By Gilbert Azeem Tiroog
Tongo, (U/E), Dec 20, GNA – The Forum for Natural Regeneration (FONAR), an environmentally friendly organisation, has met with stakeholders in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region on a new project that aims to regreen communities in the area.
The project is named: “Regreening Communities through School Kids FMNR Eco-Clubs in Talensi District of the Upper East Region, Northern Ghana Project.”
It is being funded by the Heidehof Foundation of Germany and Awaken Trees Foundation, Austria to end in December 2026.
The intervention is expected to be implemented through the School Kids Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) Eco-clubs, established by FONAR in selected basic schools in the district to propagate environmental sustainability and practices.
The inception meeting was to seek approval and support from the District Directorate, Ghana Education Service, and create a common understanding of the project goal, clarify project team roles and responsibilities, and discuss stakeholders concerns and the way forward for effective roll-out.
The project aimed to mobilise school kids in 10 rural public basic schools and teachers through eco clubs to sustain FMNR practices in farming villages through bottom-up knowledge creation, sharing, and action.
Mr Sumaila S. Saaka, the Executive Director of FONAR, addressing the stakeholders, said the project would empower children and teachers to contribute actively to local landscape regreening actions.
It would increase wider community awareness of trees and the need to sustain FMNR practices for improved livelihoods.
Madam Christina Azure, the Talensi District Director of Education, lauded FONAR for efforts in tackling climate change, with the potential to redefining the landscape of communities and shaping the children’s future.
The initiative, she said, aligned perfectly with the Ghana Education Service’s shared vision of re-greening communities and fostering sustainable practices among children, and called for commitment among stakeholders for a successful implementation.
“The challenges of climate change, deforestation, and environmental degradation are pressing concerns that impact not only our present but also future generations, and as stakeholders, we must commit ourselves to ensuring that we succeed in the implementation of this project,” she said.
Mr Ekow Bentum Manful, the Manager, Bolgatanga-Tongo Range of the Forestry Commission, said the initiative would empower children to champion reclamation of degraded lands.
Mr Robert Abeero Alpha, the Talensi District Director, National Disaster Management Organisation, said the success of the project depended largely on stakeholders’ commitment and pledged to contribute towards its successful implementation.
FMNR is a simple, low cost, rapid scalable and sustainable agriculture land restoration practice that involves the systematic regrowth and management of trees and shrubs from felled tree stumps, sprouting root systems or seeds.
GNA