1.0 PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND INTENDED RESULTS
1:1 Project Background
The presence of at least eight pair of the globally endangered Common Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) has been confirmed in the Tano River Wildlife Division since 1998. They were believed to have migrated from northern Cote d’Ivoire and entered the Tano basin through the Abe Lagoon. Locations where this sub-population have been observed stretch from Half-Assini at the south-west coast, through Asankragwa to Mehame (Asutifi District) in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. Current observations suggest that a small herd, with young, is resident in the proposed project area, an approximately 30km stretch of the Tano River between Asuhyiae, Ahafo Ano North of Ashanti Region, Sienchem in the Southern, near Goaso in the Brong-Ahafo Region, and Tano-Odumase near Bibiani in the Western Region. The presence of young in the herd further suggests that the hippo population, typically found in the savannah zone, have adapted to conditions in the high forest ecosystem and is breeding successfully.
The Wildlife Division and Green Shepherd Ghana has been monitoring this sub-population periodically over the past five years, but has neither the logistic nor financial means to devote to a meaningful conservation effort, although it is always ready to offer technical nor management support to local communities and civil society to do so.

1:2. Uniqueness of Project Area

The proposed project site is the only location in the high forest zone in Ghana to harbour a sub-population of the globally threatened Common Hippopotamus. It is made up of meandering loops of the Tano River fed by several small and large tributaries. Together with the mixture of hilly and flat terrain, these extensive riverine network offer excellent deep pools for refuge and extensive flat grassy and herbaceous vegetation beyond the riverine forest for food. The river width varies from as little as 10m in rocky gorges, to over 100m during flooding. A preliminary biological survey in a mere 14km section of the area in 2004 revealed the presence of at least 37 wildlife species from 31 families (including another globally endangered Olive Colobus monkey (Procolobus verus), and many plant species of economic, medicinal and other bio-economic values. This varied topographic and biological diversity is being utilized by cocoa and foodstuff farming communities with traditional norms and practices, such as sacred groves and totem animal and plants, which have hitherto mostly favoured the riverine ecosystem. Considering the biological, topographic and socio-economic attributes of the project area, the potential for the creation of a biological corridor for animals and plants, eco-tourism development, and livelihood improvement is not likely to be matched elsewhere in the country.

1.3 Problem Statements

The hippo population has taken refuge in an area where they are not naturally known to the local communities. Most sections of the Tano River and its tributaries that are close settlements in the project area currently undergoing serious process of conversion of the riverine forest to unsuitable intensive agriculture, resulting in water pollutions, soil erosion and deforestation. Unfortunately, hippos have daily and seasonal migratory habits and move long distances to prime feeding ground.
This has resulted in actual and potential conflict with people through the crop-raiding activities; sheer fear of the huge size of the animals, or attempts by local hunters to shoot them for meat. Essentially, the universal fear and resentment from the local communities stems from a general lack of experience with such a large beast hitherto unknown to the area, and possibility of the hippos attacking and killing humans, or the hiring of hunters to kill them is high. This requires that urgent action be taken to ensure that (a) the hippos and the entire riverine ecosystem is protected and thrive in the area, and that (b) local communities benefit from the adoption of sustainable land used practices, including eco-tourism.

2:0 Project Goal and Objectives
2:1 Project Goal

The overall project goal is to contribute to conservation of the Common Hippopotamus and biodiversity in a 30km stretch of the riverine ecosystem of the Tano River at its transition from the Brong –Ahafo to the Ashanti Region.-Western Region

2:2 Project Purpose
Green Shepherd Ghana (GSG) proposes to work in partnership with the people of the Tano River (Tano River Communities) and collaborate with additional partners, to initiate the development of alternative sustainable livelihood options within the locally owned forest areas of the designated communities. This is coupled with enhanced environmental education and training programmes, contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of their forest resources. The aims of the proposed project include biodiversity assessment of the Tano River resources development through community resource Management Area (CREMA), implementation of community vegetation nurseries for restoration work; the initiation of alternative livelihood support schemes (including small scale forestry and ecotourism); coupled with environmental education, training and local capacity building programmes within the target communities. This aims to achieve local sustainable development based on benefits derived for local forest biodiversity.

