Promoting Community Stewardship to Combat Wildfires and Protect Forests

16th Dec 2024 | Source: UNDP

Emmanuel Baapeng, Forestry commission Taking the participants through the fire training

Wildfire outbreaks remain a threat to our forest and forest communities, destroying ecosystems, declining biodiversity, and endangering livelihoods, particularly of vulnerable populations that depend on the forests for survival. With the dry season in Ghana's Northern Savannah Zone intensifying the risk of bushfires, the need for well-trained fire volunteers to combat this menace has never been more urgent.

In response to this growing threat, the Forestry Commission (FC) of Ghana, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Global Shea Alliance (GSA), have trained fire volunteers in 10 Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) and 11 Forest Fringe Communities. This is in line with the objective of the GSLER project to set up 3 new CREMAs and strengthen 7 existing ones within the Northern Savannah Zone of Ghana. These trainings aimed to equip the fire volunteers with the necessary skills and knowledge to prevent and manage wildfires in their communities.

The initiative is part of activities under the Ghana Shea Landscape Emission Reductions Project (GSLERP), a project funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the UNDP in collaboration with the FC and the GSA. The project seeks to restore degraded landscapes, promote sustainable land use practices, and enhance the livelihoods of local communities in the Northern Savanna Zone.

Highlighting the importance of the training, the Head of Environment and Climate, Abdul-Razak Saeed noted that, “the training of fire volunteers is a critical component of efforts to reduce the risk of wildfires and promote sustainable land use practices in Ghana's Northern Savanna Zone”. He added that “UNDP remains committed to supporting the Government of Ghana and local communities in pursuing climate change mitigation and adaptation as part of sustainable development efforts”.

Angela Ayiwilo, a farmer in the Gambaga-Nalerigu area in the Northeast Region of Ghana who is enrolled under our Modified Taungya System initiative described the training as an insightful one that will influence their techniques in combating wildfires.

“The training has been very enlightening. I have learned new techniques to prevent and combat wildfires, which will not only protect our farms but also preserve our forests for future generations”, Ayiwilo noted.

Festus Lukeman, a fire volunteer from the Murugu-Mognori CREMA, shared his enthusiasm for the training and its potential to enhance their efforts in protecting forests and farmlands.

“This training has given us the skills and confidence to respond effectively to wildfires. By working together as a community, we can protect our forests and ensure the safety of our farms and homes,” Festus stated.

The training, which brought together over 500 participants from 6 districts, covered key topics including wildfire prevention strategies, fire suppression techniques, and the safe use of firefighting equipment.

The facilitators at the training included Mr. Emmanuel Baapeng, Manager in charge of the project at the Forestry Commission, Eldad Asare, Officer at the Forestry Commission and Mr. Moses Duut, Project Finance Associate at UNDP Ghana.