1.1. Introduction DI has been committed to the Weto Mountain Range for a long time. Currently we are implementing two complementary projects. The main project is part of an ambitious project of the Ecosystem Alliance Ghana to bring 100.000 hectares of forest cover under sustainable community management. In Ghana deforestation has been rampant, so it is crucial to preserve the remaining forest cover. As poverty has been a major driver of deforestation, we support communities in developing value chains for sustainable cocoa; non-timber forest products and tourism. Value chain development is the core of a Small Grant Project of GEF, managed through UNDP Ghana. Community nurseries and tourism are key incentives to forest conservation 1.2. The Weto Mountain Range The Weto mountain range stretches from the Eastern shores of Lake Volta) to Togo and Benin. The range includes the highest mountain of Ghana: Mount Afadzato as well as the highest waterfall in Wli. It is characterized by numerous streams and creeks; The Western Weto Range is an important part of the catchment area of river Dayi that drains into the Volta River. The Eastern Weto range feeds coastal wetland areas in the South-Eastern tip of Ghana through the Tordzie River. The Weto Range forms part of the Guinean Forest global biodiversity hotspot. Being a hotspot is both blessing and blight: it indicates unique biodiversity as well as an endangered status. 1.3. The challenges for the WETO range and its communities 1.3.1. Ecosystems and landscapes in crisis The Weto range ecosystem is in a state of environmental crisis caused by high levels of deforestation and associated loss of biodiversity; environmental degradation; uncontrolled soil erosion and loss of soil fertility, degradation of water sheds and pollution of water bodies. The benefits associated with natural resources of the Weto Range Ecosystem such as biodiversity, water shed protection, carbon sequestration and its aesthetic beauty are being eroded due to overexploitation. The natural resources get depleted to irreversible levels and climate change has been showing impacts as increase of droughts and changes in rainfall patterns that endanger food security and increase the impact of bush fires. The causes of degradation of Weto resources are:   deforestation: o for agricultural purposes (including slash and burn); o predominantly illegal tree felling for timber (commercial and chain saw operations); o charcoal production poor agricultural and hunting practices including: o diminishing yields through soil depletion; o a growing indiscriminate use of chemicals; o abandonment of traditional land use and conservation practices o poaching o intentional seasonal bush fires o Excessive harvesting of non-timber forest products. 1.3.2. Biodiversity in crisis The results of a community environmental scan along the Weto range provide clear evidence that biodiversity loss is alarming. Most animals such as monkeys, buffalos, antelopes, bush pigs and the Marshal eagle which were said to be in abundance until the 60s and 70s in the area have virtually gone extinct. The communities are getting worried at the rate of biodiversity loss; even rodents such as grass cutter and rat are becoming scarce. The loss of the mountain forest cover is implicated in the seasonal and even perennial drying up of rivers and streams. The habitats for fauna such as small forest foliage frogs, birds, butterflies and insects which were said to be very common, are now rare. Local timber species for commercial purposes such as Odum, Mahogany and Afram have almost disappeared. Some medicinal plants are also reported by community as being less common. Some traditional spices such as Piper guineense, Monodera myristica and Xylopia aethiopica which have high commercial value and serve as source of income for the community (especially the women folk) are said to be endangered due to unsustainable use of annual bush fires. Other NTFPs that are affected include Cola nitida, Ego (Thaumatococcus deniellii) and miracle berry which have an export potential as natural sweetening source for diabetic patients and are in great demand by pharmaceutical companies. These NTFPs however have a potential commercial value and their development through value chains will be one of the means to ensure livelihoods and conservation for communities. 1.3.2. Livelihoods under threat; rural economy in decay Depletion of soils and natural resources have become a cause of persistent and growing poverty, thus leading to a vicious cycle. This creates a gloomy future perspective for the communities and the natural resources alike. The lack of livelihood perspectives in agriculture and the lack of alternative economic activities have been fueling a rural exodus of the young and talented and discourage younger generations to get involved in agricultural activities. An ageing population of active farmers is compensating the poor yields and the lack of human resources by an increased use of herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers, but yields remain low. Land abandonment of marginal lands in the mountain areas has become an issue. Government agencies such as the regional offices of Forestry Commission, Environmental Protection Agency, Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the District Assemblies are under resourced and do not have the capacity to enforce legislation concerning illegal use of natural resources nor to create an enabling environment for sustainable development. 