A major grassroots effort to rescue Ghana’s last intact coastal rainforest is underway, as local communities, in partnership with environmental NGO Hen Mpoano, launch a large-scale reforestation campaign in the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve (CTPFR).
The initiative, which is part of the NGO’s World Environment Day celebration under the theme “Nurture Nature, Secure Our Future,” aims to restore degraded forest lands and reinforce community ownership of natural resource management.
Supported by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) and BirdLife International, the project—“Enhancing Community-Based Forest Management of Biologically Important Rainforest in Southwest Ghana”—seeks to bridge gaps between the Forestry Commission, traditional authorities, and local residents to safeguard the country’s most biodiverse rainforest.
“This is a people-powered conservation movement,” said Justice Camillus Mensah, Programmes Manager at Hen Mpoano. “We’re planting more than 15,000 economically important tree species across 30 hectares, but more importantly, we are rebuilding the forest with and for the communities who depend on it.”
The Cape Three Points Forest Reserve spans approximately 5,200 hectares and has been designated a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA), Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA), and Important Bird Area (IBA). Despite its status, the forest remains vulnerable to illegal logging, poaching, and galamsey operations.
Community voices are at the heart of the reforestation mission. Mr Elijah Adu, a resident of Adalazo, said, “We are ready to protect what’s left of the forest. This isn’t just about trees—it’s about our lives and livelihoods.”
Partners such as the West African Primate Conservation Action (WAPCA) have echoed concerns about illegal mining, calling on state security forces to intensify operations to curb environmental degradation.
The project also includes alternative livelihood training, such as nursery development and savings groups, to reduce community dependence on forest exploitation.
“Illegal mining can wipe out biodiversity that has taken thousands of years to evolve,” warned Charles Afosah of WAPCA. “This forest is irreplaceable. Restoring it is urgent.”
Hen Mpoano and the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission are also working to promote eco-tourism, forest monitoring, and education to embed conservation in daily life.
As Ghana’s environmental challenges mount, initiatives like this suggest that the country’s best hope for sustainable conservation lies not only in national policy—but in the hands of the people who call the forests home.
