Project Team:
Adu-Bredu, S. and Ametsitsi, G.K.D.

Collaborators:
Nature Conservation and Plant Ecology Group, Wageningen University

Background
GEOCARBON is an European FP7 project with a global perspective, with the ultimate aim to lay the foundations for an operational Global Carbon Observing and Analysis System in support to both science and policy. Th e loss of most transitional forest over a distance of 150 km nationwide (“savanisation”) particularly in the zone of transition (ZOT) in Ghana has been dramatic.

Project Team:
Margaret Sraku-Lartey, Stella Britwum Acquah, Sparklar Samar Brefo, Gloria Djagbletey and Naomi Appiah

Client:
Elsevier Foundation

Project Duration:
2015-2016

Background
In Ghana, there is hardly any system of recording, documenting and preserving indigenous knowledge (IK) or information, let alone a mechanism for capturing IK to cope with dynamic world needs. An option that can be pursued is for the IK so captured to be digitised and stored for later use. Digitisation is ideal for sharing, exchanging, educating, and preserving indigenous knowledge and cultures. This requires a clear design for metadata standards and procedures, multimedia technologies and appropriate structures for access and use.

Dual Degree Programme in Master of Science in Bio-economy and Natural Resources Management (MSc. ECORES) and Executive MBA.

The University of Eastern Finland (UEF) is offering a blended programme in Business Administration and Natural Resources Management, on the campus of CSIR-FORIG in Kumasi leading to the award of a DUAL DEGREE in Master of Science in Bio-Economy and Natural Resources Management and Executive MBA.  The programme operates the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) and the certificates are awarded by the University of Eastern Finland (UEF).

Forestry Research Institute of Ghana of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-FORIG) has identified citronella oil/extract as highly potent to fight fungus that causes black pods disease in cocoa. Several trials had been done in the laboratories and now the institute is looking at the concentrations that would be ideal to control the cocoa black pod fungus.

According to Professor Daniel A. Ofori, Director of the CSIR-FORIG, the institute would link up with the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) for approval to move to the fields to apply it on cocoa.

Worldwide forests are suffering from degradation. Fortunately, there are people who protect, conserve and restore forests. One of those people is Dr. Lucy Amissah, Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-Forestry Research Institute of Ghana. In an interview she shares her experiences with reforestation and natural regeneration. “People think that after planting a tree the work is done. But actually the real work, maintenance, only starts after planting the tree.”

Mr Edward Akunyagra, Project Manager for World Vision Ghana, has called on stakeholders to institute measures and policies to promote sustainable landscape restoration. He said there should be effective coordination and engagement of all relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of interventions and long-term sustainability of landscape restoration to enhance food security in the country.

Mr Akunyagra made the call during the Northern Ghana Restoration Initiative of district level dialogue with stakeholders on Regreening Africa Project in the Mion District.

Poor countries need up to $300 billion, not the initial $100 billion per year by 2030, for clean energy and climate adaptation projects. According to a UN report released earlier this month, there is a growing gap between the cost of climate adaptation in developing countries and the amount of public finance available for it. The report estimates that developing countries need five to 10 times more funding than they currently have to manage climate impacts.

Developed countries are yet to deliver on their $100 billion annual commitment to help poorer countries pay for clean energy and climate adaptation projects. Most of the money that was disbursed went into climate change mitigation, not adaptation.

The Forestry Research Institute of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-FORIG), has identified 28 lesser used timber species on the market without adequate technical information for their efficient use.

Their technological properties, according to FORIG, are not known and may be used improperly and generate a lot of waste.

Prof. Daniel A. Ofori, Director of CSIR-FORIG disclosed this at a seminar to share findings of a survey conducted by his outfit on emerging timber species with stakeholders in forestry and industry at Fumesua.

Forty Participants on Thursday in Bunsu CSIR-PGRRI benefitted from a training aimed at equipping young people with skills and knowledge in snail farming to improve their livelihood and boost snail production. They included staff of the National Youth Authority (NYA), Agricultural Extension Agents and farmers.

It was jointly organised by the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research as part of the Modernising Agriculture in Ghana with funds from the Canadian government and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

Cocoa farmers and tree crop nursery operators in the Atwima- Mponua District of the Ashanti Region have undergone ‘innovative farming practices’ training for enhancement of their crop/tree farming and nursery businesses.

Organised jointly by the local Kokoo Pa Farmers Association, the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Sunyani and Royal Tropical Institute, the Netherlands, the one day maiden ‘Cocoa Target Learning Platform’ was held at Bibiani in the Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai Municipality of the Western North Region on the theme “Crop and Tree Nurseries: Exploring Opportunities for Rural Women and the Youth”.