{"id":97936,"date":"2025-10-10T16:59:42","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T16:59:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=97936"},"modified":"2025-10-10T16:59:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T16:59:42","slug":"illegal-mining-farming-push-indigenous-trees-to-the-brink","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=97936","title":{"rendered":"Illegal mining, farming push indigenous trees to the brink"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>3 Minute, 25 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
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Ghana\u2019s fight to salvage its threatened indigenous tree species continues to face major setbacks as tree conservationists battle the growing impacts of illegal mining operations and indiscriminate farming activities.<\/p>\n

At least four indigenous trees are going extinct with 39 others currently threatened by the unabated operations of the miners and illegal loggers.<\/p>\n

Foresters are distraught over the spate of encroachment on forest reserves harbouring these unique plant species that offer medicinal, ecological and economic benefits to the country.<\/p>\n

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Globally, at least 8,000 out of the 60,000 documented plant species have been classified to be endangered by human activities.<\/p>\n

With growing environmental destruction through illegal mining and logging, and the fast expansion of agricultural activities, four of Ghana\u2019s indigenous tree species are critically threatened, with 39 currently endangered.<\/p>\n

At the second national stakeholders\u2019 workshop on threatened trees conservation, researchers, foresters and policy makers renewed calls for a concerted action to save the trees.<\/p>\n

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Project Coordinator, Dr. James Amponsah, highlighted the impacts of the illegal activities on the endangered species despite conservatory projects to protect forest reserves and rare tree species.<\/p>\n

\u201cSometimes we earmark a tree for monitoring, only to return and find it destroyed,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The workshop assembled key players in the forest conservation sector to assess progress, discuss challenges, and chart new strategies for coordinated action.<\/p>\n

The initiative seeks to strengthen collaboration among conservation partners while raising seedlings of endangered species to secure their survival.<\/p>\n

Dr. Amponsah revealed plans by the research institute to develop a data portal on the threatened trees as he renewed 0their commitment to saving Ghana\u2019s rapidly disappearing tree species.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are developing an information data portal on threatened trees which will be launched at this workshop,\u201d he explained. \u201cThis will help us track and coordinate conservation actions more effectively across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

He noted that since the first workshop, significant progress has been made in protecting endangered tree species such as Obregrenia thielensis, locally known as Atare Kese, which is critically endangered.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past five years, we\u2019ve found only 27 individuals in isolated populations,\u201d Dr. Amponsah revealed. \u201cWithout our intervention, these trees could have easily gone extinct.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Forestry Institute of Ghana\u2019s conservation efforts have included engaging local communities to build their capacity to identify and protect endangered trees.<\/p>\n

It also provided alternative livelihoods such as beekeeping to reduce pressure on forest resources.<\/p>\n

\u201cCommunity involvement is crucial. When locals understand the value of these trees, they become our strongest allies in conservation,\u201d Dr. Amponsah noted.<\/p>\n

Representing the project\u2019s donor, Olivier Hasivier of Foundation Franklinia in Switzerland extolled Ghana\u2019s conservation model, describing it as a benchmark for other African countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cGhana has demonstrated strong collaboration among stakeholders, backed by good political will,\u201d he said. \u201cThis approach could be replicated in other parts of Africa to protect biodiversity.\u201d<\/p>\n

He explained that Foundation Franklinia chose to focus on tree species because they are the backbone of ecosystems, emphasizing that the foundation has supported multiple projects in Ghana targeting 39 threatened tree species unique to the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you conserve trees, you protect entire ecosystems birds, insects, and animals all benefit,\u201d Mr. Hasivier said.<\/p>\n

Director of Science, Technology and Innovation at the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Kwamena Quaison reaffirmed Ghana\u2019s commitment to protecting its forests through policy and collaboration.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have developed a strong national environmental policy and a climate change strategy that emphasize carbon sequestration and restoration of degraded habitats. However, no single institution can achieve this alone\u2014we must work together,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Mr. Quaison added that the ministry is leveraging its network of 13 research institutions under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to translate scientific research into practical conservation policies.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur goal is to ensure environmental sustainability, restore degraded habitats, and build biodiversity resilience,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The second national stakeholders\u2019 workshop marks another step forward in Ghana\u2019s fight to protect its natural heritage.<\/p>\n

With continued collaboration between research institutions, communities, and international partners, stakeholders remain hopeful that the country\u2019s most threatened trees can be saved for generations to come.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"IllegalGhana\u2019s fight to salvage its threatened indigenous tree species continues to face major setbacks as tree conservationists battle the growing impacts of illegal mining operations and indiscriminate farming activities.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":97937,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6307,800,1883,10,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97936","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-farming","category-illegal-mining","category-national","category-politics","category-popular"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97936","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=97936"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97936\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/97937"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=97936"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=97936"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=97936"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}