Members Y-NREG
Members Y-NREG

The Youth in Natural Resource and Environmental Governance has called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to “exemplify leadership in the adherence of the ‘Leave No One Behind’ principle as the co chair of the eminent group of Sustainable Development Goals by prioritising and fast-tracking actions for active youth inclusion in the governance of the NRE sector”.

In a communique released by the group, they identified pertinent issues within the Natural Resource and Environmental sector that are of concern to the youth which calls for redress.

The group made demands under  6 thematic areas within the NRE sector, these are, Forestry, Mining, Oil and Gas, Water and Sanitation, Climate Change and Fisheries. The group noted that despite government interventions within the sector “ there still remain key challenges that need to be addressed such as incomplete governance structure, fragmented youth-oriented interventions and limited youth participation in  decision making processes”.

Below is the full list of demands made by the group to government and relevant stakeholders.

Forestry sector

  • While we applaud the Youth in Afforestation programme, we are however worried about the unpaid or delays in paying the youth promptly for their services.
  • .
  • Government should fast track the tree tenure benefit sharing reforms to serve as incentives for Youth in Agriculture programme to nurture and keep trees on their farms

Mining Sector

  • Redirect the energies of young people engaged in illegal mining into a well regulated Community Mining project.
  • Organise a community dialogue to engage the youth on appropriate ways of dealing with mining problems.
  • Provide lucrative alternative source of livelihood for the youth affected by the galamsey crises where skills development should be community specific.

Climate Change

  • Formalised youth inclusion in national climate programmes such as Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (Gh-NDCs) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP).
  • In line with climate finance, it is important to provide financial support to young entrepreneurs and youth groups with climate innovative ideas.

 Water and Sanitation Sector

  • Provide the enabling environment for young people to pursue recycling as a business venture.
  • Build the capacity of young people to help protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes in line with SDG 6.
  • Provide adequate sanitation and hygiene particularly in schools so as to cut down on the incidence of absenteeism among girls.

 Fisheries sector

  • Urgently work towards achievement of SDG 14 indicator 14.4: To contribute to by the end of 2020; effectively regulate harvesting, and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and destructive fishing practices. This will sustain the livelihood of Young fishers
  • Build the capacity of young people as relevant actors in sustainable management and protecting of marine and coastal ecosystems as well as reduction in marine pollution of all kinds.

 Oil and Gas Sector

  • Make provision for youth inclusion in the work of the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) as interested parties in the management of the oil revenues.
  • Review the Free Senior High School policy annually to ensure that quality is not sacrificed for the sheer numbers.
  • Build the skills capacity of young people to enable their active participation in the oil and gas sector.

About Youth-NREG:

The Youth in Natural Resources and Environmental Governance (Youth-NREG) Platform provides space for learning and sharing among young people working on different environmental actions as well as create opportunity for joint advocacy. The ultimate aim is to promote youth inclusion in the governance of the Natural Resources and Environmental sector.

The Platform is convened by the Strategic Youth Network for Development (SYND).

Contact information:

Platform Lead: Chibeze Ezekiel

Mobile #: +233244967931

Email address: synd.ghana@hotmail.com

 

Communications Lead: Evelyn Addor

Mobile #: +233246474228

Email: evyaddor@gmail.com

 

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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