2:3 Project Objectives
(a) To establish a community-managed wildlife sanctuary focusing on a resident herd of the Common Hippopotamus,
(b) To rehabilitate degraded sections of the riverine forests fringing the Tano River and its tributaries.
(c) To promote sustainable land use (mainly agricultural) management practices in the area, especially along the Tano River banks, and
(d) To promote a community-managed eco-tourism package.
(e) To promote awareness on values and benefits of wildlife conservation and CREMA establishment.

The project is a riverine corridor, primarily targeted at protecting the resident hippo population, but intended to benefit other species and their habitats, as well as the local human communities. This goal is in line with the growing prominence of biological corridors in national and international conservation efforts such as those by WWF, IUCN and CI. Corridors promote the free flow of flora and fauna between ecological refuges, allowing populations to interbreed and provide access to larger habitats. As a proposed riverine corridor, the project area is particularly important because its conservation will benefit both aquatic and terrestrial species. The fact that the hippo herd (s) has adapted to the high forest ecosystem and is actually reproducing is a unique occurrence. It offers the possibility of Ghana’s hippo population expanding beyond its current restricted range. Due to its unique topographic, biological and socio-economic diversity, the project also offers immense recreational (eco-tourism) and conservation education opportunities to both residents and visitors.
They will not only promote poverty alleviation in the area, but also offer conservation education opportunities.

2.4 Project Rational
The rationale for the project is to contribute to:
(a) The Government of Ghana’s vision of conserving the country’s biodiversity, especially the wildlife and wetland estate, within and outside reserves; (b) The Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy II; (d) The promotion of community participation in the sustainable management of forest and wildlife resources, as enshrined in the Forest and Wildlife Policy (1994); e) UNDP GEF, objective of supporting biodiversity conservation activities in Ghana; and
(f) To collaborate in the implementation of the local District Assembly Development Plan.

2:5 Linkage of the Project to National Biodiversity Strategies of the Forestry Development Plan of Ghana.

The Ghana government (forestry Commission) recognizes the importance of conserving and sustainable using forest biodiversity, and as such the UNDP Global Environmental Facility has assisted the government to prepare the National Biodiversity Strategy and action Plan (NBSAP) to meet commitments to the CBD as well as to ensure that the country’s globally significant biodiversity is fully considered in any natural resource. Prior to this, in 1994 the Government of Ghana initiated the National Forest and Wildlife Conservation Action Program, in conjunction with the World Bank / UNDP and subsequently, the Forestry Act (1994) was enacted to facilitate establishment of a sustainable Natural Resource Management Additionally, the Forestry Commission has developed CREMA Concept for good governance, transparency and accountability in the forestry sector, and to generate better conditions for landholders. The project’s primary objective is to help local people and government and non-governmental entities to manage and conserve Ghana’s extensive protected Areas. Ghana National Forest Commission through CREMA Concept has stressed the need to empower landowners to manage forest / sustainably and make land degradation less damaging and also encourage landowners to set aside biologically rich natural resource areas for conservation purposes.

3. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT OUTPUTS AND ACTIVITIES

3.1 Expected Outputs

At the end of the one-year period, the project is expected to have produced the following main outputs:

? A community-managed Hippopotamus Sanctuary established on approximately 100m wide and 30km long section of the Tano River;
? At least 90% of degraded sections of the riverine forest fringing the Tano River and its tributaries rehabilitated;
?Sustainable land use practices adopted in at least 90% of the sanctuary area; and
? A community-managed eco-tourism industry with a visitation capacity of at least 500 per annum developed.
? Awareness of values and benefits of wildlife conservation created and CREMA initiated in at least one community area.

3.2 Project Activities by Output
The following activities will be carried out under their corresponding objectives and expected outputs:

Objective 1: To establish a community-managed Hippopotamus Sanctuary on approximately 100m wide and 30km long section of the Tano River a Hippo Sanctuary

Planned Activities
• Surveys on the population size and ecology (e.g.) food species, daily/seasonal activity pattern, resting pools, and feeding grounds, etc, in the project area conducted
• Conduct surveys and submit report
• Conduct surveys of flora and fauna and submit survey report
• Document Indigenous knowledge on wildlife and other resource management systems
• Document Current and potential conflict situations between the hippos and local communities and identification of practical solutions to them
• Survey and demarcated boundary for the establishment of the hippo sanctuary
? Hold community meetings for consensus on boundaries
? Conduct surveys
? Demarcate surveyed boundary
? Produce boundary maps and descriptions
? Submit survey reports for gazettement.

