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INCEPTION WORKSHOP REPORT FOR THE GREEN ECONOMY IN BIOSPHERE RESERVES (GEBR) PROJECT

HELD IN THE BIA BIOSPHERE RESERVE, GHANA

SUBMITTED BY

MAB NATIONAL SECRETARIAT

ON BEHALF OF THE PROJECT TECHNICAL TEAM  

JANUARY 2014

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LIST OF ACRONYMS

AfriMAB African Network of Biosphere Reserves BR Biosphere Reserve BRAAF Biosphere Reserves for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development CERSGIS Centre for Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems CREMA Community Resource Management Area DAs District Assemblies EPA Environmental Protection Agency GEBR Green Economies in Biosphere Reserves KNUST Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology KOICA Korean International Cooperation Agency MAB Man & the Biosphere Programme MOFA Ministry of Food and Agriculture NATCOM Ghana National Commission for the UNESCO, Ministry of Education PADP Protected Areas Development Programme PAMAB Protected Areas Management Advisory Board UNESCO United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization WD Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission WNBR World Network of Biosphere Reserves  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Table  of  Contents  LIST  OF  ACRONYMS  .......................................................................................................................................  i  

1.0  INTRODUCTION  ......................................................................................................................................  1  

1.1  National  Context  ................................................................................................................................  2  

1.2  Objectives  of  the  Inception  Workshop  ..............................................................................................  3  

2.0  PARTICIPATION  ......................................................................................................................................  3  

3.0  PROCEEDINGS  ........................................................................................................................................  5  

3.1  Statements  .........................................................................................................................................  5  

3.2  Presentations  .....................................................................................................................................  8  

3.3  Plenary  .............................................................................................................................................  10  

4.0  PUBLICITY  OF  THE  WORKSHOP,  THE  GEBR  PROJECT  AND  STAKEHOLDER  CONSULTATIONS  ..............  11  

5.0  CONCLUSION  ........................................................................................................................................  13  

5.1  Recommendations  ...........................................................................................................................  13  

APPENDICES  ...............................................................................................................................................  14  

 

 

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere programme aims to promote interdisciplinary and applied research in vital ecosystems in order to enhance human-ecosystem interaction. The Biosphere Reserve concept is used to provide opportunities for the development of solutions that reconcile the conservation of biodiversity with sustainable use. Information and experiences regarding conservation and sustainable development are shared across the World Network of Biosphere Reserves (WNBR). Following over 40 years of implementation, the WNBR has achieved several milestones including initiatives for climate change mitigation and adaptation, support for indigenous conservation systems and groups, and energy efficiency and livelihood enhancement. However, biosphere reserves in Africa are still confronted by several challenges:

� Poor rural population which relies on natural resources � Inadequate capacity to implement the BR concept � Resource constraints due to lack of funding � Low level awareness on the biosphere reserve concept � Low commitment especially from policy-makers � Ineffective collaboration among stakeholders, especially institutions

The idea of developing Green Economies in Biosphere Reserves has been outlined as a viable option to ensure that biosphere reserves serve their three functions: contributing to conservation, sustainable economic development and logistic support. The concept was extensively discussed and accepted by members of the African Network of Biosphere Reserves (AfriMAB) during its third session held in September 2013, where members supported the need for implementation of GEBR projects in every African country. The Green Economies in Biosphere Reserves (GEBR) project was launched by UNESCO in September 2013, following feasibility studies conducted in 2012 by representatives of UNESCO, the Korean MAB National committee and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). The project is currently being implemented in three African BRs, namely in forest ecosystems: the East Usambara BR - Tanzania, the Bia BR - Ghana and the Omo BR - Nigeria. KOICA has provided an amount of $430,000 as a means of support for activity implementation in each beneficiary BR. The three beneficiary countries are expected to share experiences and research findings through networking and in annual review workshops. The project is being implemented in the context of UNESCO's Priority Africa, with the aim of conserving biodiversity, reducing poverty and contributing to sustainable development in sub-Saharan Africa through biodiversity businesses in biosphere reserves. The objectives of the project are:

