Project Background
The very existence of Pygmy hippopotamus found in the Tano River basin of Ahafo was regarded as a myth by many Ghanaian politicians, policy makers, development partners and other conservationists between 2002 and 2010 when Green Shepherd Ghana a local NGO in collaboration with staff of Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission at Goaso and with the support of local farmers first made the report on the existence of Hippopotamus in the Tano River. It was until 18th March 2011 when one of the Pygmy Hippos was found dead at Sienchem of the Asutifi district of the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana. Fewer than 12 are believed to survive as at today, scattered across Tano river basin along the Ahafo communities
The death of the globally endangered Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious) has confirmed their presence in the Tano River. They are believed to have migrated from northern Cote d’Ivoire and entered the Tano basin through the Abé Lagoon. Locations where this sub-population has been observed stretch from Half-Assini at the south-western coast, through Asankragwa to Mahame 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 130km stretch of the Tano River between Sienkyem in the southern, near Goaso in the Brong-Ahafo Region, and Tano-Odumase near Bibiani in the Ashanti Region. The presence of young further suggest that the hippo population, typically found in the savannah zone, has adapted to conditions in the high forest ecosystem and is breeding successfully.
Green Shepherd Ghana in partnership with the development partners:
UNDP GEF/SGP, CETAA/CIDA, SPEED Ghana (DANIDA/GTZ) ) have successfully implemented a number of activities 2005

Uniqueness of the Project
The pygmy hippo is a symbol of the forests of West Africa – the hippos’ fate is intrinsically linked to that of the forest. By securing a future for the pygmy hippo we will be securing a future for its threatened home: In doing so, the future of many other species threatened with extinction including; the forest elephant, etc will be assured
The pygmy hippo is the sole surviving example of its genus, having split from its closest surviving relative, the common hippo over 10million years ago. Thus it is an EDGE (Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered) species. EDGE species have few or no close relatives, and represent a disproportionately high amount of the world’s evolutionary history that is also at considerable risk of becoming extinct. This makes the pygmy hippo of huge significance from a conservation standpoint as the extinction of the pygmy hippo would allow this long evolutionary history to be lost forever.

Problem Statements

The conservation of the Tano river pygmy hippos is hampered by a basic lack of knowledge of its distribution, population status and ecology. Records of pygmy hippo are scant due to its cryptic, primarily nocturnal nature.The Hippos are adversely affected by a number of threats, including over-exploitation for subsistence- and commercial-hunting purposes, and the loss of available habitat through poaching, degradation, fragmentation and encroachment.

The principal goal of this project is the systematic generation of baseline data on species population status and trends as an indicator of the status of biodiversity in Tano River Basin.
Regular and consistent data collection and analysis are the basis for the early warning system alerting us to threats to biodiversity. The conservation of the Tano river pygmy hippo is hampered by a basic lack of knowledge of its distribution, population status and ecology. Records of pygmy hippo are scant due to its cryptic, primarily nocturnal nature, though it is thought to have declined over recent decades into three small fragments of its former range.

Camera trapping offers a non-obtrusive, cost-effective, simple and standardized method of surveying and monitoring terrestrial forest species. Well designed cameratrap monitoring programmes can provide a wealth of information useful for species conservation and protected area management. For example, proportion of area occupied (termed ‘occupancy’: MacKenzie et al. 2002), abundance (Karanth et al. 2004; Karanth et al. 2006), relative abundance (O'Brien et al. 2003), and detection probabilities (O’Brien in press), can be used to examine trends in species richness, local extinction and colonization (Boulinear et al. 1998; Cam et al. 2000; O'Brien et
al. in press).

Since human error is effectively reduced to placement and maintenance of the traps (skills that are easily taught and learned) rather than reliance on individual expertise in estimating distance or identifying sign (as per line transect methods), camera traps can help to simplify data collection, eliminating problems of observer bias. The photographs captured provide a permanent record of the data that can be independently revisited and identified by species experts.

There is actual 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.

Goal:
The principal goal of this project is the systematic generation of baseline data on species population status and trends as an indicator of the status of biodiversity in Tano River Basin, thereby contributing to the conservation and protection of Pygmy hippopotamus and its habitat.

Purpose: To enhance biodiversity conservation and promote sustainable land management in Tano River basin communities through building key stakeholder partnership on natural resource management governance to increase their voice.

