sustainable land management and assets that can be processed for income generation. Resource persons will come from EPA, Savannah Agricultural Institute (SARI), FSD, and MOFA.

6 Organize hands on training for farmers to adopt improved technologies in soil fertility and reduction of farm erosion
The project would organize a series of hands-on-training for 50 farmers selected from each of the project sites to improve their knowledge and skills in improved soil fertility technologies and organic farming practices. After training the selected farmers will train the rest of the community on sustainable land management practices. The project would encourage farmers to apply the compost on their respective farms for improved crop yield. This activity would be carried out in all the project sites and would be undertaken by resource persons from SARI and MOFA.

7 Procure vertiver seedlings for propagation to be used for controlling soil erosion and improving soil fertility
Vertiver has proven to be an effective material for use as filter strips for rivers and streams, for controlling soil erosion, water retention in soils, mulching, contour buffer strips and as a forage crop. The project would therefore procure vertiver seedlings, propagate them and used on demonstration farms to train farmers and to convince them of its efficacy for controlling soil erosion. Demonstration farms would be established in all the project sites and would be carried out by SARI, MOFA, Peace Corps personnel.
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8 Organize vocational training for selected groups
The project will organize vocational training for selected groups, especially indigenous people, women, youth and other vulnerable groups from all the project sites to enhance employment opportunities. This will include apprenticeship for enterprising youth. Trainees would be expected to choose from a variety of vocations. These are: soap making, body and skin pomade/creams, fruit toffees or fruit bars and many others produced from wild fruits. The activity would be carried out by Savanna Nutraceuticals Ltd

9 Embark on intensive wildfire prevention and management
One hundred (100) members of the beneficiary communities would be trained in fire fighting and first aid techniques and serve also as watchdog committee to ensure responsible environmental behaviour. The squad will also help the communities to formulate their own environmental rules and regulations to govern the environment. After the training they will be issued with identification cards and Wellington boots. The twenty man squad will be encouraged to train additional twenty from their respective settlements to beef up their number. Resource persons will come from GNFS and EPA. The activity will take place in Dorimon and would be carried out every year up to the end of the 1st quarter in 2014.

Output 2: 100 hectares degraded land restored through integrated water and soil management, agro forestry, wildfires management, natural regeneration, enrichment planting and woodlot establishment

Prepare participatory land-use plans
The project would assist beneficiary communities to prepare land-use plans using participatory tools such as resource mapping, community mapping, transect diagram and group discussions. The focus of the land-use plans would delineate clearly agricultural lands from grazing lands, woodlot plantations, settlement lands and lands for natural regeneration.

Establish community nursery
The project will utilize the nursery established by the EPA in Maase to raise 150, 000 seedlings for supply to all the communities involved in the project. A group of 5 people (2 men and 3 women) would be trained as nursery managers to look after the nursery. The nursery will generate additional income for the project from the sale of fruit seedlings, ornamental plants and other fast growing seedlings such as moringa and acacia and vertiver.

11. Identify and demarcate 50 ha degraded lands and put them under natural regeneration and organize enrichment planting
A total of 50 ha of degraded lands in all the affected communities would be demarcated and put under natural regeneration and enrichment planting. The reserve would be protected from wildfire and encroachers from the public by the wildfire management volunteer squads to be put in place. The activity will be carried out with resource persons from EPA, GNFS and FSD.

12. Establish a 16 hectares multipurpose woodlot and fodder banks
To reduce the pressure on the forest as a source of fodder for livestock and energy, each community will be made to establish at least 2 hectares multipurpose woodlot and fodder bank.

13. Establish 20 ha. agroforestry on farms of interested farmers
In order to protect the surface soil from gully erosion as well as increase crop yield the project will support 5 farmers in each of the communities to establish at least 0.5 ha agro forestry under alley cropping on their farms using moringa, pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) and acacia albida (gozanga). The selection of these species is not only to prevent soil erosion but also to increase income and boost nutrition through processing and marketing of these plants. Resource persons would come from MOFA, FSD, SARI.