1. Diversification of the economy through improved and alternative biodiversity related livelihoods

2. Reduce the pressure on forests as a result of fuel wood extraction for heating and cooking purposes

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3. Build the capacity of communities in a holistic manner to ensure the sustainability of the biodiversity businesses and to conserve the resource-base of their businesses

In line with the approved project plan, each country is required to organize an inception meeting at the start of the project and, subsequently, submit an inception report for the donor’s attention. This report presents proceedings of the inception workshop in the Bia Biosphere Reserve, organized on Thursday, December 12th 2013, following stakeholder mapping and consultations (Agenda in Appendix 1).

1.1 National Context

Ghana joined the WNBR in 1982 and has two BRS: (i) Bia in the Juabeso and Bia districts of the Western Region, which was enlisted on the WNBR in 1982 (ii) Songor in the Ada East and Ada West Districts of the Greater Accra Region, enlisted in 2011. Studies are on-going for the nomination of a third site, the Lake Bosomtwe catchment area in the Ashanti Region. With an economy which is largely agriculture-based, there is a heavy dependence on natural resources by rural populations in Ghana for food, livelihood and other services. Forests are being increasingly cleared for perennial or annual cropping and slash-and-burn cultivation practices. The negative impacts of these actions include reduced crop yield and soil productivity due to degradation, and disruption of the ecosystem services provided by forests. The Bia BR lies in Ghana’s transition zone between the moist evergreen and moist semi-deciduous forest. The moist semi-deciduous forest has valuable and rare tree species such as Pericopsis elata and Khaya anthotheca. Endemic fauna include the forest elephant Laxodonta africana, the endangered Bongo and ten of Ghana’s sixteen primate species. The 33,000 inhabitants are predominantly cocoa farmers with minor cultivation of vegetables and other food crops. Small scale trading and animal husbandry practices are carried out on a smaller scale. Together with the Omo BR and East Usambara BR, Bia was a beneficiary of UNESCO's “Biosphere Reserve for Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development in Anglophone Africa (BRAAF) project from 1995 – 1997. The objective was tore-orientate and empower communities to contribute to conservation through the provision of livelihood options like snail rearing, small ruminant production and bee-keeping. The activities under BRAAF have since been reinforced by the EU's Protected Areas Development Programme, which also supported livelihoods and institutionalized community-based natural resource management through Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA). The establishment of this organization helped ensure the sustainability of initiatives provided through donor projects.

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The GEBR project is expected to further consolidate community participation in conservation through the provision of economic empowerment directly linked to biological diversity.

1.2 Objectives of the Inception Workshop

The objectives of the inception workshop were to: • Announce the project and its components to local stakeholders identified in the mapping • Provide a platform for discussion of the project components and the beneficiary

communities • Ensure the incorporation of local stakeholders’ concerns before final implementation.

2.0 PARTICIPATION

The workshop was attended by a total of one hundred and twenty (120) stakeholders involved in activities concerning the Bia BR including:

• The management authority (Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission),{Appendix 2} • The work group of the MAB National Committee who constitute the technical team for

the project {Appendix 3} • The UNESCO GEBR project officer {Appendix 4} • Representative from the project management office, UNESCO Office Accra • Traditional overlords and/or their representatives (Debisohene, Kunkumsohene,

Adjoafuahene and Essamhene) • Opinion leaders • Members of the Community Resource Management Committee (CRMC) and their

executive • Representatives of the two District Chief Assemblies (local government authority), • Assemblymen and Unit Committee members • The Gender and Agricultural Extension services desk of the Ministry of Food and

Agriculture (MOFA) • The Ghana Education Service • The Protected Areas Management Advisory Board (PAMAB), • Community livelihood associations (bee-keepers, palm oil producers, snail producers) • Security agencies collaborating with management authority for law enforcement in the

reserve (Police and National Fire Service) • Two community radio stations (Vision FM and Winners) • The district court of law, which prosecutes offenders of the Wildlife Management

Regulations • Religious leaders (Catholic Church, Methodist Church, Church of Pentecost) • Youth leaders • The rural enterprises’ development office.

