By Francis Ntow
Accra, Oct. 27, GNA – The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the Forestry Commission are taking steps to rehabilitate and restore 50 acres of degraded land in the Subri River Forest Reserve in the Western Region.
The initiative, undertaken as part of corporate social responsibility efforts focused on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles, is being supported by Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, Ghana International Bank (GIB) and three other financial institutions.
The project is being implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to ensure sustainability and compliance with environmental regulations.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Forestry Commission will provide technical expertise to guide the restoration process, conserve biodiversity and promote sustainable natural resource management in Ghana’s mining areas.
Dubbed “Support of Forest Rehabilitation in Mining Regions and Promotion of Sustainability in Mining,” the initiative will be implemented over two years through targeted reforestation and forest restoration activities.
The project will involve site preparation, the provision of seedlings and other inputs, tree planting, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder and community engagement, and ESG reporting.
The Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Mrs Justina Nelson, said the project reflected the Fund’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits derived from Ghana’s mineral resources went hand in hand with responsible environmental management.
“As an institution entrusted with managing Ghana’s mineral income and State interests in the mining sector, MIIF recognises that value creation must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility,” she said.
She noted that restoring degraded forest landscapes involved more than planting trees, as it also helped protect biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and ensure that communities continued to benefit from the country’s natural resources.
Mrs Nelson said the partnership demonstrated the importance of collaboration among government institutions, mining companies and local communities in addressing environmental challenges in mining areas.
“We believe that meaningful partnerships such as this can make a lasting difference,” she said, urging all stakeholders to contribute to the successful implementation of the project.
The Chief Executive Officer of Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, Mr Leon Zhang, said restoring the Subri River Forest Reserve was a long-term responsibility rather than a one-off gesture.
“Our own biodiversity offset programme at Atewa reflects that. This partnership with MIIF and the Forestry Commission to restore the Subri River Forest Reserve carries that same commitment and focus,” he said.
The project is expected to provide opportunities for local communities and other stakeholders to participate in forest restoration and conservation activities, reinforcing the importance of community involvement in protecting Ghana’s natural resources.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe