Sambu (N/R), June 18, GNA – The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), has announced plans to implement the Ghana Landscape Restoration and Small-Scale Mining Project (GLRSSMP) to improve on land management practices in the country.
Mr Kwamena Quaison, Director of Science, Innovation, and Technology at the MESTI announced during the 2021 World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought celebration, at Sambu Community in the Mion District of the Northern Region.
It was organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under the auspices of MESTI in collaboration with the Forestry Commission among other institutions.
The global theme for this year’s celebration was, “Restoration, Land Recovery” with the slogan; “We build back better with healthy land”.
Mr Quaison said the Project seeks to restore degraded forest landscapes, reclaim degraded mined-out sites and improve ecosystem services.
It would also improve the livelihoods of rural dwellers, promote social inclusion and support regulatory reforms as well as formalise artisanal small-scale mining.
He said GLRSSMP would roll out key interventions, including, land-use planning for integrated landscape management and formalization of artisanal small-scale mining for sustainable mining.
Other interventions would also include restoration of degraded lands for agricultural productivity and strengthening of sustainable management of forest landscapes for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services.
Mr Quaison noted that as part of Ghana’s COVID-19 recovery process, the Project would improve agricultural productivity while creating jobs among the youth.
The GLRSSMP is expected to kick-start later this year and would be supported by the World Bank.
GNA