By Emelia B. Addae
Kwabeng (E/R), Sept. 3, GNA – The Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) model, introduced by a group of institutions, has inaugurated a newly elected CREMA Executive Committee to demonstrate commitment to sustainable resource management and community empowerment.
The executives, which include a fire volunteer squad, are expected to reinforce the shared goal of enhancing land and tree tenure policies for greater accountability and environmental stewardship.
The CREMA model employs actors in the landscape comprising of farmers, local chiefs, government representatives, opinion leaders, private sector, and landowners to co-manage natural resources, particularly wildlife.
The model creates awareness, addresses violations, strengthens accountability and builds capacity on best agroforestry practices, empowers local communities to manage their natural resources and ensure benefits are distributed equitably.
The group of institutions that established the CREMA model in the Atiwa West District are the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, FOREST Okyeman Project, Atiwa West District Assembly, and A Rocha Ghana.
The CREMA Executive Committee inaugural ceremony, which was held at Kwabeng, has Mr. Reginald Osei Akoto as the chairman.
They were sworn into office by Mrs. Beatrice Love Elion’s, District Magistrate Court Judge at Kwabeng.
Mr. Ayirebi Frimpong, Forest Specialist at the UNDP, said the CREMA model was introduced to eight communities surrounding the Atiwa Forest Reserve. They are Bomaa, Awenare, Apampatia, Abisem, Banso, Pameng, Akropong, and Larbikrom.
He said the ceremony did not only acknowledge the hard work and dedication of all stakeholders but also set the stage for the continued success and sustainability of the FOREST Okyeman Project.
The FOREST Okyeman Project aims to safeguard natural resources and assist communities to revive existing resource management groups and establish landscape-level governance structures through the Community Resource Management Areas model.
Dr. Godfred Bempah, Manager of the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Accra, said the Wildlife Resources Management Act, 2023 (ACT 1115), gives full legal backing to the operationalization of the CREMA.
The Wildlife Resources Management Act aims to promote sustainable wildlife management, conservation, and community involvement in protecting Ghana’s biodiversity, he said.
Barima Fredua Agyeman Okotomin, Okyenhene Asomkahene and Kyebi Kyidom Panin, urged the CREMA Executive Committee members to work hand in hand with stakeholders in the landscape and build strong collaborative networks to achieve their goals.
GNA