Eguafo (C/R), June 06, GNA - The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is supporting Eguafo and Abrem-Agona, two communities in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo- Abrem (KEEA) District, to replant their forest reserves to help boost eco-tourism in the district. The project, which is to cost 31,000 dollars and is slated to take off this month, is also aimed at improving the livelihoods of the people.

It involves the nursing of tree seedlings for replanting in the degraded areas of the Dumpow and Abosom Aya Hill forest reserves in the two communities as well as provision of income generating ventures like arts and craft, tie/dye and beads production. It would also provide facilities such as a library, restaurants, guesthouses, gift shops and toilets and this would be carried out in phases.

These came to light when the project, which is being implemented locally by Charity Care Foundation, an NGO, was launched at Eguafo as part of activities marking World Environment day celebration in the region. Nana Kwamina Ansah IV, the Omanhene of Eguafo Traditional Area and President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs, lauded the benefits of tourism, which he said, has been projected to fetch the country more than 1.7 billion dollars annually by 2007.

He said if well packaged, eco-tourism would help earn more revenue for the country and help improve the socio-economic status of the beneficiary communities, most often in the rural areas. Nana Kwamina Ansah appealed to the two communities to ensure that they derived the maximum benefit of the project by fully supporting it to ensure its sustainability.

Nana Ato Arthur, the Central Regional Minister, echoed concerns that Africa loses an estimated nine billion dollars annually through land degradation, affecting 65 per cent of its population. "It is therefore heart-warming that this project among others seeks not only to create the community awareness but also survey, demarcate and replant degraded areas around the two forest reserves for biodiversity conservation and eco-tourism."

He said eco-tourism brought out the best qualities of tourism since it had the capacity to create economic activity in the poorest regions to substitute agriculture and herding that are fast disappearing.

Nana Arthur said he was happy that about 150 community members would be provided with alternative sustainable livelihoods as part of the project and urged all stakeholders to help mange it. Mr Edward Abaidoo, the Executive Director of the foundation, advised the beneficiary communities to fully participate in the project that would be handed over to them by 2008. A 26-member management committee to oversee the implementation of the project was later inaugurated by Mr George Frank Asmah, the District Chief Executive.