The Forestry Commission has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Terraformation, a native forest restoration company dedicated to scaling biodiverse, community-led reforestation, to restore degraded mangrove ecosystems and enhance climate resilience along the country’s coast.
The partnership signed in Accra last Thursday is expected to scale up ongoing efforts within the Keta Lagoon complex in the Volta Region, where thousands of hectares of mangrove wetlands are being rehabilitated under a blue carbon initiative.
The project seeks to remove significant volumes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while protecting biodiversity and strengthening natural coastal defences against erosion and flooding.
Dr Hugh C.A. Brown signed on behalf of the Forestry Commission, while Jad Daley signed for Terraformation. It was witnessed by senior officials from both organisations, including representatives of the Climate Change Unit and key partners involved in the mangrove restoration initiative.
Details
Under the agreement, Terraformation will provide technical expertise, training and access to financing to support community-led restoration, with a strong focus on sustainable livelihoods.
The initiative is also projected to create jobs, particularly for women and youth, while promoting activities such as aquaculture and beekeeping.
The collaboration supports the country’s wider climate commitments and serves as a blueprint for combining environmental restoration with economic growth.
The MoU also indicates plans to develop similar projects nationwide, strengthening a national approach that emphasises ecosystem recovery, carbon sequestration, and community involvement in tackling climate change.
Significance
The Director of the Climate Change Unit of the commission, Dr Joseph Appiah-Gyapong, who spoke on behalf of the government agency, emphasised that restoration and conservation were fundamental to rebuilding healthy ecosystems that support biodiversity, including marine turtles.
He explained that mangrove restoration contributes significantly to climate action by sequestering carbon and reducing emissions, aligning with the country’s climate commitments and carbon market framework.
Dr Appiah-Gyapong underscored the importance of community involvement, stressing that sustainable livelihoods such as aquaculture can reduce pressure on mangroves.
He further stated the need for carefully structured partnerships that balance ecosystem protection with tangible benefits for local communities while advancing long-term environmental sustainability.
“We need to make sure that it benefits our local communities while at the same time contributing to restoration and improvement of our ecosystem and that of the environment,” he added.
Track record
The President of Terraformation, Jad Daley, disclosed that Ghana had been prioritised as Terraformation’s top investment destination due to its proven track record.
He emphasised that the Keta Lagoon initiative demonstrated how large-scale restoration could be accelerated through innovation, data-driven management and regional seed systems.
He stated the critical leadership role of the Forestry Commission in coordinating effective, science-based forest restoration and fostering strong public-private partnerships.
Mr Daley also stressed the importance of equitable, community-led models that create jobs and distribute benefits locally, while attracting private financing to scale restoration efforts and deliver long-term environmental and economic impact.
“Together we are attracting millions of dollars in private finance to help fund the needed actions for mangrove restoration at a dramatically greater scale across Keta Lagoon, including local employment and community benefits,” he added.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh