CAPACITY BUILDING TRAINING IN “COCOA VALUE CHAIN ON REDUCED EMISSION ON DEFORESTATION AND DEGRADATION (REDD+) SAFEGUARD TOOLS” IN BIBIANI

The capacity-building training on “Cocoa Value Chain on Reduced Emission on Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) Safeguard Tools” was organized by the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai Municipal Assembly in partnership with the Ghana Cocoa Health and Extension Division, held on December 12, 2024. The aim was to enhance the knowledge and skills of stakeholders on environmental conservation, social development, and sustainable cocoa farming practices, as part of the Ghana Cocoa Forest REDD+ Program (GCFRP).
GCFRP seeks to mitigate climate change by promoting forest conservation and sustainable land management practices in Ghana, where deforestation is a significant concern due to cocoa farm expansion. The program encouraged climate-smart cocoa farming to balance economic productivity with environmental sustainability. The objectives included enhancing stakeholder capacity on sustainable practices, promoting REDD+ adoption, and addressing cocoa farm and forest management challenges.
A total of 102 participants (77 males, 25 females) attended the training. Discussions covered the importance of REDD+ in reducing emissions and conserving biodiversity, the challenges of deforestation in cocoa-growing areas, and the need for policy alignment, forest conservation, and sustainable cocoa farming practices. The facilitator emphasized scaling successful interventions, strengthening partnerships, and exploring innovative financing mechanisms.
Participants raised concerns about deforestation, illegal activities, weak enforcement of regulations, and the challenges of increasing cocoa production despite sustainable practices. Recommendations included strengthening stakeholder collaboration, organizing more training sessions, addressing land tenure issues, and improving monitoring and evaluation systems.
In conclusion, the training was instrumental in equipping participants with the knowledge and tools for sustainable cocoa farming and forest conservation. Continuous capacity-building, policy enforcement, and effective monitoring are essential for the success of REDD+ initiatives and the sustainability of Ghana’s cocoa sector and forest reserves.