Background of the Community

Akropong and Kwasilansa lies within the central region of the Mfantseman District. The traditional area covers a total area of 200,000 ha and has an estimated population of around 10,000. The settlements are rural farmering communities. A cursory survey of the primary occupation of the people in the area revealed that 82% of the active labour force was engaged in farming, 0.6% in food processing (gari and oil palm), 6% in trading, 0.4% in hunting and palm wine, and 1% in other occupations2.

The settlements are one of the richest heritages in the Mfantseman District in terms of natural resources, including timber, wildlife, streams resources, forest estate and biodiversity. The area is classified under semi-deciduous coastal forest. This forest type is characterized by tall trees (height often exceed 50m), with an upper canopy consisting of a mixture of deciduous and evergreen species. On isolated hills within this forest type, occurs the Upland evergreen forest, a forest type, which is relatively rare, and accounts for only 0.3% of the country’s forests.

The area abounds in different species of animals including duikers, antelopes, monkeys, deers, porcupines, grasscutters, birds, reptiles, and wild snakes. There are also important species of medicinal plants, and have been under indigenous reservation for over 100 years. Part of these forests was declared as home for ancestors’ fetish and burial grounds of chiefs, Queen mothers and war captains, including fetish priest, and the other part was used for farming.

The traditional area is well drained with rivers and streams most of which are seasonal. Unfortunately, the biodiversity values of these rivers have not been well studied and/or documented, but all the rivers are known to be important sources of freshwater fisheries, particularly Ciclids and Clarids, for riverine communities. Most of these streams and rivers are being degraded through farming, human settlement and sand winning. Most of the streams especially those close to the settlements have been turned into refuse dumps and various forms of pollutants from domestic, agricultural activities, human settlement, agro-processing and other commercial activities. This has resulted in physical water quality deterioration.

2.2 DEFINITION OF PROBLEM (THREATS TO AKROPONG-KWASILNSA ECOSYSTEMS)

The Akropong-Kwasilnsa ecosystem, comprising forests harbouring a wide variety of globally important and unique flora and fauna, nationally important freshwater ecosystems, and diverse mineral and timber resources play a major role in the economic, religious, and cultural life of the Fantis. These important resources, however, are under threat from human-induced pressures, including over-exploitation and habitat degradation due to illicit logging and hunting. The area serves as the base for most illegal logging activities in the Central Region. Illegal logging poses major threats to biodiversity conservation in the area.

In addition to major economic activities like logging, sand winning and hunting, the local population who are mainly farmers use slash and burn farming methods for both cash and food crops grown under the bush fallowing land shifting cultivation system. In addition, crops that previously had little commercial value are gaining economic importance thus forcing farmers to intrude onto protected lands. Examples are oil palm, citrus and pineapple production has seen large tracts of the traditionally protected areas being converted into farmlands. New generation farmers who need additional lands increase pressures on available farmlands and moved on to fertile land in the traditionally protected areas.

Farming is by the slash and burn methods, with both cash and food crops grown under the bush fallowing and shifting cultivation systems. The average farm size of farmers is 3.50 ha. Major crops produced include yam, plantain, cassava, maize, cocoyam, cocoa, oil palm, citrus and pineapple. With the slash and burn system, primary and secondary forests are cleared for cultivation, most standing trees cut down and burned, before the crops are planted, resulting in considerable forest degradation and loss of biodiversity. Unfortunately, due to poor farming practices farmers tend to complain of inadequate farmland. However the continuous slash and burn cultivation practice, which use to be practicable due to the small population sizes is no longer suitable for today’s expanding rural population. Even hill slopes are farmed.

Bushmeat constitute a major source of animal protein in most rural communities in Ghana. Certain species are considered a delicacy and are preferred over domestic meat while others are eaten as part of certain traditional rites. All varieties of wild animals are accepted as comestible, resulting in serious overexploitation that has led to very low population levels of all large mammal species. Large mammals in forest reserves and farmlands constitute an important protein source for all the communities. Interviews with the farmers and hunters indicate that different species of wildlife used to found in the area. In addition to the bushmeat, the area is well known for other non-forest timber products (NTFP’s) such as mushrooms and snails, which are heavily collected when in season and are sold at Mankessim market..

The Abeadzeman situation is a clear case of a traditional area with rich natural resources that are threatened by misuse and ineffective management, where national governmental efforts have not been able to contain the situation. The traditional authorities are keen to protect the resources for the survival of their people, but currently lack the capacity to be effective

2.3 Project Objectives:

1. To support agroforestry development and sustainable agriculture in conserving biodiversity in the two communities.
2. To support the cultivation of non-timber forest products for the local market.
3. To train dropouts and teenage mothers in biodiversity conservation enterprises for sustainable livelihoods

3.0 EXPECTED OUTPUT

1. Four Community biodiversity groups assisted to establish agro-forestry farms and practice sustainable agriculture in Kwasilansa and Akropong

2. Environmental Resource Management and Livelihood Technology Learning Centre supported to mobilize biodiversity groups in the cultivation of non-timber forest products.

3. 40 school dropouts and teenage mothers trained in biodiversity enterprises development including, processing and packaging of food and fruits for sustainable livelihoods.

4.0 PROJECT ACTIVITIES

OUTPUT 1 Four Community biodiversity groups assisted to establish agro-forestry farms and practice sustainable agriculture in Kwasilansa and Akropong

Planned Activities
1.1 Organize community fora in the two communities to create awareness in Biodiversity conservation and Climate change.
1.2 Organize the poor and vulnerable single mothers and school dropouts into groups to undertake agroforestry to increase the quality of vegetation in the area.
1.3 In collaboration with Ministry of Food and Agriculture organize integrated soil fertility and organic farming
1.4 Assist registered groups to practice organic farming on their farms

OUTPUT 2 Environmental Resource Management and Livelihood Technology Learning Centre supported to mobilize biodiversity groups in the cultivation of non-timber forest products

Planned Activities

2.1 In collaboration with MOFA rehabilitate Environmental Resource management and Learning Centre at Kwasilansa
2.2 Train the biodiversity conservation groups to undertake the cultivation of non-timber forest products
2.3 Assist the groups to integrate farming of non-timber product such Aframomum melegueta (efom wisa); Piper guineense (?soro and ?fom wisa); passion fruit, moringa, and orange with the agroforestry.
2.4 Assist the identified groups to invest in snail farming, grasscutter, rearing

OUTPUT 3 40 school dropouts and teenage mothers trained in biodiversity enterprises development including, processing and packaging of food and fruits for sustainable livelihoods.

Planned Activities

3.1 Identify 40 needy, poor and vulnerable teenage and drop outs in the community.
3.2 Identify their training needs and classify them according to trade
3.3 Identify resource persons and organize training workshop to train them in selected activities at the Learning Centre.
3.4 Train the interested groups in processing and packaging of pepper, tomatoes, moringa, orange and pineapple for the local market.
3.5 Training interested women groups in construction of efficient wood fuel stoves as a business