MID-VOLTA ECOSYSTEMS RESTORATION PROJECT

RAINS joined 50 representatives from communities along the White mid-Volta River Basin as part of an initiative for advocating towards improved livelihood and environmental security in the region.

Rising population numbers along with inappropriate farming methods have caused a state of depletion to the ecosystem in as little as two or three generations.  Elders present at the meeting, described how natural resources were fundamental to life and that therefore, issues relating to the protection and regeneration of the Volta river resources directly relates to life and livelihoods of communities. The vice board chairman of RAINS, My Nyari, reflected on the issues that were requiring priority attention: dwindling fish stocks and diminishing farmer yields. With local fishing and subsistence food agriculture cultivation failing to meet the food and cash requirements of communities; alternative livelihoods are being sought to sustain shortages in the family budgetary. However, this has led to the increased burning of charcoal as an income source.

The meeting went on to discuss how efforts are needed to join and regenerate in to order to cope with population increase.  A call was made for the commitment and work of White Volta basin communities to heed and support sound agri-mechanisms as part of protecting and regenerating ecosystems as well as in which to aid sustainable livelihoods.

The project will support all stakeholders of the community to address capacity building of thematic areas and issues. Community members recognized a need for strengthening of a green earth movement in their communities, nominating organizers to rally people to future meetings and activities. They agreed that it was only by resuscitating life in the Volta Basin that the welfare of their communities would improve.

The main message arising from the meeting of traditional authorities, media, teachers, Assemblymen, peasant farmers and fishermen and women was the interdependent relationships between ecosystems and communities and an urgent need for improved agriculture, aquatic life and ecosystems. Communities where resources were within the Volta Basin needed to be made more viable, productive and sustainable; and that it was their critical role to lead, identify and take responsible actions in which to reverse the current state of depletion.

Resolutions for specific actions:

·         A return to the use of organic compost manure to protect the fixing organisms in productive soils and maintain integrity of seeds and crop varieties– to remove the high rising costs of chemical fertilizer, improve soil fertility and farm output.

·         Undertaking irrigated farming of vegetable as source of income during lean farm seasons and also year round employment.  

·         Discouraging the use of poison in water bodies to harvest fish; thus allowing for fallow periods for breeding and stock replenishment.

·         Establishment of ponds where fish farming may be carried out, reducing the existing pressure on all aquatic life as a result of indiscriminate fish harvesting.

·         Replication of ethics towards aquatic ecosystems as to land, farming ecosystems; for instance the growing multiplication of certain tree species.