1.3.3. The impact of climate change Last but not least the effects of climate change are evident. The Weto area has an agrarian economy with over 60% of the working population employed in the agriculture sector. A tradition of merely subsistence based farming has always been able to feed the growing population throughout the year with the exception of those who find themselves locked in persistent pockets of poverty. Food security is now under increasing threat from unpredictable changes in rainfall causing extended droughts when agriculture is still largely rain fed and engaged in by small holder farmers without modern technologies of farming. Though Ghana is predicted to have reduced rainfall by 2050, some studies have predicted that Volta region may have more rains than most part of the Ghana. 1.4. The DI WETO projects Coping with environmental degradation and climate change stressors in an agriculture based economy like the Weto area involves a renewed focus on sustainable management of natural resources: reducing deforestation, engaging in sustainable land management, building ecosystem resilience for sustained environmental functions such as water shed management and carbon sequestration and last but not least irrigation. This has been successfully applied in the ADAPTS project (www.adapts.nl) A project of Ecosystem Alliance Ghana funded by IUCN NL seeks to reverse forest degradation through community governance structures (CREMA) that would replace ineffective state governance and law enforcement over use of natural resources in 4 different areas in Ghana. The foreseen project duration is three years from July 2012, but achieving full impact would require a scale-up as well as a longer time frame. The component of the program that is managed by DI seeks to address the degradation of the Weto Range and covers an area of approximately 25.000 ha on the map below indicated as cluster B being seen as a pilot In face of the dwindling forest estate in Ghana coupled with loss of biodiversity and environmental degradation, setting up CREMAs is the best way forward to ensure environmental security and assurance of environmental products and services for economy and people especially in regions like the WETO range where most of the ecosystem is of high value but has no conservation status. 18 communities have formed local Community Resource Management Committees. A preliminary CREMA Board for the entire project area has been elected by the local committees. A constitution is being drafted. The Two DAs in the project area (Ho West and Afadjato South) have been actively involved. To secure long-term environmental management the CREMA concept and the related land use planning will be endorsed by district bylaws and the two district assemblies will be supported in the development of a district biodiversity policy which will spell out broad guidelines and actions for sustainable management of natural resources within the two districts as whole. A GEF Small Grants Project funded under the COMDEKS/ Satoyama Initiative focuses on conservation of these socio-ecological landscapes and to facilitate sustainable livelihoods through eco-tourism and engage the communities in regenerating degraded land of the ecosystem. A WETO platform consisting of representatives from traditional authorities, DAs, public institutions, CBO s and civil society will be inaugurated in February 2014 with the main objective to effectively promote sustainable development under the WETO brand. Both projects have supported DI in the establishment of tree nurseries in 4 communities, with a foreseen expansion to two additional communities in 2014. The nurseries were able to produce in the first year of operations close to 25.000 cocoa seedlings and over 10.000 native timber seedlings that should provide a canopy to the cocoa farms as well as timber trees to be planted in buffer zones to protect vital creeks and streams. The aim is to convert the nurseries in successful small rural enterprises that form the basis of the cocoa value chain development. Sustainable cocoa production is perceived as an effective tool for reforestation through agro-forestry and as an incentive to protect the existing forest cover on the mountain crests as it would make cocoa production climate change resilient through the stimulation of rainfall and retention of rain water. Other value chains that are being developed are tourism and selected Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP). The capacity of ADAPTS Farmers Network (network of farmers participating in the ADAPTS project funded by Dutch Government (www.adapts.nl) and other farmers in the project area will also be enhanced in sustainable farming practices and entrepreneurial skills. Deforestation and biodiversity lost will be tackled through campaigns and capacity enhancement of community bushfire volunteers and advocacy for the use of environmental friendly agro-chemicals. Deforestation, too often associated with cocoa production as well as use of dangerous herbicides and pesticides would be excluded in the CREMA land use plans as well as through the sustainable cocoa certification. This approach will secure important mountain ecosystem benefits and the livelihoods of the dependent communities in a participatory manner. It is envisioned that the increased revenue from sustainable cocoa production, NTFP value chain development and tourism and the enhanced natural resource governance systems will ensure the sustainability of the CREMA when the project ends. Resuming: Outputs of the DI projects will include: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 25.000 ha of (forest0) landscape under sustainable community management 18 communities participating in established CREMA WETO range platform established Improved food security through climate smart agriculture. Sustainable CREMA governance system put in place. Supply 250,000 cocoa seedlings and 20,000 Timber and NTFPs seedlings Value chains developed for cocoa, tourism and NTFP, based on local business development and entrepreneurial approach to farming. 8. 2 district biodiversity policies developed 9. Potential for PES (Payment for Ecosystem Services) including carbon sequestration/REDD+ potential of Weto Mountain Range determined.