• Train and equip Sanctuary Management Team (SMT) and guards
? In consultation with participating local communities, constitute Sanctuary Management Team and Guards
? Conduct training workshops for SMT and Guards
? Procure and assign equipments to SMP and Guards
? Submit training reports

• Enact bye-laws for the regulation of activities within the sanctuary enacted
? Conduct surveys local perceptions and recommendations for a sanctuary bye-law.
? In consultation with Sanctuary Management Team, conduct a series of consultative workshops with participating local communities on various stages of draft bye-law
? Confer with District Assembly and attorney-General’s Department on draft bye-law.
? Submit draft bye-law to District Assembly for enactment.

• Develop Hippopotamus Sanctuary Management Plan
? Contract out management plan development to suitable consultant
? In consultation with Sanctuary Management Team, conduct a series of consultative workshops with local communities on the structure and content of Management Plan
? Submit draft of Management Plan to Sanctuary Management Team, Project Management Team and the DAP for review
? Submit final draft of Management Plan.

Objective 2. To rehabilitate degraded sections of the riverine forest

Output 4.2.1. At least 70% of degraded sections of the riverine forest fringing the Tano River and its tributaries rehabilitated;
Planned Activities
• Identify degraded sections along the Tano river and tributaries
• Establish tree nursery stocked with indigenous and useful exotic species
• Provide seedlings to land users to degraded section of river
• Undertake enrichment planting of degraded areas
• Undertake periodic replacement of dead seedlings.

Objective 3. To promote sustainable and use management practices

Output 4.3.1. Sustainable land use practices adopted in least 90% of the sanctuary area

Planned Activities
• Contract out management plan development to suitable consultant
• Identify suitable sustainable land use practices (e.g. agro-forestry, bee-keeping etc)
• Train pioneer volunteer local people in identified land use practices
• Organise study tours for volunteers
• Extend training package to other interested community members.


Object 4. To promote a community-managed eco-tourism programme

Output 4.4.1 A community-managed eco-tourism industry with a visitation capacity of at least 500 per annum developed.

Planned Activities

• Contract out eco-tourism development programme to suitable consultant
• Identify suitable eco-tourism attraction and activities
• Develop selected tour sites / packages, including Visitor Reception Centres
• Train local tour guides to provide reliable tour services
• Market tour package to identified potential tour groups / educational institutions.

Objective 5. To actively promote awareness on conservation of wildlife and their habitat as a beneficial land use option

Output 5.1. Awareness of the values and benefits of wildlife conservation promoted

Planned Activities
• Launch project
• Conduct survey on community perception of conservation issues of second quarter of the project
• Conduct weekly radio interviews and advertisement
• Conduct quarterly film show on conservation issues focusing on community participation.

PLAN TO ENSURE COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION

An in-depth consultation has already taken place, with discussions beginning in 2004 with community and stakeholders representatives. This proposal has evolved as a direct result of that consultation process and a pre-project development visit which was undertaken from November 23rd - December 1st 2006. During this trip (undertaken by GSG Project Officers) meetings were held with local community leaders and representatives to ensure their needs were considered in the project. In Ahafo, (project area) 97% of the local land is owned and managed under customary tenure and stewardship, by local clans and tribal groups, thus, communities have the final say in all resource management decisions. Consequently consultation with local leaders has been a key component to ensure support of local governance. The local Assembly Members and Members of Parliament are also clan representatives of the project area, thus minimizing risk of the project conflict with local governance approaches.

Individuals and focal groups, mainly farmers operating on the riverbanks have expressed grave fear about possible actual and potential crop raiding personal attacks from the hippos as well as other wildlife in general. The project will, therefore, use various techniques under the Participation Rural Appraisal (PRA) methodology to gain access to the communities, and to gain their support and active participation in the project activities. The overall approach will be to facilitate the running of the project by the community members, and foster intra-community cooperation. Specifically, our operational approach will be:

? Use regular consultation with relevant stakeholders to seek consensus before undertaking any project activity, from the planning, through implementation to monitoring and evaluation.
? Directly involve members of the different communities in data collection under the various surveys, drafting livelihood support revolving fund and its associated livelihood ventures.
? Actively seek the support of the Local District Assemblies and Regional Coordination Council, as well as governmental institutions, (especially Wildlife Division and Forest services Division) to ensure that fits into their developmental and operational goals.

7.0 RISKS TO SUCCESSFUL PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION
7.1 Land and biological resources tenure system.

