INTEGRATED AGROFORESTRY INITIATIVES FOR THE RESTORATION OF DEGRADED LANDS AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN KONJIAHI TRADITIONAL AREA
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT AREA:
The Konjiahi community is located within the dry semi-arid parts of the Nadowli District Assembly of the Upper-West. Region. The land, which is the main subsistence to the majority peasant farmers and support for natural resource, is seriously degraded. The degradation satiation is attributed to the combined effect of annual retail wildfires and unsustainable land uses. This has resulted in poor crop yield, food insecurity, household poverty, gender inequality, seasonal migration of the youth, salting of water bodies and general loss of biodiversity.
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2.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT:
In the past a bulk of the population of the Konjiahi community and its environs relied on the blossoming natural recourses in sustainable manner. However, vegetation, which is the pivot on which biodiversity revolves, is being lost to bad environmental practices, with wildfires at the top of the list. This problem needs immediate action to safeguard the situation for posterity. The situation is farther worsened by the fact that most of the youth migrate to the southern parts of the country annually due to poor soils at home. To forestall this challenge, the Integrated Agro-Forestry Initiative was born with the goal to conserve biodiversity and restored degraded land through agro forestry, improves soil fertility for the socio-economic well being of the people.
3.2 MAIN OBJECTIVE
The main objective of the project is to promote biodiversity conservation and restore degraded lands through community agroforestry practices, improved soil fertility technologies for the socio-economic well being of the people.
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3.3 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of the project are:
• To organize and develop the capacities of women in Konjiahi and the adjourning communities in soil and water conservation technologies, wildfire management, and tree planting on sustainable basis.
• To conserve biodiversity of the community land through the establishment of community forest and sustainable management of the existing sacred groves.
• To create community woodlots and fodder banks.
• To promote alternative livelihood activities
2.4 Project Justification:
This project is in line with GEF’s effort to conserve biodiversity and restore degraded land for the improvement of the socio-economic well being of the people. It is also in line with Ministry of Environment and Science’s programmer to promote sustainable use of natural resource and restoration of degraded lands in the country. In addition, the Upper- West. Region Coordinating Council, the EPA-Upper-West Region, and the Nadowli District Assembly have launched a vigorous campaign against wildfires in the Region and District. Further more the Ministry of Lands and Forestry and EPA are encouraging all citizens and communities to establish reserves, initiate agro-forestry and sustainable manage forest and woodland resources. This project therefore hopes to support these efforts. This project will also help to improve and conserve the country’s environment in particular and the global environment as a whole.
.
3.0 EXPECTED OUTPUTS:
The intended results of the project are:
• At least four community groups formed and trained in intensive wildfire and sustainable natural resource management.
• At least 65% of degraded lands restored through natural regeneration establishment, enrichment planting, woodlot establishment, and soil fertility techniques.
• At least 70% of women introduced to sustainable livelihood support for beekeeping, small ruminants rearing and shea-butter extraction.
4.0 PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Results 1.0 At least four community groups formed and trained in intensive wildfire and sustainable natural resource management
1. Support weekly environmental awareness programmes on Local FM Station.
The project will support weekly environmental awareness campaigns on Radio Upper-West in Dagare and Sissala to the whole region. This will help change attitudes and behaviour of people on wildfires and natural resource management. Resource persons will come from Suntan Nuntaa Agro forestry (NGO), MOFA, FSD, GNFS and EPA.The activity will run throughout the planned project periods.
1.2 Organize community fora for Konjiahi and its environs.
The project will promote environmental education campaigns on wildfires, soil and water management and natural resource management in Konjiahi and its environs as well as schools in the traditional area. Resource persons will come from Suntaa Nuntaa, MOFA, FSD, GNFS and EPA.The activity will come within the first quarter of the planned project period.
1.3 Compile community profiles of benefiting communities.
The project will conduct in depth biological and socio-economic baseline study of the beneficiary communities. This will provide adequate database for smooth project implementation. The activity will come within the first quarter of the planned project period and carried out by Faculty Integrated Development Studies (FIDS) of University for Development Studies (UDS), Wa Campus.
1.4 Form and launch project management committee.
The project will put in place project management committee in each of the four (4) communities; the chairpersons of which will come together to form the project board. The board will include the district assembly, chiefs, and tindamba (land lords) of each of the communities. The main function of the project board is advisory to the project management committee. The activity will come off within the first quarter of the project period by Nadowli District Assembly and EPA.
