Ghana gets ready to implement REDD+- Seven Regions to Benefit

Ghana has received 1.1 million dollars from the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility of the World Bank to develop its National Strategy to implement the REDD plus project.

The project is geared toward the reduction of emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

The fund came through the forestry commission climate change unit and it is to concentrate on forest dependent communities across the country.

Tropical forests are being degraded at alarming rates contributing to 20% of the world greenhouse gas emissions,

In 1995 Ghana joined other countries to fight climate change by signing an international agreement called the united nation framework convention on climate change.

Ghana's obligation under the convention among others is to map up mitigation and adaptation measures to reduce the impact of climate change.

In 2007 Ghana developed the interest in joining REDD-plus initiative to reduce emission from deforestation and forest degradation, and to support conservation, sustainable forest management, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

In 2010, the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility of the World Bank approved an amount of 3.4million dollars for Ghana to undertake the red plus project 

However, 1.1 million dollars has so far been released to the country through the forestry commission climate change unit to carry out the implementation phase of the project.

The REDD-Plus project is concentrating on seven forest dependent communities across the country, including the western, Brong-Ahafo, Ashanti, Eastern and Central Regions.

The Programme Manager of REDDplus, Sulemana Adamu spoke about the impact of the programme on the livelihood of forest dependent communities. "REDD+ is one of the adaptation plans Ghana is undertaking to enhance the ecological health to improve climate change resilience. Not only is it going to promote afforestation, it will also generate income for the country. Alternative livelihoods are going to be provided for forest dependent communities so they can desist from cutting down the trees. Currently the project is going to be piloted in seven forestry dependent regions" 

A Civil Society Organisation,Climate Action Network-Ghana,held a workshop to create awareness and to facilitate local community’s involvement in REDD+ management and implementation in the country.

The Chief Executive Officer of the network, Samuel Dotse called on all and sundry including stakeholders and forest dependent communities to support the project when it is finally started.