Rainforest Alliance in collaboration with its consortium partners, EcoCare Ghana, Tropenbos Ghana and World Vision Ghana has launched a four-year Landscapes & Environmental Agility across the Nation (LEAN) Project. In her welcome remarks, Mrs. Mercy Owusu Ansah, the Executive Director of Tropenbos Ghana, stated that, the project which is being funded by the European Union through Its flagship GCCA+ initiative aims to conserve biodiversity, build climate resilience, and reduce emissions from land-use changes in the savannah, high forest, and transition zones of Ghana and help local farmers to improve their livelihoods.
Representing the European Union Delegation in Ghana (EUD) at the National launch of the LEAN project, the team leader of the EUD for Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, Roberto Schiliro, asserted the project will tackle ecosystems preservation from a broader perspective by looking into working landscapes, alternative livelihood opportunities and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation. He iterated that, “by contributing to and promoting sustainable landscape management, the LEAN Project is in line with the EU Green Deal, which is a new growth strategy promoting economic stability by turning climate change and environmental challenges into opportunities and making the transition just and inclusive for all”.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Director of Crop services, Mr. Seth Osei-Akoto affirmed that the LEAN project interventions on climate-smart agriculture and food security align with the Government of Ghana’s “agricultural strategies to secure sustainable food security, build resilient agricultural systems and development of commodities value chain as outlined in the National Climate Change Policy”. He was optimistic that, the project will help conserve biodiversity and bring significant improvement in the livelihood of smallholder farmers especially in the targeted landscapes and contribute to achieving Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
Reading a statement on behalf of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, the Technical Director in Charge of Forestry Mr. Musah Abu Juam, stated that, about 70% of local community members depend on the forest for their food and energy requirement, “for this reason, sustainable management of our natural resources remains at the heart of the ministry”. He also observed that, “It is gratifying to note that the objectives of the LEAN project is aligned strategies underpinning the 2012 Ghana Forest and Wildlife Policy”.
MS. Roselyn Fosuah Adjei, Director of Climate Change Directorate at the Forestry Commission of Ghana, pledged the commission’s support since the project is in line with their policy direction and its REDD+ mandate. She applauded the consortium for adopting an inclusive multi-stakeholder approach in the fight against deforestation and reiterated that “it is time to be impatient about curbing deforestation and forest degradation in the country.
She emphasized the need to speed up afforestation actions; “restoration is possible, the climate emergency can be curbed, we can have an eco-friendly planet for people and their livelihoods, it is possible”.
In summarizing all the speeches and providing the way forward, Mr. Obed Owusu-Addai, Managing Campaigner for EcoCare Ghana reemphasized the need for CSOs to support government efforts and develop synergies and complementarities with ongoing initiatives either than duplicating what already exist within the landscapes. He also reechoed the need for CSOs to join forces and begin working together on issues that are beneficial to the local communities and actors.
Representing the European Union at the National launch of the LEAN project, the team leader of the EU for Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, Roberto Schiliro, asserted the project will tackle ecosystems preservation from a broader perspective than just projected areas, wildlife and forest-products trafficking, by looking into working landscapes, alternative livelihood opportunities and opportunities for climate change adaptation and mitigation. He iterated that, “by contributing to and promoting sustainable landscape management, the LEAN Project is in line with the EU Green Deal, which is a new growth strategy promoting economic stability by turning climate change and environmental challenges into opportunities and making the transition just and inclusive for all.
Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Director of Crop services, Mr. Seth Osei-Akoto affirmed that the LEAN project interventions on climate-smart agriculture and food security with the government Ghana’s “agricultural strategies to secure sustainable food security, build resilient agricultural systems and development of commodities value chain as outlined in the National Climate Change Policy”. He was optimistic that, the project will help conserve biodiversity and bring significant improvement in the livelihood of smallholder farmers especially in the targeted landscapes and contribute to achieving Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
Reading a statement on behalf of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, the Technical Director in Charge of Forestry Mr. Musah Abu Juam, stated that, about 70% of local community members depend on the forest for their food and energy requirement, “for this reason, sustainable management of our natural resources remains at the heart of the ministry”. “It is therefore gratifying to note that the LEAN project is with the objective and strategies underpinning the Ghana Forest and Wildlife Policy 2012”, he said.
MS. Roselyn Fosuah Adjei, Director of Climate Change at the Forestry Commission of Ghana, Pledged the commission’s support since the project is in line with their policy direction and its REDD+ mandate. She applauded the consortium for adopting an inclusive multi-stakeholder approach in the fight against deforestation and reiterated that “it is time to be impatient about curbing deforestation and forest degradation the country.
She emphasized the need to speed up afforestation actions; “restoration is possible, the climate emergency can be curbed, we can have an eco-friendly planet for people and their livelihoods, it is possible”.