A cross section of the participants is presented in Figures 1-2.

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Figure 1 Some of the Participants at the GEBR Inception Workshop, Bia BR

Figure 2 Representatives of UNESCO and the MAB National Secretariat at the Inception Workshop

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3.0 PROCEEDINGS

The workshop started with a prayer from the resident Catholic Minister for the Bia District. Nana Nifahene of Debiso welcomed participants to the workshop on behalf of Nana Debisohene, who was attending the burial service of the King of the Sefwi traditional area. He expressed the support of the traditional leaders regarding all initiatives that would enhance the people’s living standards. He concluded, in anticipation that the impending project would differ from other projects in terms of sustainability of project initiatives after project completion. The Community Relations Officer, Mr. Richard Boakye, introduced all the stakeholders present, after which the chairman for the workshop, Dr. Emmanuel Morgan Attua of the Department of Geography and Resource Development of the University of Ghana, presented the agenda for the gathering. He made reference to the visit from UNESCO and Korea in 2012, during which the communities had been very cooperative, and commended all stakeholders for their continued support which would continue to bear good fruits supporting their economic development. He indicated that the workshop, which had been publicized earlier on the radio, was to enlighten all stakeholders on the project, to ensure maximum collaboration from the onset and to guarantee its success.

3.1 Statements

The UNESCO project officer, Ms Melody Ocloo, on behalf of the Secretary of the MAB Programme and UNESCO, expressed her pleasure at the participation thus far at the workshop in addition to support received from the community during feasibility studies for the project. She outlined some of the main activities to be implemented under GEBR, including the inception meeting. She indicated that the project was being simultaneously implemented in all three beneficiary countries. As a result, lessons and experiences were expected to be shared amongst the countries. She acknowledged the immense support of the Korean government in providing funding for the project, and was hopeful that all stakeholders would play their appropriate roles to make the project a resounding success. Participants were then urged to disseminate all information gathered during the workshop within their respective communities.

In a statement read on his behalf by the BR manager, the Executive Director of the Wildlife Division, Forestry Commission acknowledged the support of all stakeholders in Ghana's protected areas, especially the two BRs. He recalled the support provided to local communities by the PADP and BRAAF projects for activities such as beekeeping, snail rearing, mushroom production and most essentially, the formation of the CREMAs. He expressed his hope that GEBR would further enhance the local communities’ support regarding conservation programs and empower them to incorporate sustainability in every livelihood activity. The District coordinating Directors of the Juabeso and Bia districts pledged their support for the project, indicating its relevance for communal development in the framework of the district Medium Term Development plans and the Local Government Act 1993, Act 462.

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Figures 3-8 Moments from the Inception Workshop

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Figures 9-14 Discussions of Presentations on Green Economies by the Resource People

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3.2 Presentations

Three papers relating to the project and the BR were presented to set the pace for discussions (Table 1, Appendices 5-7).

Table 1 Papers presented during the GEBR inception workshop

No. Topic Presenter 1. Bia Conservation Area, The Need For Collaboration On

Sustainable Natural Resource Management

Mr. Richard Ofori- Amanfo

2. Green Economy In Biosphere Reserves : A Means To Poverty Reduction, Biodiversity Conservation And Sustainable Development In Sub-Saharan Africa

