DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT AREA:
The Togo Plateau Forest Reserve is situated mainly in the new Biakoye District, while the southern and eastern flanks lie within the Hohoe District. The Togo Plateau Forest Reserve was demarcated between 1929 and 1931. The land-owning communities are: Bowiri Division (Kubease, Amanfrom, Abetinase, Abohire, Aboabo, Takrabe).They own about 16.51% of the reserve; Alavanyo Division (Kpeme, Abehenease, Wudidi, Agoxoe). They own about 8.82% of the reserve; Santrokofi Division (Benua, Bume, Gbodome). The own about 7.69% of the reserve; Akpafu Division (Mempeasem, Odomi). They own about 21.39% of the reserve; Gbi Division (Gbi-Wegbe). Gbi owns about 9.00% of the reserve; Nkonya Division (Wurupong, Ntumda, Tayi, Bumbula, Adenkesu, Sibriso). They own about 36.59% of the reserve.

The project will be undertaken at Kubease with three other close communities during the first and second year with extension to Bowiri, Aboabo, and Abohire all in the Biakoye district of the Volta Region which is in the transitional forest zone and off reserve within high mountain cover. In terms of geological logical formations, the area has three main structures: (a)The Voltarian formation, seen around the Volta Lake; (b) the Togo Geological formation around the eastern flank, and (c) the Buem formation in the north-east.
The mean annual maximum temperatures range between 21 ? 37 degrees Celsius, while means minimum temperatures are between 11 ? 26 degrees Celsius. The period February ? March (or sometimes, April) is the hottest season in the year, while December has the lowest temperatures. Temperatures are high throughout the year for plant growth. The rainfall regime is characterized by a double maximal (May ? June & September ? October).
The provisional population figures from the 2010 census are as follows: Bowri Aboabo- 245, Bowri Kubease- 108 and Bowri Abohire- 492. The dominant ethnicity in the area is Guans and the dialects dominant in the area are Akan and Ewe.

Problem Statement:

An Increasing demand for cheap lumber for local markets combined with poor incentives for communities in the Togo Plateau to maintain and manage forests in and outside forest reserves, is a major stimulus for illegal harvesting and associated forest degradation. According to the Forum report, since 1992, there has been an upsurge of illegal felling and wild bush fire in reserves and on off-reserve lands, and measures by the Forestry Commission to control this phenomenon have been ineffective, and forest resources have been depleted.

The stated overall aim of the 1994 Forest and Wildlife Policy was, ?Conservation and sustainable development of the nation?s Forest and wildlife resources for the maintenance of environmental quality and perpetual flow of benefits to all segments of society.
? The Policy set out several strategies through which this aim would be achieved, including: (a) revision of forest reserve management planning procedures for sustainable forest management, including development of biodiversity conservation and environmental protection in the high forest zone; (b) local community participation in the management of forest and wildlife resources with rights to consultation, access and benefits;
(c) Private sector investment in plantation development, focusing on the conversion of the timber industry into a low volume, high value industry.

It is against this background that Pillar of Change held 3 community fora in the Kubease with the Chiefs, Opinion Leaders, and others from the 3 communities to diagnosis the problem and find solutions. Out of these consultations, over 5,000 teak seeds have been nursed by the community members at 3 community nurseries. 4 committees (project, forest, seedling and water management) have been composed in each of the community and members were trained in forest and wildlife management, Fire management techniques and enforcement of local bye-laws on resource management. This is to ensure the participation of the community members in the project. The Chiefs and people of the area have also promised their support for the programme. Community-based training plays a crucial role in the movement for social change. It is the primary tools for conscientizing the poor towards organizing themselves to take actions necessary for their emancipation and development.

MAIN OBJECTIVE

The main objective of the project is to assist the communities to promote sustainable forest management, conserve biodiversity and sustainable utilization of its resources for the socio-economic wellbeing of the people in the area.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives of the project are:
i. To establish Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA) programme in the three communities
ii. To promote sustainable agro forestry technologies suitable for the area
iii. To identify and develop self sustainable income generating alternative livelihood that does not compromise the biodiversity conservation of the plateau.

Project Justification:

The project is in line with GEF?s SGP OP6 Immediate Objective 1: Improve sustainability of protected areas and indigenous and community conservation areas through community-based actions. Additionally, it falls in line with GEF Focal Area Strategy that seeks to support projects that promote community protected area governance (community-based and collaborative management arrangements) for Protected Areas management, and extend the recognition, strengthening and adoption of Community Protected Areas (CPAs), including Sacred Groves, Community Resource Management Area (CREMA), and Community Dedicated Forests. The project will seek the implementation of the CREMA strategy across the selected geographic area and advocate its formal recognition by the forestry Commission. The programme will also seek to extend the community-based conservation approaches to landscape-level for priority areas around Global Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs), World Heritage sites, Biological corridors, hotspots, and important bird areas.


Global Environment Benefits

The proposed project would result in multiple global, national, and local environment benefits, within the context of sustainable development. These benefits would include: (a) conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity of the mountain range ; (b) prevention and/or control of pollution of major river systems from illegal activities and domestic waste; (c) prevention and/or control of degradation of watersheds through unsustainable land use practices; (d) minimization of carbon emission from shifting agriculture and the use of inefficient wood stoves; (e) improvement in carbon sequestration through improvement of vegetation cover; (f) provision of alternative economic livelihoods for communities in the traditional area; (f) rise in community awareness levels in environmental management and conservation

EXPECTED RESULTS:

The intended results of the project are:
1. At least 300 ha of forest placed under sustainable forest management to conserve biodiversity.
2. Sustainable agro forestry technologies suitable at the area established for at least 150 farmers
3. Self sustainable income generating alternative livelihood that does not compromise the biodiversity conservation of the plateau identified and established.