1.5 Embark on intensive wildfire prevention and management campaign.
The project will form and train one-twenty (120) Anti-wildfire prevention squad which will ensure responsible behaviour. In collaboration with the project management committee and beneficiary communities the squad will formulate and enforce community environmental rules and regulations to govern the environment. The squad will be equipped with Wellington boots, cutlasses and identification cards. The activity will take place in the second quarter of the project with resource persons from GNFS, FSD and EPA.
Results 2.0: At Least 65% Of Degraded Lands Restored Through Natural Regeneration Establishment, Enrichment Planting, Agro Forestry, Woodlot Establishment, And Soil Fertility Techniques.
2.1 Establish an indigenous tree seedling nursery.
The project will establish a 70,000 capacity indigenous tree seedling nursery within the natural regeneration site in the community near the sacred grove by a borehole. The nursery will provide seedlings to the project, educational institutions, communities and individuals. The project will train five (5) women to take care of the nursery through seed collection to management. To ensure sustainability the seedling will be on sale. This will generate income for the women, the community and the project. The nursery will develop within the first quarter of the planned project period with resources persons from FSD, MOFA and EPA.
2.2 Establish natural regeneration site
Konjiahi community has got a (5) hectare natural regeneration site around the crocodile pond, a sacred grove that exists in the community. The project will expand the site by five (5) hectares and reinforce it with indigenous tree species. The activity will come on in the third quarter of the project period with resource persons from Survey Department who will carry out the demarcation exercise.
2.3 Establish forty (40) hectares agro forestry.
The project will establish forty (40) hectares agro forestry in the community farm as well as farms of individuals. Farmers will be given financial and food rewards for the number of seedlings that are planted on their farms. At maturity the proceeds from the tees will go to the farmers. The species of trees for the project are grafted mangoes, Cashew, Moringa olifera, Shea and Dawadawa. The activity will come off within the third quarter of the project with resource persons from MOFA, FSD and Suntaa Nuntaa agroforestry.
2.4 Establish ten (10) hectares community woodlot and fodder bank.
To reduce pressure on the ecosystem, a ten (10) hectares community woodlot and fodder bank will be develop in the community. Fodder crops will be planted within the woodlot to feed livestock to boost up their production. Similar ones would be replicated in the other beneficiary communities. The activity will develop within the third quarter of the project with resource persons from FSD, MOFA, and EPA.
2.5 Organize soil fertility technologies training and support to seven (70) local farmers.
The project will organize four (4) hands on demonstration soil fertility technologies workshop for seventy (70) farm-families Farmers will also be taught soil and water conservation techniques to enhance the soils of the community to improve agriculture production. After training farmers would be supported with the necessary inputs to practice soil improvement techniques.. The activity will come off within the second quarter with resource persons from SARI, Wa Sub station.
Results 3.0: At Least 70% Of Women Introduced To Sustainable Livelihood Support For Beekeeping, Small Ruminants, And Shea Butter Extraction.
3.1 Identify and train 70 women in beekeeping, small ruminants, and Sheabutter extraction.
The project will identify, form and train 70 interested women of beneficiary communities in beekeeping, small ruminants and shea butter extraction. The activity will help reduce poverty and the seasonal migration of people from the community. The activity will come within the fourth quarter. Resource persons will come from MOFA.
3.2 Identify market sources for honey, small ruminants, and shea butter.
The project will seek market sources for honey, small ruminants, and Shea butter. Market shops, herbal formulation centers would be contacted for market for honey. Hotels, restaurants, and chop bars will be contacted for market for small ruminants. The quality of sheabutter will be enhanced to meet international standards for exports. The activity will take place within the seventh quarter of the project period staff of Help-Women Gh will be responsible.
3.3 Provide revolving credit scheme for women on alternative livelihood support.
A revolving credit will be provided for 35 women after training them in business financial management. To qualify for the loan, women would have planted at least 100 seedlings on their farms. An account will be created into which all the creditors will pay their loan by installment. The pool will serve as seed capital for the next twenty (20) women. The activity will be carried out in the fifth and sixth quarters and resource persons will come from NBSSI.
Monitoring and evaluation
GEF, Help-Women Gh and Community will monitor the project. Help-Women Gh and Community will monitor the project weekly and monthly while in collaboration with GEF the project will be evaluated bi-annually and end of project period. Parties will share information after monitoring and evaluation to put in corrective measures for project success. Monitoring and evaluation will be done through out the project
The Konjiahi community is located within the dry semi-arid parts of the Nadowli District Assembly of the Upper-West. Region. The land, which is the main subsistence to the majority peasant farmers and support for natural resource, is seriously degraded. The degradation satiation is attributed to the combined effect of annual retail wildfires and unsustainable land uses. This has resulted in poor crop yield, food insecurity, household poverty, gender inequality, seasonal migration of the youth, salting of water bodies and general loss of biodiversity.
