PROBLEM
Increasing land degradation caused by wildfires, apathy, pressure on Savannah woodland resources, over extraction of wood and medicinal plants and the use of inappropriate farming technologies has led to erratic rainfall pattern, overgrazing, poor agricultural yields, low household income, gender inequality and out migration in the Gburumani ? Dimabi traditional area. In recent past, land was very fertile and biodiversity was more admirable because traditional law was held in high esteem coupled with low population pressure. As time went by population increased and traditional law slackened to give way to serious land degradation. The problem still persist because majority of the people still eke out a living from the natural environment on non - sustainable basis and if appropriate action is not taken to reverse the situation, the area will soon be a desert.

In the past the land was very fertile and the bulk of the population relied on it for their daily sustenance. The land could regenerate itself after damage because there were no large numbers of burrowed pits created in the name of regraveling and reshaping of roads. Farming activities were at a smallholder level and not mechanized. Economic trees such as Shea, Dawadawa, Mango and many others were not felt for wood fuel. The biodiversity situation was one of the best and it was easy to get non-forest wood products such as indigenous fruits, medicinal herbs, material for basket weaving and grasses to roof homes. The secret that sustained these activities was steadfastness of the people to traditional laws and norms, which has broken down of late due to modernity and religion.

Currently, the land is degraded at a speedy rate with wildfires at the top of the list. None of the roads on the project area is tarred as such it calls for regraveling and reshaping annually. This has raised the number of borrowed pits from 18 to 35 within four years. All of which are left unattended. Subsistence farming has given way to mechanized farming and over 1,000 trees are uprooted annually to expand rice farms. The situation is worsened by the fact that economic trees are used for wood fuel with impunity especially on festive occasions. If actions are not taken immediately to safeguard the situation, most of the land would be degraded in future. To forestall this problem the Community Based Organizations Network Land Restoration Project was initiated with the goal of using local resources such as indigenous knowledge, skills, material and labour to restore degraded land in the Gburumani ? Dimabi traditional area through natural regeneration creation, tree growing, wildfire prevention, creation of medicinal plant gardens, reinstatement of burrowed pits, and introduction of modern farming technologies for the socio ? economic well being of the people.

The project is in line with GEF?s effort to restore degraded land and reverse the threat of desertification globally. Besides, it is in line with Forestry and EPA policy to improve degraded land in Ghana. Furthermore, the Northern Regional Coordinating Council and the Tolon/Kumbungu District Assembly in collaboration with all districts in the region campaigns against wildfire to make the natural environment green to make poverty history.

MAIN OBJECTIVE

The main objective of this project is to restore 500 acres of degraded land to improve biodiversity and agricultural production as well as encourage co ?management of environmental resources among community members in a sustainable manner by the end of year 2009.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

The specific objectives of the project are:

? To raise awareness on wildfire prevention, appropriate pesticide management, modern farming technologies, natural regeneration establishment, medicinal plant garden establishment, dry season vegetable farming and sustainable environmental resource management created.

? To establish five hundred (500) acres of natural regeneration, 200 acres of medicinal plants and 300 acres of indigenous fruit trees in 5 communities in the project area.

? To reduce poverty rate through the provision of alternative livelihood support in Moringa farming, Jatropha farming, small ruminants, and guinea fowls production to farmers as well as micro- credit and shea butter extraction to 150 women.

INTENDED RESULTS

The intended results of the project are:

- Developed and sustained the capacities of 70% of local community in natural resource management.
- At least 70% of degraded land restored through wildfire prevention, natural regeneration establishment, medicinal plant gardens establishment and improved soil fertility techniques.
- At least 60% of distress farmers introduced to sustainable livelihood support in Moringa farming, Jatropha farming, small ruminants and guinea fowls production to farmers as well as micro- credit and shea butter extraction to 150 women.

DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES

The activities to carry out to meet indented results are as follows:

Result 1.0 Developed and Sustained the Capacities of 70% of Local Community In Natural Resource Management

Activities earmarked to achieve result one are:

1.1 Organize environmental advocacy fora in 5 communities in the project area.

The advocacy fora will promote environmental awareness programmes in 5 communities to be covered by the project to change attitudes and behaviours of the people to be able to contain environmental problems. It is also to engage the traditional rulers to take giant steps in rallying their people around sound environmental practices in their daily interaction with the natural environment. Resource persons will come from EPA, MOFA, and GDCP. The activity will come off within the first quarter of the project.