Mrs. Sheila Ashong

3. The Role of Community in attaining Green Economy Mr. Richard Boakye The presentations highlighted on:

a. Management Activities: The main management activities undertaken in the Bia BR are: law enforcement, community collaboration, tourism and research

b. Expectations of Wildlife Division from the Local Communities: The management authority admonished the 43 communities to desist from unsustainable use of resources, adopt proper farming methods, stop poaching, report illegal harvest, be disciplined, comply with laid down laws and relay security information to authorities. Leaders were called upon to avoid showing favouritism in the allocation of resources

c. Planned activities under the GEBR project: These include; socioeconomic survey and stakeholder mapping, livelihood needs assessment, biodiversity inventory, community livelihood training workshops, provision of livelihoods credits, annual progress review workshops and a final review workshop in the host country

d. Ownership of the Project: The communities are to fully participate in all activities and develop a sense of ownership to ensure the sustainability of the livelihood initiatives even after project completion

e. Livelihood Interventions: The priority areas to be given attention during the project, as agreed with the management authority, were: snail farming, bee-keeping, palm oil production and mushroom production

f. Stakeholder collaboration: Leaders of security agencies and religious leaders expressed their satisfaction with the project goals and pledged to use their various platforms to promote conservation by enhancing awareness in the communities.

An interactive session was held to discuss the presentations and challenges encountered during previous livelihood projects. The main challenges for the non-sustainability of previous projects include: inadequacy of capital and seed, no or insufficient follow-up and monitoring of

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livelihood trainees for provision of technical backstopping leading to a loss of interest and alleged misappropriation of communal resources, accruing from the initiatives by some leaders amounting in distrust and further loss of interest.

Successful outcomes were also shared, with a representative of the Palm oil producers association from Asempanaeye sharing her story. She indicated that in following the PADP, CARE international had introduced some livelihood interventions to strengthen the CREMAs. As a result, the beneficiary group managed to sustain the activity and the palm kernel mill provided is still being used for palm oil production. This success was attributed to regular group meetings and a high sense of ownership. The only challenge encountered was the outdated nature of the mill provided which had a slow rate of palm oil production. It was recommended that a more recent machine be procured to increase and hasten production.

A member of the Adjoafua community, who had also managed to sustain his mushroom production, attributed his success to high dedication and the availability of seeds for production. Participants were then grouped according to CREMAs and allowed to discuss the various elements required for project sustainability and prioritization of the identified livelihood options within their resource management area (Figures 15-18).

Figures 15-18 Discussion of Livelihood Interventions and their Sustainability

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3.3 Plenary

The output of the group discussion is presented in Table 2. A high level of awareness on the key interventions required to overcome challenges encountered in previous projects was exhibited.

Table 2. Summary of the Outputs of the Group Discussions

GROUP

PRIORITIZATION OF LIVELIHOOD OPTIONS

REQUIREMENTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY

1 1. Snail Farming; easy to market and can be sold locally

2. Bee Keeping; can be done over a long period of time

3. Palm Oil Production; less expensive and has a long life span

4. Mushroom Production; not capital intensive

• Financing • Good Leadership • Active Association • Selected beneficiaries must be highly motivated individuals • Selection of participants should be carried out through an

interview • Availability of ready market • Effective Monitoring • Formation of an Association • Creation of links to get support from other

organizations • Awareness Raising • Need for regular follow-up training • Packaging training • Improved security in the BR • Enhanced relationship between management and the

communities • Effective anti-crop raiding mechanism

2 1. Snail rearing 2. Bee keeping 3. Palm oil production

• The zeal for the project • Ownership of the project/ participation • Initial Capital • Diversity of projects • Working in cooperatives • Consulting experts • Involving all stakeholders • Accountability/ transparency/ Good management • Sacrifice • Positive thinking • Having time for the project • Good leadership/ Have a constitution/ Operate an account • Business registration

3 5. Snail Farming; easy to market and can be sold locally

6. Bee Keeping; can be done over a long period of time

7. Palm Oil Production; less expensive and has a long life span

8. Mushroom Production; not capital intensive

• Provision of the necessary logistics • Provision of incentives for participants • Commitment of beneficiaries • A keen sense of ownership by communities • Exemplary lives by leaders

