Communities in the Okyeman area, historically reliant on the forest for their livelihoods, are now taking the lead in protecting it, thanks to a collaborative initiative.

The transformation is being spearheaded by a broad alliance led by the United Nations University Institute of Natural Resources for Africa (UNU-INRA) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). They are working in conjunction with UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, the Forestry Commission, various government ministries, civil society groups like A Rocha-Ghana and OEF, and crucially, traditional authorities across Okyeman.

The core mission is to empower these communities with the necessary knowledge, legal frameworks, and effective governance structures to safeguard the Forest Okyeman landscape – a globally significant ecosystem facing increasing threats.

Forest Okyeman isn’t just any forest; it’s the origin of three major rivers – Ayensu, Birim, and Densu – and over 99 smaller streams, providing vital water resources to millions of Ghanaians. The Atewa Forest, a key part of the landscape, alone is home to over 1,100 plant species, representing approximately 26 percent of Ghana’s total flora.

Ecologically, the forest is incredibly rich, harboring more than 100 species of flora and fauna that are either globally threatened or near-threatened, including three classified as critically endangered. It also boasts exceptional biodiversity, accounting for over 77 percent of Ghana’s butterfly species and more than 30 percent of the country’s recorded bird species.

Beneath the surface, the forest’s Birimian rock formations are rich in minerals like gold, bauxite, diamonds, and kaolin, resources that have historically attracted both legal and illegal mining activities. Surrounding the forest, communities depend on farming – cultivating cocoa, oil palm, rubber, plantain, cassava, and cocoyam – directly linking their well-being to the health of the land.

For years, however, the forest faced degradation from illegal mining, unsustainable land use practices, and general environmental destruction. Recognizing the link between environmental issues and human security, development partners adopted a human security framework, prioritizing people in conservation efforts.

The FOREST Okyeman Project has rolled out a series of capacity-building workshops across eight communities, addressing the economic, environmental, political, educational, nutritional, and health aspects of insecurity related to natural resource depletion. Participants received training in legal frameworks governing land, water, forests, wildlife, and minerals, as well as sustainable agriculture, forest ecology, and monitoring protocols.

“These trainings were not just about conservation,” explained Dr Ferdinand Tornyie, Research Fellow at UNU-INRA. “They were about empowering communities to understand their rights, their responsibilities, and the tools available to protect what sustains them.”

A central element of the project is the Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) model, a landscape-level governance structure that unites farmers, traditional leaders, opinion leaders, landowners, government representatives, and the private sector. Through CREMAs, communities are now actively co-managing natural resources, raising awareness, tackling violations, strengthening accountability, and promoting sustainable agroforestry.

The project also assisted communities and district assemblies in developing new bylaws for natural resource management, which have since been officially gazetted and legally enforced. “We returned to the communities to educate them on these new bylaws,” Dr Tornyie said. “People now know what is permitted, what is not, and how to report and fight environmental damage, including illegal mining.”

Beyond enforcement, the FOREST Okyeman Project has strengthened Community Resource Management Committees (CRMCs), fostered collaboration among stakeholders, and increased awareness of the long-term value of forest conservation. It is also exploring opportunities for ecotourism, offering alternative income streams while preserving biodiversity.

Ultimately, the initiative restores dignity by recognizing local people as the rightful stewards of this globally important landscape, rather than viewing them as obstacles to conservation.

Image Source: MYJOYONLINE