Bamboo reforestation improves livelihoods in Ghana
In the North Bandai Forest Reserve in Ashanti, Ghana-west Africa, reforestation activities have been implemented with the goal of rehabilitating 700 hectares of degraded land in what had historically been primary forest. To restore this area the project planted clumping, non-invasive bamboo to connect the remaining indigenous trees and vegetation, thus creating a carbon sink that supports biodiversity and ecosystem health. The seedlings are grown in partnership with local nurseries, while farmers are employed to prepare the land by removing invasive grasses and vegetation.
The project has introduced several initiatives to support the community. These include training local people in regenerative farming that will lead to better food security and beautifying villages that don’t have a lot of vegetation by planting trees for food and shade. Infrastructure is also being improved by renovating local schools and the construction of a training centre and sanitation blocks.
Forests are essential in our lives and are among the planet's most important carbon sinks. Besides providing habitats for wildlife, they filter the air, stabilise and protect soils, store water, and contribute to the balance of our climate. However, global forest areas have declined sharply in recent decades due to increasing settlements, agriculture, illegal logging, and raw material extraction. Afforestation, reforestation, and revegetation activities significantly increase a forest’s carbon storage capacity in both the biomass of the forest and in the soil. The storage capacity varies according to the tree species, age, and location. Experts distinguish these activities in the following way:
Afforestation converts non-forested areas into forest ones. Reforestation restores forest areas that have been damaged or deforested in the past. Revegetation increases the vegetation through planting trees, shrubs, or other plants.
The project aims to contribute to these United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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