EU-LEAN Project Restores 275.73 Hectares of Degraded Lands and Creating Green Futures in Kassena Nankana West District

By: Francis Npong

In Kassena Nankana West District in Ghana's Upper East Region, the EU-funded landscape restoration initiative is transforming bare and fragile landscapes into green lands and creating new livelihood opportunities for locals to thrive. "Thanks to the EU-LEAN initiatives, we have recovered several hectares of degraded land. We are happy our surroundings are growing greener and more beautiful," said Abdul-Nashiru, lead farmer at the Navio-Samwo community.

An estimated land area of 275.73 hectares of degraded plots has been restored in 22 communities through farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMR) and enrichment planting. 100 farmers have also been trained and supported in beekeeping, while 1,500 women are incorporated into 60 savings for transformation groups. 

Besides this, the project supported four seedling nurseries to raise and distribute over 80,000 tree seedlings of varied species for enrichment planting. Not only are communities reclaiming degraded lands, they are also observing environmental practices such as non-burning and preventing commercial logging. "We have stopped large-scale charcoal production and large-scale firewood harvesting. Also, the community fire volunteers formed and trained are ensuring compliance with the non-bush burning bylaw. As a result, few fires that emerged were controlled," said Abdul-Nashiru.

Farmers like Abdul-Nashiru are leaving no stone unturned to reforest degraded land areas in their communities. "Restoring land to its original state is a responsibility and a legacy we can leave for our children. This will also contribute to reducing the impacts of climate change on agriculture and natural  resources," he said.

Through the project, more than 6,000 farmers were trained on integrated landscape management approaches, established 60 Savings for Transformation groups, and supported communities with alternative livelihoods such as animal rearing. These initiatives have created jobs for locals, provided access to financial services, especially for women, and thereby transformed the lives, incomes, and livelihoods of the rural poor for good.

"Through S4T groups, many women were able to access small loans to begin small business enterprises. They no longer rely on the sale of firewood to earn income to meet their financial needs. This thus contributed to enhancing environmental agility in the project communities," said Joseph Talata, project officer at Kessena Nankana West District.

The manager of the EU-LEAN Project at World Vision Ghana, Joseph Yelkabong Edwin, said the project's success is linked to communities' involvement and ownership of the project's models. "World Vision Ghana created project models that directly address farmers’ needs,"  he said.

Landscape restoration approaches such as farmer-managed natural regeneration (FMNR) and assisted natural regeneration (ANR) are cost-effective, efficient, and quick restoration methods that best suit landscapes where tree planting is  difficult," he said.

"We are glad this project was introduced. Today, almost every woman in our community is a member of a S4T group. This made access to sustainable financial services available at our doorsteps. The livescoincomes, livelihoods of women have changed for good the betteraid Vivian Adawona, a beneficiary.

Last year, for example, S4T groups, mostly women, saved close to 700,000 Ghana cedis through which they accessed loans to meet their children's educational and health needs as well as household food needs. "We are now able to confidently provide financial support for household maintenance, children’s education, and meeting any financial needs even in an emergency situation,"  said Vivian.

In the Upper East region, where opportunities for economic advancement are scarce, the implementation of the EU-LEAN Project is turning bear lands into forests, while Savings for Transformation groups are helping locals access sustainable financial services, improving income sources and livelihoods, and influencing growth and development at the community level.

By utilizing FMNR sites for beekeeping, farmers are diversifying their livelihoods and income. The project initiatives not only boost economic prospects but also foster community awareness, resilience to climate change and its related hazards, and pride. As the project closes in December, its sustainability is well demonstrated and could be a catalyst for the prosperity and growth of the implementing communities.

The EU-LEAN project, implemented by World Vision Ghana in partnership with Rainforest Alliance, Tropenbos Ghana, and Eco-Care Ghana, has not only revived the environmental agility in Kessana Nankana West District but also empowered local communities to create sustainable livelihoods, financial services, and a greener future.