Project
Form International is conducting a feasibility study to restore mining sites in the forest landscape of the Atewa Forest Range. This landscape North of Accra, Ghana, consists of unique upland forest and functions as the source of three important rivers. However, the forest inside and outside the reserve is steadily degrading due to timber and non-timber harvesting and the encroachment of farms and gold mines. This is effecting water flows and water quality and those dependent on water downstream in the three river basins, including over 1 million people in Accra, as well as local communities and farmers that live around the Forest Reserve.
IUCN Netherlands and A Rocha Ghana have defined a project idea to restore abandoned illegal (artisanal) mining sites in the fringes of the Atewa Forest Reserve. This project idea, ‘Life after Gold’ aims to restore commercial productivity of the land, ecological functions and environmental services and thus contribute to economic and social development of the area. This supports efforts to protect and reduce pressure on Atewa Forest Reserve and restore water quality that is currently poor due to illegal mining activities.
Our role
Form International is requested to conduct a study to assess the feasibility of a forest landscape restoration project on abandoned (artisanal) mining sites in the fringes of Atewa Forest Range. This study aims to determine how the restoration project could be designed, developed and implemented, and how the different stakeholders can be involved in the restoration processes.
Links
Video that explains the challenges Atewa Forest Range faces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UrZESRbK_k
Music clip “Saving Atewa Forest – Living water from the fountain”. Made in cooperation with Ghanaian artists by IUCN: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijUrA30aHEo
A study from IUCN to demonstrate the costs and benefits in economic terms of current developments in the Atewa Range compared to potential alternatives, and support the Government of Ghana in deciding what the most optimal and sustainable management regime is for the Atewa Range: http://ghana.arocha.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2016/11/Atewa-brochure-compleet-compressed1.pdf
Results
- Feasibility assessment of restoration activities on abandoned (artisanal) mining sites
- Proposal for a reforestation project in the fringes of the Atewa Forest Range