.
2.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT:
In the past a bulk of the population of the Konjiahi community and its environs relied on the blossoming natural recourses in sustainable manner. However, vegetation, which is the pivot on which biodiversity revolves, is being lost to bad environmental practices, with wildfires at the top of the list. This problem needs immediate action to safeguard the situation for posterity. The situation is farther worsened by the fact that most of the youth migrate to the southern parts of the country annually due to poor soils at home. To forestall this challenge, the Integrated Agro-Forestry Initiative was born with the goal to conserve biodiversity and restored degraded land through agro forestry, improves soil fertility for the socio-economic well being of the people.
3.2 MAIN OBJECTIVE
The main objective of the project is to promote biodiversity conservation and restore degraded lands through community agroforestry practices, improved soil fertility technologies for the socio-economic well being of the people.
.
3.3 SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
The specific objectives of the project are:
• To organize and develop the capacities of women in Konjiahi and the adjourning communities in soil and water conservation technologies, wildfire management, and tree planting on sustainable basis.
• To conserve biodiversity of the community land through the establishment of community forest and sustainable management of the existing sacred groves.
• To create community woodlots and fodder banks.
• To promote alternative livelihood activities
2.4 Project Justification:
This project is in line with GEF’s effort to conserve biodiversity and restore degraded land for the improvement of the socio-economic well being of the people. It is also in line with Ministry of Environment and Science’s programmer to promote sustainable use of natural resource and restoration of degraded lands in the country. In addition, the Upper- West. Region Coordinating Council, the EPA-Upper-West Region, and the Nadowli District Assembly have launched a vigorous campaign against wildfires in the Region and District. Further more the Ministry of Lands and Forestry and EPA are encouraging all citizens and communities to establish reserves, initiate agro-forestry and sustainable manage forest and woodland resources. This project therefore hopes to support these efforts. This project will also help to improve and conserve the country’s environment in particular and the global environment as a whole.
.
3.0 EXPECTED OUTPUTS:
The intended results of the project are:
• At least four community groups formed and trained in intensive wildfire and sustainable natural resource management.
• At least 65% of degraded lands restored through natural regeneration establishment, enrichment planting, woodlot establishment, and soil fertility techniques.
• At least 70% of women introduced to sustainable livelihood support for beekeeping, small ruminants rearing and shea-butter extraction.
4.0 PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Results 1.0 At least four community groups formed and trained in intensive wildfire and sustainable natural resource management
1. Support weekly environmental awareness programmes on Local FM Station.
The project will support weekly environmental awareness campaigns on Radio Upper-West in Dagare and Sissala to the whole region. This will help change attitudes and behaviour of people on wildfires and natural resource management. Resource persons will come from Suntan Nuntaa Agro forestry (NGO), MOFA, FSD, GNFS and EPA.The activity will run throughout the planned project periods.
1.2 Organize community fora for Konjiahi and its environs.
The project will promote environmental education campaigns on wildfires, soil and water management and natural resource management in Konjiahi and its environs as well as schools in the traditional area. Resource persons will come from Suntaa Nuntaa, MOFA, FSD, GNFS and EPA.The activity will come within the first quarter of the planned project period.
1.3 Compile community profiles of benefiting communities.
The project will conduct in depth biological and socio-economic baseline study of the beneficiary communities. This will provide adequate database for smooth project implementation. The activity will come within the first quarter of the planned project period and carried out by Faculty Integrated Development Studies (FIDS) of University for Development Studies (UDS), Wa Campus.
1.4 Form and launch project management committee.
The project will put in place project management committee in each of the four (4) communities; the chairpersons of which will come together to form the project board. The board will include the district assembly, chiefs, and tindamba (land lords) of each of the communities. The main function of the project board is advisory to the project management committee. The activity will come off within the first quarter of the project period by Nadowli District Assembly and EPA.
1.5 Embark on intensive wildfire prevention and management campaign.
The project will form and train one-twenty (120) Anti-wildfire prevention squad which will ensure responsible behaviour. In collaboration with the project management committee and beneficiary communities the squad will formulate and enforce community environmental rules and regulations to govern the environment. The squad will be equipped with Wellington boots, cutlasses and identification cards. The activity will take place in the second quarter of the project with resource persons from GNFS, FSD and EPA.
