Problem and rationale
Degradation in the Pamu - Berekum is very large scale and has become a critical issue due to its contribution to Greenhouse Gas emission, biodiversity loss as well as socio-economic benefits to society. The area is characterized by rampant bushfires which have caused major damage to forest resources and continue to be a major driver of forest degradation in the transition zone of Ghana including Pamu-Berekum Forest Reserve. First, it has led to nutrient-deficient soils, leading to cultivation problems and reforestation difficulties. Reduced primary productivity is another major problem. Richness in biodiversity such as wild animal species has decreased due to absence of tree cover, which is problematic in itself, but also has serious social effects. It means that the local population has to deal with the loss of wild fruits and tree species used for consumption of medical treatments. Altogether, the disruption of the ecological systems has led to a reduction of income and livelihood opportunities for these people.

A major cause contributing to the degradation of the reserve is the ineffectiveness of community involvement in the management and conservation of the Pamu Berekum Forest Reserve. Empowering the community members to be involved in the management and conservation of the reserve will position them as partners in its protection and promote sustainable management of the resources thereof. Local communities have limited capacity to participate in forest protection and sustainable management initiatives. There is also limited knowledge of the importance and implications of forest degradation on global climate cycles and the likely effect on local communities? capacity to adapt to these changes. Experience in the field has demonstrated how participatory planning and implementation ensures success, the importance of addressing the needs of local communities to achieve stakeholder collaboration and sustainable forest management. Collaboration with those able to influence, or those affected by degradation and related restoration activities is crucial. There is therefore the need to increase community participation in forest restoration and conservation if the interventions and objective of sustainable forest management of Pamu-Berekum FR is to be achieved

Project Objectives
To create community awareness of REDD+ for increased participation in the restoration and sustainable management productive landscapes fringing the Pamu-Berekum forest reserve in the Dormaa Forest District
Specific Objectives
I. To restore forest degraded areas to enhance carbon storage and sequestration
II. To strengthen Community-Based Structures for wildfire control
III. To sustain community education and awareness campaign on REDD+


Expected Outputs
Outputs 1.0: 100 ha of degraded agroforestry landscapes replanted areas to restored within the forest reserve for biodiversity conservation and enhance carbon storage and sequestration.
Output 2.0: Strengthen Community-Based Structures and governance for natural resource management and for wildfire control.
Output 3: Sustained community education and awareness campaign on climate change and REDD+
Output 4.0 Adaptive capacity of local farmers Enhanced through provision of alternative livelihoods enterprises

FIRST QUARTER REPORT
I. 55,000 seedlings have been procured and planted to restore 50 ha degraded areas
ii. 50 ha of degraded areas have been identified and mapped for three communities
iii. 2 km green fire belt have been established
iv. 2 successful awareness campaigns were carried on REDD+

SECOND QUARTER REPORT
I. 500 mango and 500 citrus seedlings have been provided and planted in off-reserve areas.
II. The project has provided 10,000 additional plantain suckers to 50 farmers to expand their farms.
III. Training was organized for the 50 farmers who were taken through various fields of discipline based on needs assessment including plantation planning and management, and on modern techniques for improved plantain planting for increased production
IV. . 2000 flyers and 200 T-shirts were developed and distributed to various recipients and others to create awareness .

THIRD QUARTER REPORT

I. 3 meetings held with stakeholders to identify logistics required for fire suppression and fighting
II. 50 beneficiaries supplied with inputs for livelihood establishment
III. 10 monitoring visits undertaken with stakeholders.