The European Union (EU) has launched a €2.4 million forest restoration initiative in Ghana, aimed at rehabilitating 5,000 hectares of degraded forest land and strengthening the livelihoods of 20,000 farmers and rural residents. The project was inaugurated at the Forest Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) in Fumesua, Ejisu Municipality, Ashanti Region.
Ghana’s forests are critical for biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, water and food security, and serve as an economic backbone for rural communities. However, decades of pressure from illegal mining, unsustainable agriculture, logging, and wildfires have left large portions of the country’s forest cover severely depleted.
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Under the initiative, the EU will provide a €2.4 million (GH₵31 million) grant to four local NGOs to lead restoration efforts:
- Goshen Global Vision – community landscape restoration
- Nature & Development Foundation – agroforestry initiatives
- Proforest Initiative Africa – landscape restoration in Asunafo
- World Vision Ghana
The project prioritizes women and youth, promoting sustainable livelihoods and resilient communities, with activities spanning the Ahafo, Bono East, Upper East, and Western Regions.
At the launch, Ms. Paulina Rozycka, Head of Infrastructure & Sustainable Development at the EU Delegation to Ghana, said the initiative forms part of the EU’s Sustainable Forest and Cocoa Programme, supporting climate-smart agriculture and resilient landscapes. She emphasized that forest degradation threatens ecosystems and economies and noted that the project complements the government’s “Tree for Life” programme.
Ms. Rozycka also highlighted Ghana’s progress in forest governance, citing the commencement of FLEGT licensing for timber exports to the EU as evidence of commitment to sustainable forest management.
Dr. Lucy Amissah, Deputy Director of FORIG, identified illegal mining and farming as major drivers of forest loss and expressed optimism that the initiative would encourage responsible land use.
Mrs. Valerie Fumey Nassah, representing the Forestry Commission, reaffirmed the Commission’s support, emphasizing that the project aligns with its mandate to manage Ghana’s forests for the benefit of all. The launch concluded with dignitaries planting trees on the FORIG compound to symbolize the start of the initiative.