Results 2.0: At Least 65% Of Degraded Lands Restored Through Natural Regeneration Establishment, Enrichment Planting, Agro Forestry, Woodlot Establishment, And Soil Fertility Techniques.
2.1 Establish an indigenous tree seedling nursery.
The project will establish a 70,000 capacity indigenous tree seedling nursery within the natural regeneration site in the community near the sacred grove by a borehole. The nursery will provide seedlings to the project, educational institutions, communities and individuals. The project will train five (5) women to take care of the nursery through seed collection to management. To ensure sustainability the seedling will be on sale. This will generate income for the women, the community and the project. The nursery will develop within the first quarter of the planned project period with resources persons from FSD, MOFA and EPA.
2.2 Establish natural regeneration site
Konjiahi community has got a (5) hectare natural regeneration site around the crocodile pond, a sacred grove that exists in the community. The project will expand the site by five (5) hectares and reinforce it with indigenous tree species. The activity will come on in the third quarter of the project period with resource persons from Survey Department who will carry out the demarcation exercise.
2.3 Establish forty (40) hectares agro forestry.
The project will establish forty (40) hectares agro forestry in the community farm as well as farms of individuals. Farmers will be given financial and food rewards for the number of seedlings that are planted on their farms. At maturity the proceeds from the tees will go to the farmers. The species of trees for the project are grafted mangoes, Cashew, Moringa olifera, Shea and Dawadawa. The activity will come off within the third quarter of the project with resource persons from MOFA, FSD and Suntaa Nuntaa agroforestry.
2.4 Establish ten (10) hectares community woodlot and fodder bank.
To reduce pressure on the ecosystem, a ten (10) hectares community woodlot and fodder bank will be develop in the community. Fodder crops will be planted within the woodlot to feed livestock to boost up their production. Similar ones would be replicated in the other beneficiary communities. The activity will develop within the third quarter of the project with resource persons from FSD, MOFA, and EPA.
2.5 Organize soil fertility technologies training and support to seven (70) local farmers.
The project will organize four (4) hands on demonstration soil fertility technologies workshop for seventy (70) farm-families Farmers will also be taught soil and water conservation techniques to enhance the soils of the community to improve agriculture production. After training farmers would be supported with the necessary inputs to practice soil improvement techniques.. The activity will come off within the second quarter with resource persons from SARI, Wa Sub station.
Results 3.0: At Least 70% Of Women Introduced To Sustainable Livelihood Support For Beekeeping, Small Ruminants, And Shea Butter Extraction.
3.1 Identify and train 70 women in beekeeping, small ruminants, and Sheabutter extraction.
The project will identify, form and train 70 interested women of beneficiary communities in beekeeping, small ruminants and shea butter extraction. The activity will help reduce poverty and the seasonal migration of people from the community. The activity will come within the fourth quarter. Resource persons will come from MOFA.
3.2 Identify market sources for honey, small ruminants, and shea butter.
The project will seek market sources for honey, small ruminants, and Shea butter. Market shops, herbal formulation centers would be contacted for market for honey. Hotels, restaurants, and chop bars will be contacted for market for small ruminants. The quality of sheabutter will be enhanced to meet international standards for exports. The activity will take place within the seventh quarter of the project period staff of Help-Women Gh will be responsible.
3.3 Provide revolving credit scheme for women on alternative livelihood support.
A revolving credit will be provided for 35 women after training them in business financial management. To qualify for the loan, women would have planted at least 100 seedlings on their farms. An account will be created into which all the creditors will pay their loan by installment. The pool will serve as seed capital for the next twenty (20) women. The activity will be carried out in the fifth and sixth quarters and resource persons will come from NBSSI.
Monitoring and evaluation
GEF, Help-Women Gh and Community will monitor the project. Help-Women Gh and Community will monitor the project weekly and monthly while in collaboration with GEF the project will be evaluated bi-annually and end of project period. Parties will share information after monitoring and evaluation to put in corrective measures for project success. Monitoring and evaluation will be done through out the project
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Konjiahi Help-Women Ghana
Country:
Ghana
Area Of Work:
Land Degradation
Grant Amount:
US$ 20,800.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 18,100.00
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 26,500.00
Project Number:
GHA/OP3/Y2/06/099
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
Project Characteristics and Results
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Partnership |
| Konjiahi Traditional Council |
SGP Country office contact
Dr. George Buabin Ortsin
Phone:
233-242-977980
Email:
Ms. Lois Sarpong
Phone:
+233 505740909
Email:
Address
UNDP, Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme P.O. Box 1423
Accra, Greater Accra, 233-302
Accra, Greater Accra, 233-302
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