The Climate Change Resilience of Ecosystem Services (CRES) Project on 26th October, 2022 organized a one (1) day sensitization workshop on its activities for school and head teachers of seven (7) schools in the Kumbungu district of the northern region, Ghana. The workshop was held at the West African Centre for Water, Irrigation and Sustainable Agriculture of the University for Development Studies (WACWISA-UDS), Nyankpala Campus. It emphasized the objectives and activities of the CRES project including nursing, field management and planting of six (6) indigenous tree species in schools and communities; establishment of carbon certified tree planting; livelihoods diversity and local empowerment of women and youth; development and marketing of tree products. The workshop engagement involved presentations, open dialogue discussions and feedback on the presentations.
Present at the training were fifty-two (52) teachers from community schools of CRES implementation in the Kumbungu district and these were Gbullung English & Arabic Primary, Gbullung English & Arabic Primary A & B, Gizaa Gundaa Primary & Junior High, Jakpahi Zion Primary & Junior High, Tonjing Primary, Gbulung Junior High and Kpalga English & Arabic Primary.
Welcoming participants to the sensitization workshop, the Project Coordinator of CRES and Director of WACWISA, Prof. Felix K. Abagale, expressed his delight and appreciation to participants for honouring the invitation and their commitment towards implementation of especially the tree planting model of the project especially in schools. He stated that, WACWISA in collaboration with eight (8) partners implementing the CRES project seeks to harness sustainable community driven activities and positive behaviours with an enabling scientific research and knowledge exchange in the conservation and restoration of native trees and ecosystem services that supports livelihoods, income, sustainable environmental management, climate amelioration and possibility of introducing the CRES activities in the school’s curriculum. At present, a total of 1,143 seedlings had been distributed to schools in the Kumbungu district for planting.
The Focal Person of the CRES project at WACWISA, Dr. Dzigbodi Adzo Doke and other team members of the project including Dr. Bernard N. Baatuuwie and Dr. Sylvester N. Ayambila, engaged participants on various activities of CRES in their schools/communities. The session touched on areas such as tree planting and carbon credits, nursing and field management of trees in schools/communities and discussions on the enhanced collaboration.
Also in attendance was the Kumbungu District Director of Education, Mrs. Bernedette Kafari who emphasized the need for continuous engagement and involvement of teachers, head teachers, circuit supervisors for selected schools to support the activities of the CRES project.
Reported by Mr. Tony A. Klu
