Tree Planting

Climate Stewards

Climate Stewards is a global programme of A Rocha, working through the unique family of A Rocha teams around the world. Climate Stewards is developing projects that will help the climate, the community and wildlife. It works in partnership with local people, involving them in the planning, management and maintenance of the projects.

Since 1957, 75% of Ghana’s trees have been lost/cut down for the timber export trade, to increase the area available for cocoa cultivation, or simply for firewood. Such a devastating reduction in available forest represents a significant contribution to global climate change and a dangerous threat to the integrity of Ghana’s natural space as well as the health and livelihood of its people.

In response to this disturbing trend, A Rocha Ghana partnered with the Climate Stewards project in 2007 to coordinate a pioneering small-scale tree planting programme throughout our network of schools, university groups, and rural communities. Last year, 50 hectares (20,000 trees) were planted in the central, urban areas of Kumasi and in the rural northern community of Damango. In 2008, another 150 hectares, including a mix of native trees from Mahogany to Kapok, Mango, Dawadawa, Ofram, and Kusia will be planted. While Climate Stewards funds the materials, management, and training for community and student participation in this initiative, the local people design and manage the planting and aftercare from beginning to end with a little coordinating help from A Rocha Ghana. In the community of Damango for example, primary school children have each planted their own tree on the school compound which they personally tend and protect from the scorching sun, trampling feet, and browsing goats, with careful attention and a simple stick wigwam.

Not only will this planting and growth of new trees help absorb carbon from the atmosphere but particular tree varieties like the Kapok will provide local communities with new sources of food, medicine, valuable fibre and restored wildlife habitat. Our carbon off-set target is 200,000 tons of CO², or 400,000 trees in five years, and with villages like Larabanga clamouring to join in the planting, we expect to reach this goal. The project further plans to meet the exacting standards of the Climate Community Biodiversity Alliance and our first inspection by the Rainforest Alliance will take place this year.

Find out more about Climate Stewards or view additional pictures.

Ghana Village Tree Enterprise

The Ghana Village Tree Enterprise seeks to improve the economic situation of disadvantaged households in the Northern Savannah regions. Between 2007 and 2009, A Rocha Ghana aims to help at least 200 individuals (at least 75% of them women) in two different communities, to establish or expand their small enterprises based on the sustainable harvesting and processing of tree products. These co-ordination and financing efforts will be supplemented with market analysis and development training for the small rural producers.