Specific objectives in the 2011-13 field seasons are
1) To continue Hippos population assessments using camera trapping and radio telemetry to track daily movements, estimate home ranges, and determine habitat use,
2) ) To Further explore suitable habitat for pygmy hippos including wildlife corridors between Communities around Tepa (Ahafo Ano North District) of the Tano River, Maheme (Asutifi District) and the Kwaku Nyuma Reserves,
3) To expand environmental education and awareness in local communities.
4) To continue enrichment planting on the degraded sections of the riverine forest with bamboo
6) To promote sustainable and use management practices
7) To promote a community-managed eco-tourism program

Project Rational
The project is based on the vision of the Ghana Government to protect endemic and endangered wildlife species in the country, and to integrate poverty reduction strategy into the protected area network programme of the country. Therefore, its rationale is to;
(a) contribute to protected area management plan of the Government,
(b) contribute to the wildlife conservation mandate of the UNDP GEF SGP
(c) engage and involve local communities in biodiversity conservation, and
(d) contribute to the Poverty Reduction Strategy of the Government
Terrestrial forest mammals are an important component of tropical forest biodiversity, for example many serve important ecosystem functions as top predators, ecosystem engineers, seed dispersers and predators that shape forest structure and forest communities. However, these species are also adversely affected by a number of threats, including over-exploitation for subsistence- and commercial-hunting purposes, and the loss of available habitat through poaching, degradation, fragmentation and encroachment. A particular focus of this project is the pygmy hippo Hexaprotodon liberiensis. As the last remaining member of the genus with a long independent evolutionary heritage, its high level of threat (listed by IUCN as Endangered: IUCN 2007) and lack of current conservation attention make it a priority for conservation action (Isaac et al. 2007).


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.

Expected Results
Global Environment Results: The proposed project would result in multiple global, national, and local environment benefits, within the context of sustainable development. These benefits would include conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity
• prevention and/or control of pollution of major river systems from illegal activities and domestic waste
• improvement in carbon sequestration through improvement of vegetation cover
• provision of alternative economic livelihoods for communities in the traditional area;
9 Local Benefits/Results
• Population of Hippos known
• Environmental education strengthened and capacity of traditional authorities and local communities in resource management developed.
• Tano River Community Resource Management Area enhanced, gazetted and managed.
• Agro forestry and Sustainable land management practices strengthened.
• Processing of bamboo as livelihood activity strengthened
• NTFP industry to benefit small-scale producers enhanced.
• Provision of alternative livelihood enterprises
• Capacity building of key stakeholders and beneficiaries group

Description of Project Activities
Strategies
The project seeks to Strengthen Local Institutions through capacity building and technical assistance, awareness building and information dissemination, removal of constraints for poverty reduction in relation to Poverty-Environment Program interventions, engagement of communities through participatory resource and poverty mapping, and participatory resource planning and management. Among major activities shall include. Engagement of consultants and training of field staff, tasked to collate data. Women shall equally hold key positions as their male collogues
The use of Camera trapping and Radio-Telemetry-- Global positioning satellite (GPS), offers a non-obtrusive, cost-effective, simple and standardized method of surveying and monitoring terrestrial forest species. Well designed camera trap monitoring programmes can provide a wealth of information useful for species conservation and protected area management. Pits traps would be constructed along the Tano River. A total of 14 pit traps would be dug by local men.
Conduct Capacity building--The collaboration we have developed with the Forestry Commission/Wild life Division , Dr Ken Hammer of Vancouver Island University, Michael Abedi Lartey –Consultant , formally with the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission of Ghana, the Project would help train us to join efforts to create a training of field technicians for 4 different organizations – Seventy -two Community Watch Volunteers, Forestry Commission/Wildlife Division, Local NGO’s/CBO’,Farmers,Hunters Chiefs/Opinion Leaders,schools,etc
The project seeks further to use Football (Soccer) as a promotional strategy for the species and its habitat. Football/Soccer is the most popular pastime in Ghana and using it as a tool would assist this effort. Organizing a football league involving the local communities along the river Tano and using names of indicator species that exist there would provide opportunity for disseminating information about their importance and values.
A Tano River Hippopotamus Football League is therefore planned as a promotion and to expand the conservation education and awareness component of the project. The league will initially include eight teams from neighboring villages around the Tano River Hippopotamus. Each team will carry a name of an indicator animal species. Billboards, posters & brochures will provide information on the species named for a participating team. Team members will learn more about the species represented in the competition. Two trophies will be awarded to the winning team and runners-up; other teams will be provided consolation prizes for participating
The football/species promotional program would set up a committee that would include representatives from the Tano river communities. This program will be extended throughout the communities that lie along the Tano River and eventually the entire four to the entire district Assemblies. The program will provide information on the species named for a team, distribution, conservation status and other relevant information. An objective for this promotion is to select a species for the communities using criteria such as rarity, vulnerability to habitat change and disturbance