The future of Atewa Forest Reserve remains uncertain provoking global environmentalists to intensify unrelenting campaign to save the forest described as exceptional biological importance with the finest upland evergreen forest.

The global environmental campaigners include; A Rocha Ghana, Friends of the Earth, Herp Ghana, Rainforest Trust, Ghana Institute of Foresters, the Netherlands Committee of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Ghana Wildlife Society.

The campaigners have launched a four-day National Exhibition tagged: “Save Atewa, Securing Atewa for wellbeing and prosperity beyond today,” to draw government’s attention to the danger with the inclusion of Atewa Mountain in the Ghana-Chinese deal.

According to Professor Alfred Apau Oteng-Yeboah Chairman of A ROCHA Ghana, the national exhibition forms part of concerted efforts since 2012 to call Government to abort the quest to mine bauxite at the forest reserve and rather elevate it into a National Park.

“Why should a precious, unique and priceless site such as the Atewa forest be destroyed? Who accounts for the endemic animals and plants, many of which are yet to scientifically discovered and named? Who will follow the removal of rocks which predate our current age? Prof Oteng-Yeboah asked.

Prof Oteng-Yeboah who is a retired Professor, Department of Plant and Environmental Biology, University of Ghana said once the Atewa forest is exploited, the contributions that this natural resource provides to the people of Akyem Abuakwa in particular and to Ghana in general would be lost forever.

“It should be made known that, no jobs will be created with the mining exploitation and the there is no scientific mining anywhere without destruction,” Prof Oteng-Yeboah noted.

Mr Francis Awotwe, a member of the concerned citizens of the Atewa Landscape a non-governmental organisation stated, “Over the years, we have been advocating together with the support of A ROCHA for Atewa forest.

“We are here now with a national exhibition and the most important thing is to call Government rather to elevate the Atewa Forest Reserve into a National Park.”

He explained that the campaign for Atewa was not because of Government’s decision to mine bauxite over there but this advocacy had gone on long ago.

He also urged government to consider other economic options instead of mining bauxite in the forest that would destroy it. “A National Park with a surrounding buffer zone has better economic advantages than the bauxite mining.

“So the economic analysis shows us that the mining option is not the best looking at the economic benefits Government is going to get.”

“We are therefore asking Government to elevate Atewa Forest to the status of the National Park with buffer zones around it,which key businesses would be invested in to provide sustained secure job for the teaming masses for the use of the landscape.

Mr Seth Appiah-Kubi, National Director, A ROCHA Ghana said significant opportunities existed to enhance the water provisioning services of the Atewa Forest, ensure sustainable management of the forest by upgrading it to a national park.

He said such an elevation would position Eastern Region as the hottest tourism destination in Ghana.

“A green development pathway would only thrive and build prosperity if government rescinds all plans to exploit the bauxite in Atewa, and focus on building green jobs, through a thriving organic cocoa production and processing value chain, supported by community incentives to secure good quality water for the downstream users,” Mr Appiah-Kubi stated.

Source: GNA

Past Projects

Kasa's efforts in restoring mangrove forests to mitigate coastal erosion

The Keta lagoon tragedy is still edged in the minds of residents who helplessly watched as the sea claimed their loved ones lives, their property and even robbed their gravesites. Now, all that’s left of a once thriving community is stumps of houses and sunken hopes evident by their scowled faces. This phenomenon is unfortunately becoming common along Ghana coastlines as the sea levels rise and take claim to lives, land and property.

One of the evidence of climate change is rising temperatures which impact the sea and oceans in various ways. One is melting polar ice which leads to expansion of oceans which in turn encroach on lands such as Keta. Secondly, the high temperatures which are stored in the water exacerbates water acidity which then degrades coral reefs and even mangroves; which act as sea defense. Cases such as Keta’s can be observed world over, in coastal areas.

The Government of Ghana has responded to this recurring disaster with measures to keep the sea at bay and relocation propositions for community members. Along  Ghana’s volta region and other coastal regions, one can observe sea defense systems protecting coastlines from strong tidal waves that cause erosion, flooding, amongst other hazards. These engineered structures are fortified to ensure durability and restoration of normally for coastal communities. However, as with most man made structures, there is a lifespan to such structures.  That is why organisations such as Kasa Initiative Ghana advocate for Nature based solutions such as planting of Mangroves.

Mangroves forests not only act as sea defense but perform as carbon sinks better than terrestrial forests. Additionally, their roots create an ecosystem for marine life to start and thrive. Marine creatures such as turtles and fish rely on this ecosystem for survival in initial life stages before venturing into the deep sea. Kasa with support from IUCN and Forestry commission sought  to restore mangrove in South Tongu District of the Volta Region. The exercise, done in collaboration with youth, women and men from the communities not only identified locations for restoration but also provided seedlings and carried out the planting. The initiative also engaged community members on the importance of mangrove forest in the environment and what it takes to ensure the forests reach maturity. 

 

In previous years, communities along the coastline in the Volta region were well barricaded from tidal waves by thinning mangrove forests. However, due to livelihood activities such as mangrove harvesting, the forests are now shrinking and far apart. Smoking of fish and other seafood is common in these areas with mangrove being the preferred source of firewood. Due to this, introduction of alternative livelihood is a key component to restoration efforts to avoid a recurrence of the current where firewood heaps are aligned along the coastline and in markets. 

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