A blog by NGPTA Author: Rose Kobusinge
The need to mitigate and adapt to current and future climate changes has never been more urgent. While global commitments are vital, so is action at the local level – which is why, late last year, NGPTA convened a three days workshop consultation on trees, forests and carbon with community members and leaders in Atebubu, Ghana.
Forest landscape restoration is a climate solution with multiple benefits. Restoring degraded landscapes can uplift communities, boost livelihoods and economies and secure vital biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as supporting climate mitigation and adaptation. In Ghana, NGPTA is working with communities in the Atebubu-Amantin and Sene West districts to restore land and improve lives through agroforestry and natural forest restoration. The project, supported by AstraZeneca under Circular Bioeconomy Alliance, involves numerous governmental, private sector and NGO partners, including Nature and Development Foundation, plantation company APSD, Ghana Fire Services and Forest Research Institute of Ghana.
Since the project commenced in 2021, NGPTA has worked directly with about 1,200 farmers to plant over 4.2 million trees and restore nearly 4,000 hectares of degraded land – with an aim to plant 6 million trees by 2025. The project implementation model is informed and guided by scientific and local knowledge, including farmers’ needs and priorities. So, for agroforestry, mango, cashew and coconut trees were selected because they suit local soils and climatic conditions and can help restore soil fertility to boost agriculture production and provide food, income and livelihood security for farmers. In the natural forest restoration, pioneer trees were selected for their resilience and adaptability to the local environment.
NGPTA visiting natural forest restoration areas in 2023
Growing trees also removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – and for the last two years, the organisation has been exploring how to integrate carbon credits into the project to provide long-term finance and additional benefits for communities. In November 2023 a three-day workshop was convened in Atebubu, Ghana to help break down the concept and to begin co-designing the carbon certification process.
About the workshop
The three-day workshop centred around forests, carbon and co-benefits in the communities of Atebubu, Wiase and Dwan in Central Ghana. The event aimed not only to build capacity and knowledge on climate change and tree growing and management, but also to explore how communities envision a fair distribution of the carbon co-benefits that trees and forest restoration bring. With over 80 community members, farmers, traditional chiefs, government officials and project partners attending, the motivation was sparked by how diverse, interested, participative and energetic the participants were.
Setting the stage
Day one kicked off in high gear, with everyone – including the NGPTA team! – wondering what the three days will be like in practice. After some welcoming remarks and scene-setting, participants were divided into six groups. During grouping, it was important to remember that the audience consisted of people from different backgrounds, with different roles, experiences and levels of education. So groups were carefully selected to encourage transparent participation among different members: chiefs and traditional leaders, two farmer groups, district assembly representatives, NGOs, private organisations, government representatives and research institutions.
The first task for the groups was to identify the stakeholders of the forests, carbon and co-benefits project, and their rights and responsibilities. Participants identified several key stakeholders: farmers, chiefs, government representatives, women and youth were prioritised with minimal deviation between the groups. The community was also united in what they wanted from the project: not only environmental preservation but the equal sharing of benefits, the birth of jobs and the boosting of livelihoods.
Vision unfolding
Dynamic, inspiring discussions continued on day two. After a recap of the highlights from the previous session, the focus was on the project’s the theory of change: identifying three focal issues for the project, the long-term change people want to see, how to get there, and any opportunities and roadblocks. Participants identified reducing bushfires, easing land acquisition and having high-quality tree seedlings provided at the right time and place as the key changes envisioned to maximise forest and carbon co-benefits. Capacity building, training, more investment and multistakeholder collaboration were highlighted as strategies to achieve the goals.
Another significant point emphasized during these discussions was the recognition that women, beyond being disproportionately affected by the climate crisis and inequalities, hold a substantial part of the solutions needed. Participants like Cynthia Agyeiwaa made sure women’s voices were not left behind during the group discussions: her resilience and dedication proved an inspiration during the workshops.
Cynthia with other women participants emphasized that all project initiatives should encompass livelihood development for women, such the provision of more high-quality cash crop tree seedlings, training, and capacity building for women farmers. Indeed, empowering and uplifting women farmers is a cornerstone of NGPTA’s work.
Milestones in progress, shaping the future
As the workshop drew to a close on the third day, a sense of achievement and unity prevailed among all participants. Together, they shaped visions for fair and equitable restoration benefits, particularly focusing on carbon benefits-sharing.
Concurrently, two farmers and NGPTA staff held a radio talk show in the local language, Twi, extending the workshop discussions to a broader audience.
Several callers asked for more information about how carbon credits work for tree farmers, how farmers who aren’t currently part of the project could get involved, and how to join the multistakeholder platform. The response showed the high demand for land restoration and participation and the eagerness to integrate income-generating ventures like carbon credits that work for communities at the local level.
A way forward was mapped out: writing up the discussions and sharing this with participants and the multistakeholder platform, agreeing on a roadmap, operationalizing agreements for different stakeholders to engage in the carbon project by March 2024 and beginning the certification process. Participants emphasized that they were keen to see the carbon project take shape soon, and for more workshops to happen.
Finally, participants shared their concluding thoughts. There was a passionate call for youth stewardship in landscape and forest restoration, tree planting and climate action. Collective efforts were re-emphasized to address issues like bushfires, planting the right trees at the right time, and identifying opportunities to harness forests and carbon co-benefits with high levels of fairness and transparency. Indeed, this is the foundation of NGPTA in the landscapes – to support, enable, facilitate, learn and collaborate.
Traditional chiefs reflected on the theory of change that was shared on day two and how they appreciated such spaces that enabled knowledge exchange and networking. One chief commented: “If this is not the most participative and successful workshop I have ever been part of, it is then among the topmost. I hope we will not stop here but continue the deliberations and engagement in this project going forward.”
NGPTA remains devoted to #BuildingASustainableFutureTogether with the partners and communities. The organisation is keen to share the experiences and learn together to create better outcomes for people, planet and societies. If you would like to find out more about the work in Ghana, please visit https://atebubu.inovaland.earth/.