UN Division for Sustainable Development

Case Study Detail Record

Organization type:	Major Groups

Submitting organization:

Affiliation:

Name of Focal Point:	Seth Nuamah

Initiative Title:	TREE PLANTING AT YAMERIGA IN UPPER EAST REGION OF GHANA

Internet links:

Scope:	Regional: - Africa

Status:	Ongoing

Timeframe:	Start: Pre 1997 End:

Lead Institution:	local woman of Yameriga

Stakeholders/Partners:	Forestry Department, Northern Savanna Biodiversity Conservation Project (NSBCP), EPA.

Relevent issues:	- Empowerment of local rural communities - Natural resources management - Poverty reduction strategies and policies - Reducing rural poverty - Empowering the poor, including women and indigenous people - Poverty eradication - Sustainable development for Africa - Gender equality - Education

Objectives/Challenges:

Returning to Yameriga in 1996 to seek treatment from a herbalist for a long-term illness of her son (perhaps because of the reputation of the nearby Tongo Hills as a centre for herbal remedies), Mary Azumah was struck by the poverty of the area and the lack of economic opportunities that local women suffered during the dry season. Unlike people in some other parts of Upper East Region, they lacked local materials for basket weaving, for example. She therefore sought ways for the women of Yameriga to be more economically active, and was encouraged to promote tree planting by a local chief who had already started a woodlot. Rather than starting with a clear project idea, the Yameriga women’s group has developed its targets and strategies organically, as it gained experience and identified new opportunities. The group now has about 80 members, of whom about three quarters are women. When EPA began to support the group, it advised it to approach the senior male leadership of the community and to invite some of these respected men to become members. As noted above, this has made decision making and management easier.

Lessons Learned:

The experience of the Yameriga women’s tree planting group shows how, with some inspired leadership, and minimal external support, people in northern Ghana can overcome extreme poverty to create new economic opportunities by enhancing their natural environment. The group’s achievements are only on a small scale so far, but they show that real progress is possible.

Policy Options:

The primary goal of this activity has been to enhance the livelihoods of participating women and their households. Combating land degradation and enhancing the natural resource base in the area were secondary goals.

Summary:

A community women’s group has planted a woodlot and a teak plantation, and established two nurseries. It is now preparing a mango plantation and another nursery, for which a well has been dug and a pump provided. Although there have been few direct economic benefits so far, the group is strongly committed to the environmental future of the community and now anticipates significant income from mango sales to a processing company. Men have now been invited to join the group and are giving leadership that local culture made it difficult for the women to provide on their own.