World Vision Ghana has launched a project called Landscapes and Environmental Agility across the Nation (LEAN) in 25 communities in the Upper East Region of Ghana. By collaborating with farmers, community faith leaders, and opinion leaders, LEAN seeks to conserve biodiversity, build climate resilience, and reduce emissions from land-use changes.
Communities Report Restoration of Vegetation Cover
Two years into the project, the beneficiary communities in the Kassena – Nankana West District have reported significant progress in restoring vegetation cover. A beneficiary, Reverend John Kennedy Nchor Atigre, said the project has influenced him to include environmental conservation in his teachings. He said that human beings had to take care of the environment for their own good an to the glory of the creator.
“I and my congregation are now ambassadors of LEAN, because we are reaping the benefits. So, I will appeal that the project should get more support, so that more communities in the Upper East Region also benefit”, he added.
LEAN to Establish Participatory Landscape Management Structures
LEAN Project Manager, Joseph Edwin Yelkabong, explained that the initiative will continue to work with communities and establish participatory landscape management structures. This will facilitate easy uptake of integrated landscape management technologies and innovations. The Landscapes and Environmental Agility across the Nation project will directly support communities to scale up their efforts at attaining climate resilience.
LEAN to Strengthen Community-Level Capacity Building
Mr. Yelkabong stated that the remaining years of the project will be used to strengthen community-level capacity building and to build a landscape performance management framework. The project is funded by the European Union and implemented by World Vision Ghana, Rainforest Alliance, Tropenbos Ghana, and Ecocare Ghana.
By involving community members and opinion leaders, the initiative has already shown promising results. With continued support and engagement, LEAN can contribute to the conservation of Ghana’s natural resources and help communities become more resilient to climate change.
