USAID Coastal Sustainable Landscape Project (CSLP)

Background

Ghana’s Western Region is one of the fastest growing areas in all of West Africa. Land use pressures are enormous, especially in the high population centers of the region’s six coastal districts. Demand for conversion of forests to agriculture, cash crop development, harvesting of mangroves and other forest species for charcoal and timber production, artisanal mining, and urban development pose significant threats to forests in this region.  High unemployment rates compound these pressures, exacerbating unsustainable natural resource management practices and reducing ecosystem services provided by the region’s forests.

Project Summary and Goals

The Coastal Sustainable Landscapes Project (CSLP) is a USAID-funded and US Forest Service managed intervention being implemented in the six coastal districts of Ghana’s Western Region. The project, originally planned for three years, through fiscal year 2016, was extended to September 2018 through the Feed the Future initiative, based on the successes in its first three years.

The project, implemented in collaboration with Government of Ghana institutions, particularly the Forestry Commission and Ministry of Food and Agriculture, aims to contribute to Ghana’s movement into low greenhouse gas emissions, high carbon sequestration development pathway in the land use sector. It is embedded within a broader, multi-partner food security, biodiversity conservation, climate change mitigation, and environmental governance effort within the coastal forest landscapes along the western coast of Ghana. CSLP’s primary activities are focused on community level interactions that work to improve and diversify local, on-farm livelihoods. One key component of the CSLP strategy uses Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) as platforms to help maintain and increase forest cover with native and existing tree species, to develop adaptation strategies in the face of climate change, and to improve small business skills for farmers. To date, activities of the CSLP have touched 75 communities, mainly in areas where there is an existing and functioning community governance body such as Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs), Community Conservation Committees, or similar entities.

The project seeks to reduce poverty and increase resiliency in the target communities through improved natural resource management, livelihood diversification, value chain development, and ecosystem restoration. The CSLP focuses on two main outcomes:

• Increased incomes from livelihood diversification
• Improved environment and natural resource management
   

Project Duration

2013 -2018; (1st Phase ended Sept. 2016)

Sub Sectors

• Agroforestry and forestry practices 
• Beekeeping
• On-farm tree planting and Urban greeneries / urban forestry
• Wetland conservation, management and monitoring
• Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs)
• Climate Smart / Conservation Agriculture
• Spatial planning
• Climate change awareness creation
   

Implementing Partner

US Forest Service

Collaborations/Partnership project has entered into:
 

Method/Approach

The CSLP uses in-field consultations, targeted trainings, strategic capacity building, detailed technical assistance, and participation in institutional/policy level discussions and workshops based on field level experience to achieve project objectives.
 

Geographical Coverage

Western Region, districts are:  

• Shama
• Sekondi-Takoradi
• Ahanta West
• Nzema East
• Ellembelle
• Jomoro

Funding

US$ 6,800,000.00

Achievements

• Reduced the quantity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by over 11,000, 000 metric tons of CO2e
• 3,500+ hectares under improved Natural Resource Management (NRM)
• Restored 1,500+ hectares of degraded wetland areas through replanting and improved management processes
• 24 Wetland Conservation Committees formed to champion the co-management of wetlands and mangroves
• 2000+ small holders farmers engaged in agroforestry, conservation and climate smart agriculture, and other diversified livelihoods
• Avoided possible deforestation in over 300 hectares
• 48 VSLAs established with 1,229 members (68% women). 41 Village Agents trained & coached to monitor activities of VSLAs
• Over 200 farmers empowered as active beekeepers
• 18 Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) Organic Vegetable Production Groups formed
• 20 school clubs formed (with 1000+ members) in High Schools and promote climate change and other environmental issues. Over 170 teachers support environmental education in schools. CSA gardens established in 11 Junior & Senior High Schools
• Facilitated urban greeneries in schools and communities
• Climate change awareness information shared with more than 5,000 individuals in 41 communities
• 60 farmers with capacity to use GPS to map farms, collect data and monitor project interventions
• Built the capacity of 30+ government officials in spatial planning and remote sensing.
• Close to 70,000 trees planted in more than 600 farms
• Enhanced private sector contribution to climate change mitigation/adaptation activities
• Capacities of local NRM groups (e.g. CREMA) and five coastal assemblies built to address climate change issues. Wetland awareness, management and monitoring capacity increased in two communities.
• Partnered with UKaid-funded project to scale up climate change awareness in coastal communities
• Successfully facilitated the organization of four World Environment Day  celebrations at the local community level
   

Key Staff Contacts