Balancing Nature and Community

Background

Lake Bosomtwe is the largest natural lake in Ghana. It is unique due to the rich cultural heritage associated with it. The lake is surrounded by over communities who depends on its biodiversity and resources for their livelihoods. For instance, the lake is known as the primary habitat for the Ghanaian endemic fish Tilapia busumana. Fringing communities exploit the fish and other resources to improve the local incomes. The lake is also the only source of water to the over 40 communties who depends on it for domestic and industrial use. Sadly, the lake’s riparian vegetation is highly degraded due to anthropogenic causes including farming. INEC Ghana is working with the Ghana Water Commission, local communities and other stakeholders to restore the riparian vegetation. This will ensure that, there will there is continuous flow of fresh water and other aquatic resources, as well as the restoration of ecosystem services to the benefit both nature and people.

The project involves planting trees along Lake Bosomtwe using native tree species. The project also includes community education and awareness of the need for sustainable water use in Lake Bosomtwe.

The project’s main aim is to protect the riparian vegetation to contribute to the conservation of the Lake Bosomtwe water basin and to improve sustainable access to water by the local communities. The project also aims to conserve biodiversity and restore the ecosystem in and along Lake Bosomtwe.

Key Activities

1. Planting of 60,000 native tree species along Lake Bosomtwe
2. Community education and awareness creation among 2,400 community members in 6 communities on the sustainable utilization of the Lake Bosomtwe
3. Community education and awareness creation among 2,400 community members in 6 communities on water and biodiversity conservation.

Key Results achieved

1. Sixty thousand (60,000) native tree species were planted, resulting in a noticeable increase in the riparian vegetation along Lake Bosomtwe.
2. Heightened awareness and education among 2,400 members from 6 communities along the Lake Bosomtwe water basin on sustainable water utilisation.
3. Heightened awareness and education among 2,400 members from 6 communities along the Lake Bosomtwe water basin on the conservation of riparian vegetation, resulting in the relocation of 2 dumpsites near the Lake Bosomtwe water basin.

Improved sustainable access to clean water for local communities.

Background

Paga is a traditional community known for its tourist attraction due to the superb co-existence between humans and crocodiles. It is believed that crocodiles are the embodiment of the souls and spirits of the Paga people. There are two significant ponds in Paga which provides clean water for the local people, irrigation for agricultural productivity and source of drinking water for the local cattle. Over the years, erosion and other human activities has caused siltation in the ponds, causing the volume of water to reduce significantly or causing total drying during the dry season. Drying or reduction in the volume of the water causes significant pressure to both humans and biodiversity.

In order to curtail annual drying of the Paga ponds, and prevent its attendant adverse impact on water resources for wildlife and humans, INEC Ghana working with other stakeholders dredged the Paga crocodile ponds. INEC also educated local communities on water conservation, biodiversity conservation as well as sustainable approaches to protect their water resources during the dry season. The project also planted trees along crocodile ponds to restore the riparian vegetation.

Project Aim: The project’s main aim is to increase the water-holding capacity of the ponds for both the crocodile and the community members who depend on the pond for domestic water consumption and for their cattle. The project also aimed to conserve the habitat of the crocodiles and prevent crocodile-human conflict.

Key Activities

1. Increased water holding capacity of the 8.5-acre ponds in Paga, especially during the dry season for the crocodiles and the local community members who rely on these ponds for domestic water consumption and cattle.
2. Prevented flooding of the immediate community during the rainy season due to the dredged ponds.
3. Improved the restoration of the riparian vegetation along the crocodile ponds, stabilising the soil, reducing erosion, and providing habitat for various wildlife species, contributing to the ecosystem’s overall health.
4. Improved the crocodile habitat conservation, preventing disturbances to the crocodile population and creating a safer environment for both the crocodiles and the community members.
5. Enhanced the tourism potentials of the ponds by having the crocodiles confined to pond areas and deterring the crocodiles from venturing into populated areas.
6. Raised awareness about the importance of crocodile conservation, the benefits of riparian vegetation restoration, and the responsible use of the ponds.

Background

The project used a community-based approach that engages the local communities in the conservation and management efforts of the Black Volta. The project used community education and engagement in water conservation and management to create a buffer between the black Volta and local farms and promote sustainable agriculture.

The project’s main objective is to improve water utilisation along the Black Volta basin to reduce human-hippo conflicts and enhance agricultural productivity in the area.

Key Activities

1. Provision of twenty (20) water pumping machines and twenty (20) water storage containers to supply water as an alternative water source for 400 farmers along the Black Volta basin in the Wa West, Bole, Banda, and Lawra districts.
2. Conducting twenty (20) awareness-raising campaigns on efficient water utilization among farmers along the Black Volta basin in the Wa West, Bole, Banda, and Lawra districts.
3. Establishment of twenty (20) wildlife corridors with fourteen thousand (14,000) cashew trees along the Black Volta basin in the Wa West, Bole, Banda, and Lawra Districts.

Key Results Achieved

1. Provided twenty water pumping machines and twenty water storage containers, resulting in improved access to water for 400 farmers along the Black Volta basin, thereby minimizing the potential for human-hippo conflicts.
2. Reduced the number of farmers directly farming along the banks of the Black Volta basin.
3. Heightened awareness-raising campaigns among farmers, resulting in an increased understanding of the importance of coexisting with hippos and adopting sustainable agricultural practices.
4. Planted fourteen thousand cashew trees, creating a buffer zone between the Black Volta River and local farms, reducing the likelihood of hippos straying into farmlands and mitigating human-hippo conflicts.
5. Farmers are better equipped to manage water resources and protect their crops from crop raiding.