1.2 Organize natural resource management sensitization workshops for community members

Four (4) natural resource management sensitization workshops will be organized for traditional authorities, cow boys, youth groups, students, pupils and opinion leaders. In all, 180 people will participate in the workshops which will sensitize various groups on responsive environmental behaviour. These will serve as trainer of trainers for the other community members in project area and its environs. These workshops will help community members to acquire skills and knowledge on judicious use of natural resources for sustainability. Resource persons will come from EPA, FSD and MOFA and the activity will come on within the early part of the second quarter of the project.

1.3 Introduce improved soil fertility technologies to trained farmers.

Five (5) hands ? on ? training will be organized for 100 farmers to acquire improved soil fertility technologies. The training will be followed by practical demonstration at home and on the farm to derive home the skills acquired by the farmers. These farmers after the training will train other community members on the same programme. Resource persons will come from SARI and MOFA. The activity will come on the second quarter of the project at which time the rains have started in the project area in earnest.

1.4 Initiate and sustain intensive wildfire prevention and management.

A hundred (100) members anti ? wildfire volunteers squad will be formed and trained to serve as watchdog committee to ensure responsible environmental behaviour. Twenty (20) each will come from each of the 5 communities. They will be trained in fire fighting and first aid techniques. After the training they will be issued with identification cards, cutlasses and Wellington boots. Some of these tools will help the squad create fire belts around natural regenerations annually as well as put off wild fires which are threats to the protected sites. The squad will also help the communities to formulate their own environmental rules and regulations to govern the environment. Resources persons will come from GNFS, GDCP and EPA. The activity will take place in fourth quarter of project.

1.5 Carry out baseline survey of five (5) project communities

As part of the initial community entry to project communities, baseline survey will be carried out in Dimabi, kpachiyili, Tibogu, Kuruguvuhuyayilil and Kansheigu to determine baseline indicators which will help measure project success during monitoring and evaluation. The activity will come off in the first quarter with resource person from University for Development Studies (UDS)

Result 2.0 At least 70% of degraded land restored through wildfire prevention, natural regeneration establishment, medicinal plant gardens establishment and improved soil fertility techniques.

The activities to carry out to meet indented results are as follows:

Demarcate degraded area and put under natural regeneration, medicinal plant gardens and indigenous fruit trees plantation establishment. A total of 500 acres of degraded land would be demarcated and put under natural regeneration in the five (5) communities of the project area. Also 200 acres of medicinal plant gardens will be established in collaboration with the traditional healers association of the project area. Besides, 300 acres of indigenous fruit tree plantations will be established in collaboration with the traditional rulers to increase the gene pool of biological resources in project area. All these activities will be carried out within the third quarter of the project period. The chiefs and people of Gburumani ? Dimabi traditional area have committed land for the project. Seedlings for planting will be supplied from a CASLID establised nursery in Gburumani to undertake enrichment planting in the protected areas. The reserve will be protected from wild fires and encroachers from the public by a security / anti ? wildfire volunteer squad to be put in place. Resource persons will come from Survey Department, GNFS and FSD.

Establish a multipurpose woodlot and fodder Banks

As a means to reduce pressure on the forest as a source of fodder for livestock and domestic energy, a 10-acres multipurpose woodlot will be established in each project community to provide fodder for livestock and to supply wood fuel for the community. These will improve livestock production in the area. Fast growing trees will be supplied from the community nursery in Gburumani for propagation in the multipurpose woodlot. Seeds of improved forage species will also be broadcast to grow freely and serve as feed for livestock. The activity will be sited in low lands which are wet almost throughout the year and it will be carried out within the Third quarter and resource persons will come from MOFA.

Establish Agro forestry in farms of interested farmers

Community members expressed interest in grafted Mango plantations during the community entry stage of the project. As such 20 grafted mangoes will be supplied to each of the 100 members of the fire volunteer squad as an incentive of dedicated service to the protected areas. This will reduce pressure on the forest as well as improve soil fertility on the farm and reverse on farm degradation. Cover crops as source of green manure will be encouraged under the Mango plantations. The activity will be carried out by sixth quarter and resource persons will come from MOFA, FSD, and SARI.

