The Regreening Africa project has distributed essential field logistics to 5,200 Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) Lead Farmers and Fire Volunteers across 130 intervention communities in the Binduri, Garu, Tempane, and Bawku West districts of the Upper East Region.
The logistics package, comprising wellington boots, hand gloves, knives, and cutlasses, is intended to support beneficiaries in carrying out critical environmental restoration activities, including tree pruning, assisted natural regeneration, tree management, and bushfire prevention and control.
The distribution forms part of the project’s broader efforts to strengthen community resilience against climate change, land degradation, and food insecurity through sustainable land restoration and ecosystem management practices.
Speaking during a brief presentation ceremony, the Ghana Project Lead for the Regreening Africa Project, Dr. Richard Appoh, underscored the vital role community members play in restoring degraded landscapes and protecting natural resources.
“The success of regreening depends largely on the commitment and dedication of community members who protect and nurture trees and natural resources. By providing these logistics, we are investing in the people who are driving restoration efforts on the ground. Their work is essential to achieving our goal of restoring degraded landscapes, improving livelihoods, and building resilience to climate change,” he said.
Dr. Appoh noted that community ownership remains central to the project’s implementation strategy and long-term sustainability, adding that empowering local actors is critical to achieving lasting environmental restoration outcomes.
The Head of the Department of Agriculture for the Bawku West District, Ms. Diana Akumanue, commended the project for supporting frontline environmental stewards and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
“Lead farmers play a crucial role in restoring degraded lands and promoting sustainable agricultural practices. These tools couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time than now, as the rains have just begun. It will go a long way to motivate them to continue supporting efforts to restore degraded lands,” she stated.
The Bawku West District Commander of the Ghana National Fire Service, ADOI Abagna Rufai, also welcomed the intervention, describing the logistics as timely support for fire volunteers who play a key role in preventing and controlling bushfires within their communities.
“Fire volunteers are very important in preventing and controlling fires in our communities. These logistics will not only improve their efficiency and safety while working in the field but will also motivate them to continue supporting efforts to reduce bushfires in our communities,” he said.
Receiving the items on behalf of beneficiary communities, the Chief of Azongo, Naab Ndeogo Amore, expressed gratitude to the European Union and the project partners for their continued commitment to environmental restoration and community development.
“For many years, our communities have suffered from land degradation, declining vegetation cover, and recurring bushfires. These tools will strengthen the efforts of our volunteers and lead farmers to protect our environment and restore the trees that sustain our livelihoods. We are committed to ensuring that these resources are used responsibly for the benefit of current and future generations,” he said.
The Regreening Africa Project seeks to improve livelihoods and environmental sustainability by supporting communities to adopt proven regreening practices that enhance land productivity, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
Under the initiative, about 60,000 households are expected to benefit from various regreening interventions on approximately 100,000 hectares of land across the Bawku West, Garu, Tempane, Binduri, Yendi, and Mion districts.
The project promotes a range of sustainable land management practices, including tree nursery establishment and management, tree planting, Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR), Assisted Natural Regeneration (ANR), tree care and management, bushfire prevention and management, climate-smart agriculture, tree value chain development, and green enterprise development.
These interventions are being implemented through community-based structures such as Lead Farmers, Fire Volunteer Squads, Eco-Clubs, Savings for Transformation (S4T) groups, youth-led organizations, and farmer groups.
Funded by the European Union, the Regreening Africa Project is being implemented in Ghana by a consortium led by World Vision Ghana in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), while overall coordination across Africa is provided by Landscape Alliance (CIFOR-ICRAF).
Through collaboration among government agencies, traditional authorities, civil society organizations, and local communities, the project continues to make significant contributions to landscape restoration, climate adaptation, and sustainable livelihood development across northern Ghana.
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