SAVING ATEWA RANGE FOREST IN GHANA The Sights, Assets, Threats and Opportunities of The Sights, Assets, Threats and Opportunities of The Sights, Assets, Threats and Opportunities of The Sights, Assets, Threats and Opportunities of Atewa Range Forest Reserve Atewa Range Forest Reserve Atewa Range Forest Reserve Atewa Range Forest Reserve Presentation By: Seth Appiah-Kubi A Rocha Ghana
Presentation Outline Presentation Outline Presentation Outline Presentation Outline • Background • Importance of Atewa forest reserve • Threats to Atewa • Conservation Actions • Questions and Answer section
A Jewel amongst Ghana's rich forest heritage Located about
Atewa is only major Upland Evergreen Forest in Ghana A mountain forest that absorbs water from clouds and induces rainfall; the mountain comprises the headwaters of three primary catchment areas, the Densu, Ayensu and Brim/Pra River Basins.
Why is it important to secure the Atewa Range Forest Reserves ?
TEEMING WITH AMAZING BIODIVERSITY Atewa dotted border-endemic Tree fern Emperor scorpion-rare Emerald damselfly-rare Waterfall-headwaters Sylvan katydid-rare
RAP Scientific RAP Scientific RAP Scientific RAP Scientific Discoveries Discoveries Discoveries Discoveries At least 500 species new to science discovered, of which over 150 have been described and New goby fish named snake
Recognized as single most important site in Ghana for butterflies in 2006
Atewa has upland plants rarely seen in West Africa, like treefern ( Cyathea manniana ) and bramble ( Rubus pinnatus )
765 vascular plants 7 Black Star ( Of Highest global Conservation Priority) 33 Gold Star (of high global conservation priority) 12 scarlet marked (most threatened by exploitation) 16 red marked (signifi)
Species Species new New for Species of Endemic to Upper recorded to science Ghana conservation Guinea concern Plants 314 6 (Black Star) Dragonflies 72 1 8 1 Butterflies 143 16 Grasshopper 61 8 36 s Fishes 19 1 Amphibians 32 9 16 Birds 155 1 6 11 Small 15 2 2 3 mammals Large 22 10 mammals Primates 6 2 1
Togo Slippery Frog ( Conraua derooi ) red-listed as Critically Endangered; in Volta and Togo under pressure from habitat destruction and human consumption Atewa’s streams holds world’s last viable populations
Atewa as an important water tower is the source of water for over 5 Million Ghanaians upstream and downstream
The reliable flow of clean water off Atewa depends on capacity of its soil, swamps and forest to store and filter rainwater, and to buffer for spates and droughts. 1926 ― Designated as National Forest Reserve; critically important in protecting watersheds upon which many Ghanaians depend
Atewa feeds the Densu, which also feeds the Weija… and many other small streams and river bodies within the Densu River Basin. No Atewa, No Densu, No Weija, Water Crisis for both domestic and industrial use
A Rapid Biological Assessment of the Atewa Range in 2006 indicated that “In Ghana there is no other place like Atewa”
Several threats currently depleting the irreplaceable assets of Atewa Range Forest Reserve in the process comprising the water provisioning services of Atewa
Illegal logging activities
Threats
Removal of vegetation and mineral deposits from Atewa will compromise the water storage capacity, jeopardizing the reliable discharge of freshwater into the region’s rivers, an essential resource for millions of Ghanaians.
Opportunities • National Park • Tourism Development • Water Protection • Micro Climate Regulation Services • Payment for Ecosystem Services • Biodiversity Offsetting • Landscape Restoration
Community Consensus Building
Video Show Video Show Video Show Video Show
Interfaith programme
International Summit- communique
Living Water Project
ADVOCACY
TEEB study RESEARCH Bryophytes survey Human impact assessment
LIVELIHOOD INTERVENTION LIVELIHOOD INTERVENTION LIVELIHOOD INTERVENTION LIVELIHOOD INTERVENTION Mushroom farming Snail farming Grasscutter farming
Moving forward Moving forward Moving forward Moving forward • Obtaining Legislative Instrument
THANK YOU For more information: www.saveatiwa.com.gh www.arocha.org For further contacts and collaborations Please contact us at: Seth.appiah-kubi@arocha.org ghana@arocha.org Tel: 0302-222417
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