The project addresses problems of loss of biodiversity in the Enchil district due to establishment of cocoa plantations. The project area is within the high forest zone and the goal is to protect and improve the biodiversity and ecological status of the Enchi Sacred Grove to safeguard cultural values and to promote socio-economic benefits.

The proejct will undertake the following activities:

1 Develop local capacity for conservation and management of Enchi sacred Grove. This would be done through:

1.1- Community awareness creation and education on need for conservation. The Community education will be integrated into the various workshops and seminars as well as through purposeful informal discussions to be held within the community. The staff and members of GACON who are specialist in the area of community mobilization and sensitization techniques at the early phase of the project would carry out this activity.

1.2 -The project intends to hold workshops on conservation and train about one hundred people drawn from Enchi community and other surrounding villages. The target groups for the workshop will be the prospective sacred grove guards and hunters both men and women.

1.3 Creating buffer zone around the grove boundary. The boundary of the grove will be re-demarcated and a buffer zone of 50 meters around the grove established. This will also involve planting tree seedlings around the boundary of the grove and weeding the boundary on a regular basis. To ensure the trees are maintained within the buffer zone, farmers will be encouraged to select the species to be planted on their land. This will encourage them to protect these trees so that they can gain the direct benefits in the long-term. Additionally, the zone will be used as a demonstration plot for diversification of Agroforestry and other multiple land use practices. Demonstration of Community livelihood activities of their choice, which are agro - based such as snail, bee keeping, and grass cutter farming will also be organised in the zone. Resource persons would be contracted depending on the choice of the livelihood activities.

1.4. Enrichment planting of indigenous tree species. A tree nursery will be established in a location near to the grove and close to a source of water. Two local nursery tenders will be identified to care for the seedlings. This will involve weeding and constant watering. With the projected increase in demand for seedlings for enrichment planting and normal planting in both the grove and on farmlands there is the need to establish and maintain sufficient nursery capacity. The need for the nursery establishment is also justified by the plan to integrate indigenous tree species and fruit tree species of farmers choice and suitable to the soil type of the area. It is envisaged that the nursery could be further developed to an all time income-generating project by selling seedlings and the community members would even acquired skills in nursery establishment. The Sacred Grove Management Committee would be the overseer of the nursery supporting GACON project staff stationed at the site. Indigenous fruit trees will be planted to serve as food source for the monkeys and other animals residing in the grove. The Forest Services Division in the District would be contracted to educate the people in nursery establishment techniques.

1.5- Undertake research survey in the area of botanical and wildlife resources. Except for a rapid appraisal, which was done during the baseline survey, no definite survey on species, especially rare or endangered has been carried out as yet. In order to develop a proper Management plan of the grove there is the need to carry out biological surveys to include birds, butterflies and other insects and other non-vascular plants. The botany and zoology groups of GACON who have rich knowledge in this area would carry out this aspect of the project. Also they would be assisted by some of the community members who have been trained in flora and fauna conservation and VSOs.

1.6 Tree labeling and identification leaflet. Different species of trees along the circular path will be posted appropriately for educational purposes. A leaflet on the trees will be provided by GACON to make for easy identification by school children using the site as educational centre and by visitors.

1.7 - Creation of a circular route. As the grove is mainly used as burial ground, a circular route will be provided to minimize disturbance on species and for easier movement within the grove.

1.8-Training and Formation of a Sacred Grove Management Committee. During the first phase of the project a Sacred Grove Management Committee (SGMC) will be established and further developed over the duration of the project. Membership will be drawn from all stakeholders in the grove to ensure all interests are represented during the implementation and continued management of the grove. The committee would be represented by representatives of all stakeholder groupings in the community and its surrounding villages such as women group, traditional authorities and youth, among others. Representatives of the following institutions would also be part of the committee as ex-officio members: GACON, Forest Services Division, District Assembly and Ministry of Food and Agriculture. There will be the need to build the capacity of the SGMC in conflict assessment and management for sustainable conservation practices. Specialists within GACON and trained local people will handle these topics. The aim being that the management committee capacity will be such that they are able to continue to function once the project funding ceases.

1.9 Formation and training of sacred grove guards. GACON will work with the SGMC to motivate and capacity-build volunteers from Enchi town to offer their services as grove guards. In order to make them more effective and efficient, the FSD effective forest guard would select as resource persons to train the grove guards in patrolling techniques. Also incentives, which include uniform, boots, and cutlasses, would be given to the grove guards to motivate them. One of their main tasks will be to guard the grove against known and perceived threats such as hunting, chainsaw operations, extraction of non-timber products and encroachment. Grove guards will be stationed to patrol the grove area and boundaries to prevent encroachment and hunting activities. To ensure sustainability of the venture, incentives will be availed to the guards in the form of visiting grove sites such as Buoyem to learn lessons (strengths and weaknesses) from the grove guards? performance. Since it is hoped that further advancement of the grove will include ecotourism development, a small fee will be levied from grove visitors to further ensure sustainability of the forest guard efforts. The chief, his elders and members of the Sacred Grove Management Committee will meet with GACON officials to draft the by-laws to complement the traditional norms and practices as well as rules and regulations governing the grove. Final copies for the by - laws have will be sent to the District Assemblies, Regional Police, and Traditional Council and also displayed at the palaces and other key locations.

