A women-led initiative in Ghana’s Upper East Region is transforming land degraded by climate change, bushfires, and deforestation into thriving forest using Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR). For instance, in the Yameriga community, local women prune shoots from living tree stumps and young naturally sprouted saplings, encouraging strong regrowth without planting new saplings. This low-tech method improves soil moisture, stabilizes rainfall, cools the ground, and enriches biodiversity. It also boosts food security and income through produce like shea nuts. While Yameriga is the poster child for this revival, over 90 northern Ghana communities are participating in this restoration, leading to the restoration of more than 45 square kilometers of formerly barren terrain. While some farmers express concerns about FMNR’s impact on conventional farming, the scheme is being hailed as a scalable, sustainable solution for tackling desertification and climate resilience.
DW
