Poverty is acute in the north of Ghana and has increased over the last decade. Deforestation and land degradation are extreme with Ghana losing 1.7% of its forests each year (FAO 2001). Growing urban demand for charcoal and firewood is encouraging villagers to clear and convert trees and woodlands to generate income.

Alternative opportunities for rural people to earn income are scarce, and income is vital to pay for basic survival needs and to cope with drought and other crises. Women are at the greatest disadvantage, being marginalised in both the distribution and management of land.

Project objective

The project aims at strengthening capacities in Ghana on the development of small scale community-based tree and forest products enterprises using the Market Analysis and Development approach developed by FAO. It will allow rural communities, and particularly women, to earn an income through the sustainable development of non-wood tree or forest products (NWFPs). These include fresh or processed fruits, seeds, leaves, flowers, oils, forest honey and traditional remedies.

To ensure a diversified rural enterprise portfolio, this project also recognizes the immense potentials of community-based tourism as an alternative livelihood activity for communities living around the biological corridors that are central to the resource conservation objectives of the NSBCP.

TREE AID has joined forces with the Government of Ghana’s Northern Savannah Biodiversity Conservation Project (NSBCP), FAO and six local NGOs.

Implementation and duration

The project is implemented in the Northern Region of Ghana.

The project consists in training the partner NGOs and 6 Government staff who are jointly implementing the MA&D approach with 9 communities in 5 separate locations close to the main biological corridors under conservation measures.

This project is scheduled to run from September 2006 to March 2009.

Expected outputs

In the long-term the project will significantly contribute to alleviate poverty in rural areas through income generation while facilitating sustainable management of tree and forest resources in Ghana.

Ghanaian women making shea butter