ecosystem greening project under evaluation

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wpid-0110130941unepstudies1.jpgThe evaluation of the ?Greening Dry land? project, an integrated mechanism to enhance the conservation of the Sakumo Ramsar site ecosystem in Tema has begun.
The project, which begun in 2013, with funding from the South Korean government at an unspecified amount through the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), was being implemented in three African countries namely Ghana,Tunisia and Morocco.
Touring the Sakumo wetlands, Madam Kamar Yousuf, Project Manager, UNEP, said the project aims at providing institutional support for integrated dry land management, strengthening capacity for sustainable dry land management and support for livelihoods diversification activities to alleviate poverty.
According to her, it also has a budgeted component for the dissemination of communication and information sustainable land management.
Under the project, mangoes and coconuts were planted at the Sakumo Ramar site, which she said, would enable local people to generate revenue and improve their living conditions.
She urged the government to put in intervention programmes to ensure that the project was sustained to improve the livelihoods and coping mechanism of pastoral communities.
She lauded the efforts of the various stakeholders, namely Korea Forest Service (KFS), under the Changwon Initiative, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, for helping the project to take off.
Mr. Stephen Osei Amakye, Director, Field and Operations, EPA, appealed for the expansion of the project to enable other communities with similar environmental challenges to achieve sustainable development.
Mr Baek Kwangho, Deputy Director, Korea Forest Service and Dr Lim Joo-hon, Korea
Forest Research Institute, representing the Korean Government, told the GNA that they would report back to their government on the progress of the project.
According to them, the waste water treatment put in place would help irrigate the areas where
the coconut and crafted mango trees were planted, during the dry season.
Mr. Richard Agorkpa, Executive Director, Friends of Ramsar Sites (FORS), appealed to
the Korean government to exploit the agricultural potential of the areas designated as Ramsar sites so to help the locals to improve their lot.
?I also want to appeal for the transfer of technology in the area of waste water treatment for irrigating farmlands and tree plantation for local community development.?

GNA

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