Prepare participatory land use plan

To forestall litigation on the land used for the project all the five (5) communities involved in the project will be helped to draw a participatory land use plan for land use for the project. This activity will officially dedicate the land to the project with future litigation on it. Resource persons will come from Town and Country Planning and Survey Department. The activity will be carried out by the end of second quarter

Reinstate Burrowed Pits

At least all the 35 burrowed pits in the project area will be reinstated. Old rice husk and refuse dumps in the communities will be used to fill dug holes in the pits into which Neem trees are transplanted. When the refuse is cleared it will improve the sanitation status of the communities to have beautiful built environment. The trees will supply the communities with roofing poles. A thin layer of 100mm of compose will be spread in the pits to encourage grass growth as a means to further improve the ecology of the area. In future, the rest of the burrowed could be developed into indigenous fruit plantation sites according to the collective planning wishes of the communities. The activity will be carried out throughout the project period of eight (8) quarters with resource persons from MOFA.

Introduce improve clay stoves to women in the project area

In the project area, women provide domestic energy for cooking. Due to this, they are always in the bush to fetch fire wood for domestic use. To reduce their fire wood consumption and in a little way to reduce carbon dioxide exhaustion into the atmosphere, women of the project area will be introduced to the construction and maintenance of improve clay stoves. In this activity, 100 women will be trained as trainers of trainers in improve clay construction and these women will in turn train their colleagues in their communities. The activity will come off in the fourth quarter with resource persons from New Energy and CASLID.


Result 3.0 At least 60% of distress farmers introduced to sustainable livelihood support in Moringa farming, Jatropha farming, small ruminants and guinea fowls production to farmers as well as micro- credit and shea butter extraction to 150 women.

Identify and train 50 farmers in Moringa farming, Jatropha farming, small ruminants and guinea fowls production

A training programme in Moringa farming, Jatropha farming, small ruminants and guinea fowls production will be organized for 50 interested community members and interested members of the adjourning communities to serve as alternative income source. Thus reducing the burden on the Savanna forest and therefore promoting natural regeneration. The breakdown of the numbers for training are; ten(10) farmers train in Moringa farming; ten (10) farmers train in Jatropha farming; fifteen (15) farmers train in small ruminant production and fifteen (15) farmers train guinea fowl production. The training would be carried out within the fourth and fifth quarters. MOFA staff will be used as Resource persons.

Establish Shea Butter Extraction Training Center for women

A Shea butter extraction centre will be established in Kansheigu for women of the project area to mill Shea nuts and extract the butter. The place will be a training center for women who wish to learn modern Shea butter extraction skills for a livelihood. For the first year the centre will train 150 women in Shea butter extraction at the Center. After acquiring the skills, these women will always be in the center practicing their trade. They will also help to train new comers who come to learn the trade. Shea butter extraction is the main trade of the women in the project area and this activity will encourage them in their trade to reduce poverty among the women. The vicinity of the center will be equipped with demonstration farms of soil improvement technological practices and improved small ruminants' production for men and women. The center will have a store room, an office and a stall under which women will sit to learn the trade. Furthermore, the centre will have a grinding mill for grinding Shea nuts; improve clay stoves and roasters as training equipments. The activity will come off at the fifth quarter will resource person from RTTC and NBSSI

Identify market sources for farmers on alternative livelihood

Market sources will be sought for Moringa, Jatropha, small ruminants and guinea fowls. The markets shops, which sell Moringa on their selves, would be contacted for market for the product. Hotels, restaurants and chop bars will be contacted for market for guinea fowl products and small ruminants. Besides, Shea butter exporters will be contacted to buy the products of women into shea butter extraction. The activity will take place by the seventh quarter. Staff of CASLID will be responsible.

Provide revolving credit scheme for farmers on alternative livelihood support.

After training farmers in alternative livelihood, the Moringa, Jatropha, Guinea fowls, small ruminants will be given to farmers on credit. When they pay by installments, the next barge of farmers will benefit from the revolving fund. Besides, a revolving credit of GH¢5,000 will be provided for 150 women on Shea butter extraction. The activity will be carried out in the fifth and sixth quarters with resource persons from NBSSI.

Result 4.0 Monitoring and Evaluation

Monitoring of the project activity progress will be done every week and monthly. Evaluation will be done every quarter, mid year, end of year and end of project on the eighth quarter. After every evaluation exercise, parties involved will meet to share ideas and institute corrective measures in place to enhance project performance. Stakeholders such as beneficiary communities, CASLID and GEF will be involved in the monitoring and evaluation exercise.
redit and shea butter extraction to 150 women.