Initiative to Conserve Biodiversity, Build Climate Resilience, and Reduce Emissions from Land-use launched

Initiative to Conserve Biodiversity, Build Climate Resilience, and Reduce Emissions from Land-use launched

Ghana - 12 May, 2021

The European Union’s flagship Global Climate Change Alliance+ (GCCA+) initiative, Landscapes and Environmental Agility across the Nation (LEAN) project has been launched in Accra, Ghana. The launch took place on May 11, 2021. The programme was attended by a delegation from the EU, Directors from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the Forestry Commission. Other stakeholders who participated in the launch included traditional authorities, the media and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

The LEAN project will tackle barriers that have historically hindered efforts by governments, civil society organizations, and the private sector to halt land degradation and deforestation through the uptake of landscape approaches. The project aims to conserve biodiversity, build climate resilience, and reduce emissions from land-use changes in the savannah, high forest, and transition zones of Ghana. While doing this, the project will help local farmers to improve their livelihoods.

Speaking at the launch, Roberto Schiliro, the team leader of the EU Delegation for Infrastructure and Sustainable Development, explained that the LEAN project is in line with the EU Green Deal, which is a new growth strategy targeted at 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 mentioned that the LEAN project interventions on climate-smart agriculture and food security align with the government’s vision of building resilient agricultural systems and the development of commodity value chains as outlined in the National Climate Change Policy.

Reading a statement on behalf of the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, the Technical Director in Charge of Forestry Mr. Musah Abu Juam, pointed out that about 70% of local community members depend on the forest for their food and energy requirements and for that reason, sustainable management of natural resources remains at the heart of the ministry. He assured participants of the Ministry’s support for the LEAN project.

Roselyn Fosua Adjei, Director of Climate Change Directorate at Forestry Commission of Ghana also intimated that “It is time to get impatient and speed up the needed actions to combat climate risks. Restoration is possible, the climate emergency can be curbed, an eco-friendly planet for people and livelihoods is possible and for that matter, we need to make commitments towards achieving it.”

The EU-funded LEAN project is implemented in Ghana by Rainforest Alliance, Tropenbos Ghana, World Vision Ghana, and EcoCare Ghana. Tropenbos Ghana will implement the LEAN project in the forest-savannah transition zone (Nkoranza North, Nkoranza South, and Techiman North).