TreeAid Ghana and Nviron Hive have launched a significant project in Yendi, Northern Region. This initiative aims to restore 1,000 hectares of degraded land. It also plans to plant 100,000 new trees. An additional 100,000 trees will be regenerated. The project will improve local forest management. It will also create better economic opportunities for people in northern Ghana.
This effort is a direct response to ongoing climate change challenges and rural poverty. The project is named the Integrated Forest Governance, Restoration, and Livelihoods in Northern Ghana initiative. It will operate for three years. TreeAid Ghana and Nviron Hive are working together on this. The goal is a community-led approach to land recovery. It combines protecting nature with helping rural families earn more money. The launch event included many important people. Traditional leaders, government officials, and community members attended. This showed a shared desire to protect the region's natural resources.
Robert Tumyagewor Atawura, Country Programme Manager at Tree Aid Ghana, called the project a milestone. He referred to TreeAid’s past successful work. They have supported farmers along the Daka River. These efforts boosted degraded land restoration. Farmers learned better ways to manage their land. Tree Aid's core mission is to use trees to fight poverty. It also aims to lessen the impacts of climate change. This new project is a bigger and more ambitious part of that mission. It intends to increase restoration work. It aims to reach more people across a larger area.
The project's strategy links environmental repair with better governance and income growth. It will focus on restoring land. Methods include helping nature regrow trees. It will also use tree planting to fill gaps. Agroforestry, where trees are mixed with crops, will be used. Farmers and local communities are central to everything. Strengthening forest management is also crucial. Local groups, traditional chiefs, and district bodies will get training. They will learn to manage natural resources wisely. This ensures long-term care for the environment.
Beyond restoring land, the project will create new income streams. It will develop products from forests that are not timber. This includes products like shea, dawadawa, baobab, and honey. These industries will be made stronger. This will help communities, especially women and young people. They can earn money while protecting nature. Jonathan Anecham Naaba, Country Director of Tree Aid Ghana, spoke about current work. He mentioned restoration efforts along the Daka River. He highlighted its importance for drinking water. He explained that unsustainable farming and other activities damaged the river area. Tree Aid Ghana, with help from partners like Ecosia, is working to fix this. They protect river banks and plant trees. These actions help with unstable water flow that affects communities.
The new partnership with Nviron Hive will expand these efforts. They plan to grow 200,000 trees. They will restore about 1,000 hectares of damaged land. Some areas are outside the Daka River basin. However, they still help the larger water management system. This makes the approach very strategic and effective. Mr. Naaba stressed community involvement. Local people make decisions and carry out work. They participate through chiefs and farmer groups. Otema Yirenkyi, Director of Nviron Hive, expressed strong hope. She praised the enthusiasm of the communities. She said well-planned programs are key to lasting environmental success. "We see that when programmes are well coordinated and structured, they allow communities to thrive," she stated. She noted the vital role of traditional leaders. Their active participation helps build a strong foundation for success. Ndan Yaa-Naa Abubakari II, Overlord of Dagbon, supports the project. He urged all involved to protect the landscape. He said, "We are all still alive because the trees are alive but our landscape is gradually dying off and we know that when the last tre