A Regional Programme on Sustainable land Management and Climate Change aimed at supporting 17- member ECOWAS countries has been launched in the Upper East Region.
The project which is to be implemented by the Permanent Inter-State Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel Region would benefit the Talensi, Nabdam and the Bawku West districts of the region.
It would among other things empower communities in the beneficiary Districts to undertake activities including river bank protection, rehabilitation of dams, dugouts, compost production , stone bonding, nursery establishment and provide support for them to go into livestock production.
The project funded by European Union, Global Environment Facility Fund and the Research Centre for International Development is expected to be implemented in the beneficiary districts of the region within a period of two years at a cost of 259,000 Euros.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr James Zuugah Tiigah, Regional Minister, lauded the donors and said it would help compliment government�s efforts at tackling the problem of desertification and land degradation which are among some of the major challenges confronting the region.
He entreated the political heads of the beneficiary districts to attach more seriousness to the project implementation.
Mr Aaron Aduna, Basin Officer of the White Volta Basin, who spoke about the importance of buffer zone protection, indicated that buffer zone protection ensures the quality nature of water, prevent floods and serve as habitat for wildlife.
He said this requires collaborative efforts of stakeholders including Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, Forestry Commission and district assemblies.
He cited the encroachment of farmers� activities along water bodies as some of the negative activities affecting the buffer zones.
Mr Asher Nkegbe, Regional Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, asked the district assemblies to enact bylaws to prevent farmers from farming closer to water bodies.
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