Professor Bruce Banoeng-Yakubo, Chief Director of Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, on Thursday lauded Ghana’s commitment towards fighting climate change.

This he said, had culminated in the launch of the Reduced Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD +) Initiative.

The REDD+ Initiative sponsored by the World Bank, is a global climate change mitigation initiative under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

It seeks to provide the necessary policy approaches and positive incentives for reducing carbon dioxide emission from deforestation and forest degradation through biodiversity conservation, sustainable forest management and ecological restoration.

Prof Banoeng-Yakubo, who launched the Initiative in Accra, noted that its successful implementation would help in the area of poverty alleviation, promotion of local community rights, improved community livelihoods, technology transfer, sustainable use of forest resources and biodiversity conservation.

He expressed appreciation to the World Bank for making available a grant of $3.6 million towards the implementation of REDD+ programme in Ghana.

“I wish therefore, to use this opportunity to make an appeal to all other development partners to support the programme,” he added.

Prof Banoeng-Yakubo, announced that Ghana had been selected in Africa to benefit from a Climate Investment Fund under the Forest Investment Programme (FIP) based in Washington.

“The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology have just completed its FIP, which would be presented to the FIP sub-committee in Washington for approval and about $30 million to $50 million is expected for the plan,” he said.

Prof Banoeng-Yakubo said FIP was expected to help in securing and protecting natural forests and woodlands, enhance carbon stocks and provide climate-smart agriculture and watershed protection.

Mr Samuel Afari-Dartey, Chief Executive Officer of Forestry Commission, expressed gratitude to all who helped in the drawing up of the REDD + Initiative.**