Land/resource tenure issues have enormous influence on the prospects for sustainable natural resources management. As a result of intensive human occupation and land use for centuries, there are hardly any trees of commercial timber size in the project area. However, the remaining smaller sized trees have considerable commercial and usufruct value, with a complex tenure arrangement different from land tenure. Trees are known to be resources that belong exclusively to stool lands even where the land on which they occur have been leased out to tenant farmers under what ever clear in spite of recent laws on plantation development. Since the project to plant thousands of trees along the Tano River, this is likely to generate litigation and disturbances between the land owners and the tenants who may actively invest in tree planting. This will be compounded by fishing activities on the water, as well as demarcation and prescriptions to restrict human activities in the Hippo sanctuary Area. This project would initiate and facilitate signing of Memoranda of Understanding among Stake Holders. Understanding on resource ownership and fishing rights but it is anticipated that this is not going to be easy, especially do chieftaincy conflicts exist in the communities. Failure to secure an appropriate arrangement might affect the biodiversity component of the project adversely.

7.2 Human-wildlife conflict
The local communities have had practically no experience in dealing with crop raiding and other conflict situations from the presence of the hippos. Even when people are adequately educated on human-wildlife conflict and are resolved to implement them, there is always the potential for an unexpected dangerous situation to occur. This may be in the form of crop raiding, capsizing of a unexpected dangerous situation to occur. This may be in the form of crop raiding, capsizing of a canoe by hippos, or a direct attack by a a hippo wounded by a poacher. A single negative incidence of such situations may jeopardize the project. The documentation of current and potential conflict situation between the hippos and local communities will enable the project identify practical solution to them. The presence of the Wild animals Control Team of the Wildlife division in Goaso, within 20 minutes reach of the project area, offers some consolation for continuous monitoring and education of conflict situations.

7.3 Sustainable landuse practices
Successful implementation of the alternative landuse practices, such as seeding production and bee-keeping in the project is contingent on the availability of resources (e.g. seeds and breeding stock) and timely provision of hands-on technical support. Availability of water is not a problem, but other inputs, such as aviaries, that may have to be obtained from outside the project area as well as the absence of other environmental and social factors like insect and disease attack on the seedlings and the small ruminants and social upheavals as well as the cooperation of the other local people at patience of the groups and their leadership as well as the cooperation of the other local people at large in purchasing the seedlings and the animals and paying for them as planned.. If any of the inputs is not obtained at the required time achievement of the output and the objective of the activities are likely to suffer. A rigorous and proactive project management may forestall many of these risks, but the greatest anticipated risk is social unrest, which though extremely remote, is still possible.

7.4 Institutional/organizational collaboration
The effective and close collaboration and cooperation of the partner organization in ensuring strong technical support, smooth coordination, monitoring and evaluation of the project activities is crucial to the achievement of the purpose and objectives of the project. The lack or inadequacy of such support may affect the success of the project.

7.5 Funding of the project
Project implementation is strongly contingent on the availability of funds. Donor funding is often encumbered by procedural impediments which create delays and use of time and the organizations staff. Inefficient and inappropriate implementation procedures can have negative effects (delays) on the implementation schedule. It is expected that, all project stakeholders, including the donor who may have a role to play in the implementation would respect common institutional goals and procedures.

8. EVALUATION PLAN AND INDICATION (Project Impact and Dissemination strategies).

The project will deliver a conservation approach applicable to the local customary land tenure system, preserving an important forest/river ecosystem whilst permitting sustainable community forestry for local stakeholders. Enhancement of local environmental capacity will result in long-term sustainable resource use and effective conservation of the Tano River. Trained stakeholders will benefit from alternative livelihoods whilst conserving the Tano River resources for local and regional benefit. The core results and strategy for dissemination, ensuring impact, are outlined below:


