Programme

Forests in Ghana have decreased from 8.5 million to 1.5 million hectares. The remaining forest is under ever increasing pressure. The Tain II Forest Reserve is a highly degraded area with poor accessibility, surrounded by underdeveloped community farmland. Due to the lack of law enforcement, illegal farming, cattle herding, illegal logging and poaching have developed without much hindrance, both in and around the reserve. Soils, biodiversity, forests and livelihoods of people continue to degrade, intensified by wildfires. This calls for improved governance, sustainably managed farms and forest plantations to generate income, as well as the conservation and restoration of ecologically important areas.

This program focused at restoring the Tain II Forest Reserve and its buffer zone to its former production function, where remnants of the original vegetation are protected and strengthened to become refuges for biodiversity and where land users practice sustainable agriculture and implement sustainable land use measures.

This programme has made a great impact on the landscape in and around Tain II Forest Reserve. It led to more awareness among farmers regarding sustainable land management and the establishment of tree-based farm systems. Farms around the reserve are now under year-round management and function as a buffer zone for the forest reserve. The funding has enabled the restoration activities within the reserve. The most significant impact has been that people took back responsibility and control over their environment. Where prior to the programme, farmers felt powerless against the destruction due to wildfires, they now mention that they feel more confident to plant trees, experiment with new crops, and manage wildfires. They feel responsible for the protection of natural resources, their own farms and the farm of their neighbour.