Ghana strengthens climate change fight with three new strategies

Ghana on Wednesday launched three key strategies aimed at supporting the country's fight to reduce emissions that lead to climate change.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Nii Osah Mills, who launched the Ghana REDD+ Strategy(reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation), Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy and Ghana Forestry Development Master plan, underscored the need for sustainable management and use of Ghana's natural and forest resources.

"We are launching these three strategic documents today in furtherance of national and global efforts to promote best-practice forest governance, restoration of degraded landscapes, and to tackle the adverse impacts of Climate Change and variabilities," he stated.

While the Forestry Development Master Plan (2016 to 2036) seeks to implement fully the 2012 Forest and Wildlife policy, the Ghana REDD+ Strategy aims at assisting Ghana to prepare itself for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.

The Country Director for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Dominic Sam, who spoke on behalf of development partners, lauded Ghana's efforts in tackling the drivers of deforestation and forest degradation.

He said the UNDP however recognized that the West African country still faced some challenges with its annual rate of deforestation estimated at two percent.

"This trend has implications for not just the forest and biodiversity, but also for livelihoods, eco-system functions and services that support Ghana's predominantly agrarian economy."

The Forestry Commission of Ghana is the state agency that implements all policies pertaining to Ghana's forest and forest products. Endit