The Forestry Commission and the Department of Wildlife and Forestry Services Division have partnered the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV) to train local non-governmental organizations in efficient management of mangrove forest in the Sota-Galotse communities of the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.
The 20 hectares project, which was launched in the Volta Region, was aimed at restoring the depleting mangrove ecosystems to help improve the livelihood and environment of the people living near Ramsar sites.
Mr. James Robinson, the Sector Leader for Renewable Energy, said SNV was committed to reducing poverty by catalyzing sustainable solutions in the agriculture, renewable energy, water, sanitation and hygiene sectors.
He said the inauguration of the Sota-Galotse Mangroves Restoration Project was part of efforts to restore depleting mangrove resources that are being used for fish smoking and to improve the ecosystem and livelihoods of people within the coastal areas of Ghana.
He enumerated some of the SNV achievements, which seeks to catalyse the development of sustainable energy value chains in fish smoking, by improving energy efficiency and supply.
“SNV had installed about 300 improved fish smoking stoves for communities in the Pru, Keta and Ada communities and also 155 hectares of mangroves and fuel wood plantations had been established,” he said.
He said the 20 hectares mangroves fit into the objective of scaling up energy supply for fish smokers in the communities with the aim of conserving mangrove forest, improving biodiversity, reducing over dependence on mangroves for fuel wood for fish smoking.
“Also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving the health, income and livelihoods of local communities, “he emphasized.
Mr. Robinson said SNV had put in place a management committee, tasked to ensure efficient management of the 20 hectares of mangrove plantation, establish alternative livelihoods woodlot plantation for fuel wood to prevent the use of the mangrove, and income generating activities for the community members involved.
Mrs Agnes Bertha Amenuvor, a Board Member of the Forest Commission, expressed regret that there had been a high rate of deforestation in Ghana with the mangrove forest depleting rapidly along the coastal wetlands.
She said since 1980, Ghana’s mangrove forest, which stood at 181 kilometres had been reduced to 72.4 kilometres due to threats, such as urbanization, wood collection for energy production, which had led to high depleting of the mangroves ecosystem.
She said the benefits derived from managing the ecosystems cannot be emphasized, adding that, because whiles mangrove serves as a sea defence and habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species by providing breeding grounds for some fishes, crabs and crustaceans, it also serves as durable water resistant wood for building houses, boats, pilings and furniture.
“Noticing the importance of mangrove ecosystem to the livelihoods of the coastal communities and the development of Ghana, urgent action must be taken by stakeholders to reverse the worrying deforestation trend,” she emphasized.
She congratulated the chiefs and people of Sota-Galotse for taking their destiny into their hands and asking for support in restoring the mangrove forest in the communities and urged them to take the project seriously to achieve the intended objectives.
Mrs Amenuvor assured of the Commission’s support for the conservation of the mangrove project.
Mr. Richard Tsikudo, the Chairman of the Sota-Galotse Mangrove Conservation Association, a local management committee set up to ensure effective management of mangroves, urged his people to depend more on woodlot for their fuelwood sources and support the planting of trees to reduce dependance on the mangrove ecosystem.
GNA
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