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4.0 PUBLICITY OF THE WORKSHOP, THE GEBR PROJECT AND STAKEHOLDER

CONSULTATIONS

Prior to the workshop, the technical team undertook consultations with some of the stakeholders identified in the stakeholder mapping, in addition to a radio talk publicizing the project on winners FM. The stakeholders consulted included all the traditional leaders, the PAMAB, MOFA, the Education Service, religious leaders, district assemblies and law enforcement officers. The consultations engendered a keen interest in the workshop, hence the high participation (Figures 19-20). The radio talk show discussed the MAB programme, the BR concept, the GEBR, the concept of Green Economy and what communities were to expect as well as their responsibilities in ensuring project success. The discussion was followed by an interactive phone-in session with community members calling to ask questions relating to management, beneficiary selection criteria and the livelihood interventions to be introduced. There was an overall sense of goodwill for the project, with a special mention of thanks to the Wildlife Division, the MAB team, UNESCO and the Korean government for providing a means to alleviate poverty in the Bia BR (Figure 26 - 27, Appendix 7).

Figure 19-20 Radio Talk session on GEBR at Winners FM in the Bia Biosphere Reserve

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Figures 21-27 Consultations with PAMAB District Assemblies, MOFA, GES and religious leaders

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5.0 CONCLUSION

The workshop concluded with a consensus by participants on the relevance of stakeholder collaboration and cooperation to ensure the success of the initiatives to be introduced. An evaluation by the technical team (Figures 28-29) adjudged the workshop as successful since it provided a platform for the numerous stakeholders on site to meet, deliberate and agree on issues relating to the project. Participants expressed satisfaction with the workshop and called for regular organizations of such to guarantee a successful outcome.

FIGURES 28-29 Evaluation of the Inception Workshop by the Technical Team and Management Authority

5.1 Recommendations

It is recommended that:

i. The output and observations of the stakeholder workshop be incorporated in the inception report and project implementation plan

ii. More radio talks and publicity activities be organized to enhance awareness on the project at a community level

iii. Collaboration between the management authority and the NGOs on site be enhanced iv. More CREMAs be created to ensure the efficiency of management measure v. The stakeholder consultations continue throughout the project period to ensure that all

stakeholders are abreast with issues and feel a sense of ownership of the project vi. Further sensitization be undertaken in marketing the cultured snails and addressing the

perception among some community members that cultured snails are not as tasty as wild ones

vii. Research on the differences in taste between the cultured snails and those from the Wild be undertaken by the Food and Nutrition Department of the University of Ghana, Legon.

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APPENDICES

APPENDIX  1  

FINAL   AGENDA   –   INCEPTION  WORKSHOP   ON   GREEN   ECONOMIES   IN   THE   BIA   BIOSPHERE   RESERVE,  DECEMBER  12,  2013  

9:00  –  10:00  a.m.     Arrival  and  registration  

10:00  a.m.   Opening  prayer  –  Religious  Leader  

o Welcome  Statement  -­‐  Nana  Nifahene,  Debiso  

o  Introductions  -­‐  Community  Relations  Officer,  Bia  Biosphere  Reserve  (Mr.  Richard  

Boakye)  

o Purpose  of  the  workshop  -­‐  Chairman  (Dr.  Emmanuel  Morgan  Attua)  

o Statement  from  UNESCO  project  Officer  

o Statement  from  Wildlife  Division,  Forestry  Commission  

o Statement  of  Support  -­‐  District  Coordinating  Director,  Bia    

o Statement  of  Support  -­‐  District  Coordinating  Director,  Juabeso  

o Presentations  

Ø Green  Economies  in  the  Bia  Biosphere  Reserve    -­‐  Mrs.  Sheila  Ashong,    

Environmental  Protection  Agency  

Ø The  need  for  collaboration    on  Sustainable  Natural  Resource  Management-­‐  Mr.  

