Sustainably managed landscapes in Atewa and Juabeso-Bia in Ghana to enhance IPGs and livelihoods

GLA Country Context Analysis: The Green Livelihoods Programme (GLA) programme in Ghana works in the Juabeso-Bia landscape in the Western Region and Atewa forest landscape in the country’s Eastern Region. Both landscapes are situated in the tropical evergreen forest zone and are rich in biodiversity, as illustrated by areas that have been designated as Global Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBA). Both landscapes support the provision of the four International Public Goods (IPGs): water, food security, biodiversity and climate resilience. Juabesa-Bia landscape contains the only biosphere in Ghana and is extensively covered by cocoa plantations. Atewa contains the headwater for some of the important water systems in Ghana notably the Densuriver, on which a major part of the population in Accra depends. However, the landscapes are under serious threats from mining; illegal logging and expansion of farming. The threats are affecting its ability to support the provision of IPGs in the long term and the status of the GSBAs areas. Both landscapes are representative for larger parts of Ghana and face problems that are wide spread in the country. The GLA Ghana programme will be headed by Tropenbos International Ghana, A Rocha Ghana and Friends of the Earth Ghana. Other CSOs will be involved in the implementation of the programme.