Letter from Ghana December 11th 2018

PROJECTS TILTE: PROTECTION AND HABITAT RESTORATION OF THE CRITICALLY ENDANGERED                      (        )    BIG FROG IN THE UPPER EAST REGION.

    SUMMARY: The project seeks to protect the critically endangered………. and restore its habitat through research and community awareness creation and education.

Objectives:

1. Identification of local anthropogenic factors responsible for the unprecedented decline in the population of the big frog……………………………….

2. Identification of environmental factors   responsible for its population decline.

3. Involve local people in the protection and habitat restoration of the fog.

4.Estimate the population of the endangered ……………in a catchment area.

METHODOLGY.

STUDY AREA.

The study area is located at the Bongo District of the upper East region of Ghana. The area is a muddy catchment with a lot of mosquito’s larvae and other insects and anakes.The frog was spotted around June during the farming season.

SITE HISTORY.

In the early 20^th century, the area harbored many population of the frog. Local people harvest a lot of it in the past years for local consumption. It is always noticed by a loud ugly sound made in the mud and shows a territorial behaviour by expanding the jaws and displaying frighting sound. In recent years it is no more as in the past.

The project will use simple population count to estimate the population in the area.A simple questionnaire would be used to make an assessment of local knowledge of its status and how the use it.

Siltation has taken the place leading to the deposition of sand and marbles that has destroyed the suitability of its survival therefore a soil conservation measure would adopted to chech the siltation and plant some grass and trees around the catchment area for .Species protection and habitat restoration. A multi-method approach would be adopted to conduct awareness creation and education.

Below is a table of TIME LINE

period                                                  activity

April -May                                             assessment of local local knowledge with questionnaire.

May-June                                              population count at project site.

July –August                              Habitat restoration measures, erosion control and planting grass and trees.

September to October                 Community education and awareness creation.

TEAM MEMBERS

1. Gilbert Adum Baase (Projects Manager)

2. Emmanuel Nsor         (Conservation Education specialist)

3. Jacklline Sapomaah Conservation Education Expert.

POFILE 1.

Emanuel Nsor is a holder of Diploma in Natural resources management from Kwame Nkrumah UNIVERSIT OF Science and Technology. He has received training in global forest and climate change campaigns under Forest Friends Ireland and Dublin Council in 2018.Emmanuel uses music, poetry and drama as well as community durbar to sell the message of conservation. He has a training in child skills education measures.

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

1.LAPTOP

2.CAMERA

3.GLOOVES

4.RINCOATS

5.BOAT

ABOUT RAINFOREST FRIENDS GHANA, RAFFS/G

Rainforest Friends Ghana, RAFFS/G IS  a branch of Forest Friends Ireland which seeks to protect remnant forest and campaign for climate change remedial actions for a sustainable future. The organization focus on research, species protection, habitat restoration and public awareness creation and education. It was set up in 2009, with registration number, G,28,RAFFS/G has made a significant impact in the past years as a contribution to conservation In the scientific community. The organization is part of a coalition of NGOS for nature conservation.

PROPOSAL 2019 RAINFOREST FRIENDS GHANA SCHOOLS CLUBS PROJECT IN BONGO DISTRICT OF UPPER EAST REGION..

Forest Friends Ireland has launched a proposed the launch of Forest friends clubs in schools in Africa come 2019.Rainforest friends Ghana is mandated to champion the course of Ghana activities in order to campaign against climate change related activities and seek to protect forest and environment for a sustainable future. The project cover awareness and education programmes for

1.pre-school

2.Primary schools

3.Secondary level

 4.Tertiary education.

Forest Friends Ireland is aimed at raising a new generation fully conscious of the environment. Rainforest Friends Ghana, the affiliate organization support the launch of this campaign.Indeed,if conservation goals should be achieved then much has to be invested into education.Emmanuel,the activist of nature conservation has stated that if 50% of conservation goals should be achieved, then 90% of the population must be educated,70% of the 90% must be the youth and 30% adults. Whiles 40% of the 70% should be children and the 30% youth. Indeed if we can make this planet restored and leave n all its beauty to the next generation then our target in getting caretakers should not be the passing old age group who are getting their way to the ancestral world. Our target should be raising sons of God ,new creatures who are redeemed and well abreast with issues of the environment.

The school’s curriculum of Ghana is not adequate to capture the current educational needs at all levels necessary to equip the new generation with the required knowledge and skill for impact. It is therefore the duty of conservation and educational organizations to make tenacious efforts towards achieving this goal.

Bongo District has about six Senior High schools, 51 Junior High schools, a University and a number of pre-schools. A population estimate of about 2,000 people with the District will have the youth dominant, thus 1000 and above. Sanitation situation within the district is very poo despite some NGO activities like WATER AID GHANA, and others.Conservation problems are pressing, the threat of cimate change very significant threatening life and the future.Emmaanuel addressed a number of conservation problems including elephant human conflict which resulted in the death of a woman in the border community between Ghana and Burkina Faso. Many rivers are dried and has need of restoration.Worlld Vision has made an impact with the TREE AID PROJECT within the District for rivers restoration. Yet much must be done in this regard. In the case of wildlife and indigenous tress, local  activities still pose a serious threat to survival of certain plants and animals due to lack of local knowledge.

Poor management of the wild fruits has also contributed to hunger and related problems like disease

1.Set up forest friends natures stewards clubs in the schools

pre-chool    1

Senior High schools 1.

Junior High school 2  .

Tertiary         school 1.

2. Design educational material for reach out campaigns.(poem,leaflets,,billboards)

3. Conduct research into restoration and species protection.

In December to January, Emmanuel and Jackeline will be on talk shows in schools as well as identifying research activities needed to address critical issues. Below is a time line of activities.

 EDUCATIONAL METHOD

BUDGET