World Vision Ghana has called on the government to incorporate the Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) approach into national environmental restoration programmes, describing it as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to conventional tree-planting initiatives.
The appeal was made by the Project Manager for FMNR at World Vision Ghana, Samuel Abasiba, during an exchange visit to the Yameriga community in the Talensi District, where more than 250 hectares of degraded land have been successfully restored through the FMNR approach.
According to Mr. Abasiba, FMNR relies on the regeneration and protection of naturally occurring tree stumps and shrubs rather than the planting of new seedlings, making it significantly cheaper and more effective than conventional tree planting.
He noted that while government initiatives such as the Tree for Life programme seek to plant millions of trees annually, survival rates in many parts of northern Ghana remain very low due to harsh climatic conditions, free-grazing animals, and inadequate post-planting care.
“FMNR is the cheapest and most effective restoration method for areas like the Upper East Region. The survival rate is almost guaranteed because the trees are already established. What farmers do is simply prune and protect them,” he said.
Mr. Abasiba revealed that World Vision Ghana has, over the years, engaged Municipal and District assemblies, Planners, Coordinating Directors, and Municipal and District Chief Executives across the Upper East Region on the benefits of FMNR.
He said that although many government officials who visited Yameriga were impressed by the results, the approach is yet to be widely integrated into district and national restoration strategies.
He urged government agencies, assemblies, and development partners to adopt the FMNR model to complement ongoing afforestation efforts and accelerate the restoration of degraded lands across the country.
Mr. Abasiba stressed that with increasing climate change impacts and environmental degradation, Ghana needs practical and sustainable solutions that empower communities to restore ecosystems while improving livelihoods.
He expressed confidence that integrating FMNR into government restoration programmes would significantly enhance environmental conservation efforts and improve the success rate of land restoration initiatives nationwide.
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