The project addresses problems in climate change focal area and the general aim is to control bushfires and bring about the conservation of forest biodiversity and the sustainable use of natural resources in the Jaman District for improvement in people?s livelihoods both now and in the future. The project activities to be carried out are to:

1. Develop and implement a community-based integrated bushfire control and forest management. Activities under this component will develop and implement a Collaborative Forest Management approach in the Dwenem Awaso and Twuekro Dwenem-Awaso traditional areas so that at least 100 ha of off-reserved forest management is dedicated as community resource management area (CREMA). Initially, an inventory of dedicated forests in the Dwenem Awaso and Twuekro Dwenem-Awaso traditional areas will be undertaken so that appropriate protection strategies can be devised with the approval of the Forestry Commission. A capacity building training programme will be implemented within the community to ensure that they have the ability and capacity to participate in fire management and formulation of fire management plans. Community stakeholders will be identified to form the Collaborative Forest Management Groups that will undertake fire management, forest protection and resource management. These groups will undertake training and capacity building to enable them develop Forest Management Plans for the sustainable management of the CREMA. Collaborative agreements, contracts and work plans will be prepared in participation with the Collaborative Forest Management Groups to ensure forest boundary maintenance, seedling production, tree planting, sustainable Non-Timber Forest Products harvesting, and fire-break maintenance.

Indigenous knowledge and practices in wildfire will be enforced and be integrated into the forest management systems. In participation with local communities, fire protection and management plans will be developed to cover the whole project area.

2. Local communities assisted to reforest denuded forestlands to provide timber and other forest products. Under this component 50 ha of denuded forestlands will be replanted with improved indigenous and exotic species. The first step will be to survey and demarcate the planting sites with the full participation of local communities, Traditional Authorities, Stool Chiefs, District Assemblies and landowners. The next stage will be to develop reforestation plans to cover all planting sites, again in participation with those same groups. Interested local community groups and individuals will be registered and organised into Working Committees and Working Groups to establish their own woodlots. Training and capacity building programmes will be prepared and implemented for specific groups, individuals planters and extension workers in nursery development, staking out, planting and nurturing of trees. Training programmes will also be developed and targeted specifically at farmers to enable them to develop and pass on knowledge to other farmers about nursery development and sustainable forest management. In participation with local communities, a central nursery will be established and smaller community nurseries also developed. The Working Groups will be assisted to clear sites, plant, nurture, monitor, and maintain new plants. These elements of the project will require the technical skills of trainers, capacity builders, foresters and nursery experts.

3. Capacities of stakeholders developed in wildfire management and forestry extension services. The project will organize and train Working Committee leaders and the local Collaborative Management Group in wildfire management and forest management to plan, implement, monitor and evaluate forest operational plans and fire protection and management plans in the future. Community members will be educated in participatory forest management strategies. The roles, rights, responsibilities and workable relationships for the Working Groups will be identified and defined. Forest Management Agreements will be devised and community members trained in their implementation. There will also be a broad educational programme aimed at local communities to increase their awareness of the importance of biodiversity, forest protection and the prevention of bushfires. The programme will also cover participatory forest management strategies to ensure communities continue to manage the forests in a collaborative and sustainable way.

4. Set up Small business enterprise development and alternative livelihood activities to enhance biodiversity conservation: Under this component the activities to be pursued will include the introduction of agro forestry, organic farming to farmer participating in the project and the setting up of small businesses including food processing, snail farming, honey production, rabbits, and grass cutter rearing. Women would be assisted to trade in non-timber forest products, and to develop local businesses to enhance biodiversity conservation