1.10 - Reproduction of brochures and leaflets for visitors and study pack for school pupils. The Enchi Sacred Grove brochure and leaflets will be published and made available for educational purposes. Information material including data on the forest ecology, history and management will be provided as an educational tool. The leaflet will bear information on tree species and reserve map, which will be made available to students, researchers and other visitors to Enchi. The study pack for school children will be further developed and reproduced with the help of the local schools and SGMC. The study sheets will highlight the ecology of the grove, habitats, and communities and species present using hands-on learning techniques. Due care will be taken to ensure the terms and language used in the pack is suitable for school children.

1.11 - Promotion of the grove as a historical and educational centre. GACON, together with Enchi Sacred Grove Management Committee will participate in relevant exhibitions to promote the grove as a historically important area. Also leaflets on the grove will be designed and posted appropriately for promotion of meaningful education purposes for students and researchers.

1.12 ? Developing a long-term management plan for the grove. There is the need for compilation of a five-year management plan to embrace the long-term objectives of the project. This will be done with full consultation of the community, the SGMC, the chiefs and elders, youth group, women?s group as well as other voluntary groups. The plan will be reviewed and updated (if necessary) on a regular basis.

1.13 - Network with other organisations/projects. All information obtained during the course of the project will be made available to other organizations and actively promoted in the GACON newsletter, publications and public programmes through FM station. There will also be collaboration with other local and national projects. Further, GACON will continue to network through newsletters and other relevant information to all member organizations of the African Forest Action Network (AFAN)


2. To promote sustainable agro forestry technologies suitable at the area. The activities to be pursued are:

2.1 - Community awareness creation and education on need for agro forestry land use systems. Community durbar would be used to create awareness on the need for introducing agroforestry technologies as a sustainable land use systems. The community would be given the option to select about 40 people to be trained as trainers of trainees in a three weeks training, field visits and establishment of demonstration plots on agroforestry.

2.2 - Workshop on agroforestry technologies for trainers. One and half week?s theoretical training with pictorial illustrations would be organized for the selected participants. These participants will be the trainers who will impact the skills to be acquired to all members of the project community and its surrounding villages. Participants will be trained especially on how to utilize the participatory planning process for Agroforestry extension in the communities.

2.3 Field visit to SAMARTEX/ OCAP project site with trainers. After the training workshop, the trainers would be taken to the SAMARTEX OCAP project site at Oda Kotoamso in the Western Region to expose them to different innovations carried out by both farmers and the organization for three days.

2.4- Establishment of agroforestry technologies demonstration plots. After the field visit the trainers would be assisted by GACON staff and technical field staff of SMARTEX OCAP to demonstrate on plots within the buffer zones specific technologies they have learnt both at the training workshop and the field visits. Fifty farmers would be assisted to set up 50 ha agro-forestry farms

2.5 Development of agroforestry extension manual by the trainers. An agroforestry extension manual would be developed with inputs from the training workshop, field visits and the community ?based demonstration plots established by the trainers. Since most of the inputs of the manual are the ideas from the community it is expected to be easily adopted and serve as a field guide to community development workers, NGOs, and other governmental agencies engaged in or likely to engage in agroforestry development

3. To identify and develop sustainable income generating alternative livelihood that does not compromise the biodiversity conservation of the grove. The activities to be pursued are

3.1 Baseline survey on livelihood needs assessment would be carried out. A detailed baseline survey in the area of sustainable, short to medium term income generating alternative livelihood would be carried through household sampling. The idea is to let almost a member of the household benefit. Here the target group would be all sexes of the communities. However, priority would be given to women and youth. The women who in one way or the other are involve in a farming activity would be considered so that during off farming season could engage in the livelihood to generate income to support the family. With respect to the youth the livelihood options in the area of skills development would be enhanced during the survey for them to develop their talents and generate money through hard working.

3.2 Organise workshop to select trainers of trainees for the alternative livelihood options. A one-day workshop would be organised to allow the communities select members to be trained in the livelihood options who would serve as trainers to train other people. The rationale behind this livelihood options is to encourage the community generate money to buy the things they were collecting from the grove. Hence before the selection of the trainers, set criteria would be set up by the SGMC and its Ex-officio members to aid the community to select hardworking and innovative people who would be ready to impart the knowledge to others.

3.3 Training workshop on alternative livelihood. Depending on the choice of livelihood, GACON members? specialist in that area and other resource persons would be called upon to teach and develop the skills of the trainers. The duration of the training would depend on the kind of livelihood options. In each of the livelihood options training workshop, entrepreneurial skills would be developed among the participants to help in establishing their businesses. Also, issues in cooperative and credit union formation would be included to allow the communities realise the need for self-help. Their chances of securing loans could be better because of the association. The District Cooperative officer of the district would be called upon educates the trainers. In the course of this initiative, opportunities to assist farmers and local community members gain access to financial assistance to undertake these alternative livelihood-supporting ventures will be explored and facilitated.

Project Outcome Indicators:

By the end of the planned the following would be the outcome indicators:

? 50 m buffer zone created around the Enchi natural regeneration area
?Sacred Grove management committees formed trained and empowered to manage Enchi Sacred grove.
?At least 30 ha of degraded areas within the sacred grove replanted.
?Sacred grove promoted as Historical and education centre
?Long term management plan for the grove
?Network with other organization
?Tree labeling and creation of circular routes
?Trained Sacred Grove guards
?Agroforestry technology demonstration plots
?50 farmers trained and assisted to practice agro-forestry;
?50 ha of agro-forestry farms set up by individuals farmers
?One central nursery established;
?Livelihood support activities initiated.