PISCCA Project

Project Overview

The project titled “Local Governance and Nature-based Solutions Nexus for Enhanced Landscape, Species and Human Wellbeing in the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site, Winneba, Ghana” is led by A Rocha Ghana under the French Embassy “PISCCA” Programme (2021).
It focuses on strengthening biodiversity conservation and climate resilience in the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site, which supports rich biodiversity including 48 species of waterbirds, three marine turtles, 75 butterfly species, and mangrove ecosystems.

The project addresses unsustainable livelihood practices (high-intensity farming, overfishing, mangrove exploitation) worsened by COVID-19 and climate change, by introducing participatory governance, climate-smart agriculture, mangrove restoration, and farmer field schools.

Overall Objective

To enhance the resilience of the Coastal Marine Landscape of Muni-Pomadze, increasing its capacity to deliver ecosystem services, withstand climate change, and support the wellbeing of habitats, species, and local people

Training

Over 70 farmers from Winneba, Sankor, Essuakyir, Mankwadze, and other surrounding communities in the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site Catchment have undergone training on best practices in Maize, vegetables and yam farming.

Training

Farmers were also trained in the preparation, formulation and application of bio- pesticides and fertilizers like Neem, lantana and diversifolia spp

All the best farming practices like zero chemical use (both weedicides and pesticides) are also hinged on the pursuit to reduce community and anthropogenic pressures

Specific Goals

Promotion and application of a governance baseline tool for participatory landscape management.
Promotion of agro-ecology and climate-smart adaptation/mitigation technologies (e.g., conservation agriculture, agroforestry).
Demonstration projects for mangrove restoration and farmer field schools to drive behaviour change and adaptive learning.

Mangrove restoration

A Rocha Ghana together with officers from the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission of Ghana at the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site, have led farmers and volunteers within the area to plant 4000 tree seedlings.

This is part of efforts to restore degraded areas within the Ramsar site.

Mangrove restoration

Tree species planted include; Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis), Ofram (Terminalia superba), Emire (Terminalia ivorensis) and Ceiba (Ceiba pentandra)

Expected Results

Governance & Co-management:

Local actors trained in governance baseline tool apply participatory co-management.
Communities and stakeholders build mutual understanding for joint visioning and action.

Agro-ecology & Climate-smart farming:

80 farmers trained in climate-smart technologies.
Farmers adopt new practices, experiment, and use resilient seeds and equipment.

Mangrove & Landscape Restoration:

Degraded mangrove landscapes replanted.
Farmer field school plots established for adaptive learning.
Indigenous trees, fruit species, and livestock supplied for agroforestry/agrosilvopastoral systems.

Community Empowerment & Awareness:

Conservation education and public campaigns conducted.
Community ownership fostered for sustainability, with women and youth actively engaged.

Environmental conservation education

Fishing and farming communities around the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site had a good dose of environmental conservation education.
Spearheaded by a team from A Rocha Ghana with support from A Rocha KNUST and MPRS, farmers were schooled on the effects of unsustainable farm practices and benefits of organic farming.

Environmental conservation education.

They were encouraged to enhance their landscape conditions and integrity by practicing agro-forestry.

At the fishing communities, fisher folks were educated on proper waste disposal and management, mangrove forest protection, overfishing and rescue and release of captured sea turtles.