Result Impact & Dissemination Strategy
Stakeholder Training
Training of key community personnel in eco-tourism, eco-forestry and associated resource management issues will provide technical support and capacity for local stakeholders to protect their own environments, empowering the Tano Communities to determine their own futures.
Trained Guides & Ecotourism
Trained guides will facilitate the introduction of a responsible guiding and trekking programme which will allow local stakeholders of the Tano Communities to better manage the environmental impacts of tourism, ensuring they are positive for the tourists, local communities and wildlife.
Environmental
Education Programme
The active engagement of schools within the project area will further strengthen long-term local environmental capacity and further promote the project for continued local biodiversity conservation.
Biodiversity
Conservation &
Research Training
The biodiversity databases (e.g. GIS), monitoring protocols and trained personnel put in place by the project will provide a foundation for future research and management of the Tano Communities area. The development of local facilities will ensure a focal point for the implementation of an ecosystem-based approach to environmental management.
Sustainable Livelihood
Generation
The Livelihood Support System and Eco-tourism will provide a sustainable alternative source of income for a number of Tano River Communities, reducing the pressure placed on the species and habitats of Tano River through other unsustainable livelihood development practices.
Publications &
Presentations
Project progress, findings and outputs will be publicized through radio, television and newspaper items in an active campaign to bring attention to the project.
Knowledge transfer and capacity building based on personal involvement of local people are at the heart of this project and hence ‘dissemination’ is an integral facet of what is planned. Additionally, outputs from this project will be used to promote this community conservation model to support the developing National Forestry Commission.

8 b. Project Sustainability

7.1 The Project will be sustained through Revenue – Generating Mechanism (Types of Fees and Charges in the Project Areas)
Fee Type Description






8. c Project Sustainability through Training and Development.


The Project will be sustained through training within the project setup under the following key areas:

1) Eco-tourism Centre Staff - The staff will be recruited (ideally from the local communities) based on relevant experience and knowledge of the Tano River. Training will be based on the approach currently used by Green Shepherd Ghana for project managers and field assistants. Who shall co-ordinate research and educations activities for both local (national participants) and international eco-tourists. Completion of the 12-month training period will permit the staff to successfully manage the centre and coordinate the intended education and research programmes. Training will be delivered by Green Shepherd Ghana and other stakeholders’ personnel.

2) Guides - The guide trainees will be primarily selected from the local community by the partner organizations under the following criteria: knowledge of biodiversity issues, knowledge of species and habitat characteristics within the Tano River and ability to learn techniques and teach those techniques to others. Training will take part in four phases, each of two weeks, and successful completion will ensure guides can lead groups to the same standard of Ghana Tourist Board.

3) Research & Monitoring – Local stakeholders will receive training in (i) Tropical forest ecology; (ii) Vegetation Inventory; (iii) Wildlife and survey techniques. The training programme will be built of collective expertise of Green Shepherd Ghana, Forestry Commission and Ghana Tourist Board/Environmental Protection Agency in ecological disciplines such as ecology, faunal and floral sampling and surveying techniques, geographical information systems, environmental decision-making, management planning, and environmental education. Training will be delivered by Green Shepherd Ghana/Forestry Commission personnel.

4) Environmental Education – Local Environmental Volunteer Groups will be trained in effective environmental education techniques, building on the 4+ years of experience that Green Shepherd Ghana has in the field. Training will be delivered by Green Shepherd Ghana personnel.

5) Eco-forestry – Members of the community forestry committee will be trained in all aspects of ecoforestry using established protocols.

The effectiveness of the training will be evaluated through attendance records, questionnaires and practical tests completed by the trainees to assess the knowledge and techniques they have learnt. The quality of the field survey reports and management plan development will also be monitored to ensure that the trainees have assimilated and implemented successfully the techniques taught.

To ensure the sustainability of the training delivered, effective handover protocols and documentation will be developed with the trained centre staff, and two guides will be trained to train future guides. These activities will be overseen by the project staff.

8 d. Project Based Monitoring and Evaluation

Management practice guidelines established for sustainable habitat: Forest management guideline written: Green Shepherd Ghana (GSG) will monitor and review progress of work in collaboration with stake holders.

Local counterparts’ involvement in the project’s aims: Local stakeholders sign a memorandum of receipt of sustainable management practice guidelines with a commitment to implement.

Ecotourism centre completed by QTR 3: Photographic record delivered to GEF showing Changes: Green Shepherd Ghana staff on-site to keep a date -validated photographic record and submits with explanation to GEF.

Vegetation restoration nurseries established by QTR 2. Photographic record delivered to GEF showing progress of work: Green Shepherd Ghana staff on-site to keep a date -validated photographic record and submits with explanatory to GEF.

Training/Education programmes delivered: Photocopies of course examination certificates with names of those successful at the end of the training programme: Green Shepherd Ghana staff on-site to maintain records (Centre staff & Guides) with co-signatures on certificates from GSG to GEF