14 Reinstate 10 ha degraded lands

The project would allocate 10 ha of degraded lands including burrowed pits in the project area and reinstate it. Farmers would be introduced to organic farming and carefully prepared compost will be prepared on the site of each burrowed pit and this will be spread to 300mm thick. The ecology of the area will be improved with fast growing resilient and economic plants such as Pumpkin, Jatropha, Moringa, Mahogany, Dawadawa, Cashew, Mango and Cassia. The activity will be carried out by MOFA/FSD

15 Assist farmers to undertake erosion control measures in their farms
Farmers in all the project sites would be encouraged to implement erosion control measures on portions of lands in their farms that have eroded using stone bonding and contour farming techniques. Resource persons would come from MOFA, and SARI. Resource persons from MOFA and SARI will carry out this activity.

16 Establish buffers, windbreaks and filter strips

The project would encourage farmers to establish windbreaks, buffers and filter strips in their farms and in badly degraded soils. The project will encourage farmers to establish a 1 km buffer and filter strips along the banks of the Black Volta. The windbreaks in particular would help reduce wind erosion and protect field crops from blowing storm. The buffers and filter strips would help intercept pollutants from reaching and silting the Black Volta and other water bodies. Resource person will come from MOFA, FSD and SARI.


17 Support traditional authorities with training and resources to form and operate local fire management and control units.

The project will introduce early burning systems in high fire prone areas. Non- formal educational facilities will be used to embark on aggressive educational campaign on bush fire prevention in all the project sites. The chiefs, elders and Tendaambas and Wa West District Assembly would be responsible to carry out this activity.


Output 3: 120 farmers supported to establish and sustain alternative livelihood enterprises through improved production methods and packaging and providing market access

Project Activities
18 Set up shea butter Processing Enterprises
The project will train and support women groups in all the project areas to establish an improved shea butter, and moringa processing enterprises. The processed products will be linked to local and international markets. The training programme will be undertaken by Rural Enterprise Project.

19 Identify and train 20 farmers in the production of honey, small ruminants and poultry production
The project will identify and train 20 women from the beneficiary communities in beekeeping, small ruminants? and local poultry production to serve as alternative income source, thus reducing the burden on the Savannah first and therefore promoting natural regeneration. The training would be carried out in the 4th qtr of 2012 and will last up to the end of the project life cycle. Resource persons will come from MOFA, and CRS.

21 Identify market sources for honey, shea butter, and small ruminants for trained small producers

The project will identify market sources for honey, shea butter, jatropha nuts or oil, moringa leaf powder and oil, sunflower seeds and small ruminants using effective marketing channels such as radio, print media, trade fairs and the internet to gain access to the local and international market. This activity will be carried out by Savanna Nutraceuticals, NBSSI, and MOFA.

22 Support local beneficiaries in dry season vegetable farming

The project will support farmers in the beneficiary communities to engage in dry season farming using water pump to pump water from the Black Volta. This will supplement the income obtained from their farming operations. Resource person will come from GIDA and MOFA.

23 Identify and train local potters to construct energy-saving domestic stoves

The project will support local potters in the beneficiary communities to mould energy saving cooking stoves using clay deposits obtained from the area. This will help reduce the quantity of fuel wood used for cooking. The mould for the energy saving mud stove would be obtained from KNST in Kumasi and expert local potters will carry out the training.

Output 4: Best practices and lessons learned documented and disseminated

Project Activities

25. Identify, document, and disseminate best practices and lessons learned
The project will document and disseminate knowledge on the best practices and lessons learned to inform policy makers at the local and national level. This activity will be carried out quarterly by Sungmaale Association. And will end in the 1st quarter of 2014

First Quarter report

1. Organized community fora in six (6) communities namely: Pase, Gua, kong, Kong ?Duore, Mwabaase and Jambuse. to oversee the overall planning and implementation of the project.
2. 106 women have been trained in local soap making using shea butter as the main oil base.
3. 100 volunteers trained in fire prevention and management.
4.150,000 capacity nursery established to raise and supply seedlings for transplanting.

Second quarter report

i. Fifty (50) rabbits, 8 males and 42 females for two communities, namely Pase and kong for breeding were supplied and twenty (20) cages were also supplied.
ii.The project successfully implemented a 2 acre dry season vegetable farming for the beneficiaries in Mwaabase and Jambuse.
iii. A total of 20,000 polybags were potted with soil and various tree species sown for transplanting. The species include caccia, albizia, moringa and mahogany.
iv.The shea butter mill has been installed and electrical fittings have being fixed

END OF PROJECT REPORT ATTACHED.