Richard  Ofori-­‐Amanfo,  Wildlife  Division  

Ø The  role  of  the  Community  in  attaining  a  Green  Economy  -­‐  Mr.  Richard  Boakye  

o Discussions  and  evaluation  of  previous  challenges  encountered  with  other  livelihood  

projects  

♣ Experience-­‐sharing    from  successful  projects  

11:  30       Photo  break  o Group  Discussions  (1  hour)  

♣  Sustainability  requirements  for  the  GEBR  project  ♣ Preferences  for  livelihood  options/  suggested  prioritization  

o Presentation  of  group  reports  o Chairman's  Closing  Remarks  o Vote  of  thanks  -­‐  Mrs.  Ophelia  Princess  Mensah  

1:30  p.m.   Closing  Prayer  

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Group  facilitators  Mr.  Richard  Boakye,  Mr.  Gad  Coffie,  Mrs  Ophelia,  Princess  Mensah  APPENDIX  2  

 Management of the Bia Biosphere Reserve 1. Mr. Richard Ofori Amanfo- Manager, Bia Biosphere Reserve 2. Mr. Gad Coffie - Law Enforcement Officer 3. Mr. Richard Boakye - Community Relations Officer 4. Mrs. Ophelia Princess Mensah - Assistant Community Relations Officer 5. Mr. Dominic Awukuvie - Snr. Wildlife Ranger 6. M.r Prince Asante - Snr. Wildlife Ranger

APPENDIX 3

MAB National Committee Technical Team for GEBR, BBR

1. Mrs. Sheila Ashong - EPA (Coordinator) 2. Dr. Emmanuel Morgan Attua- Department of Geography, University of Ghana 3. Mr. Emmanuel Tetteh - Centre for Remote Sensing and Geographical Information

Systems (CERSGIS), University of Ghana 4. Mr. Apollonius Asare - Ghana National Commission for UNESCO 5. Mr. Alexander Akwoviah, - Protected Areas Management and Conflict Resolution

Specialist 6. Mr. Nutefe Dra - EPA 7. Mr. Emmanuel Danquah - Department of wildlife and Range management, Kwame

Nkrumah University of Science and Technology 8. Mr. Yaw Sarfo-Afriyie - EPA Western Region, Takoradi 9. Mr. Kojo Opoku Mensah - EPA Western Region, Takoradi

APPENDIX 4 UNESCO Representatives Ms. Melody Ocloo - UNESCO Headquarters Mr. William Amonoo - UNESCO Accra Office

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APPENDIX 6  

SYNOPSIS:  RADIO  TALK  ON  GREEN  ECONOMIES  IN  THE  BIA  BIOSPHERE  RESERVE  

WHAT  IS  MAB  

WHAT  IS  A  GREEN  ECONOMY?  

WHAT  IS  THE  RATIONALE  OF  THE  PROJECT?  WHAT  SPECIFIC  ACTIVITIES  ARE  TO  BE  UNDERTAKEN  UNDER  THE  PROJECT?  

WHY  THE  BIA  BIOSPHERE  RESERVE?  

HOW  DIFFERENT  IS  THIS  PROJECT  FROM  OTHER  INTERVENTIONS  IMPLEMENTED  HERE  IN  BIA?  

WHAT  SHOULD  WE  THE  COMMUNITIES  EXPECT?  

WHAT  IS  THE  ROLE  OF  THE  COMMUNITY  AND  OTHER  STAKEHOLDERS  TO  ENSURE  A  SUCCESSFUL  IMPLEMENTATION  OF  THE  PROJECT?  

 

PANEL:    

MRS  SHEILA    ASHONG,  EPA  

MR  RICHARD  BOAKYE,  FORESTRY  COMMISSION  

MR  APOLLONIUS  ASARE,  GHANA  NATIONAL  COMMISSION  FOR  UNESCO