Ghana Landscape Restoration Tender

Project ID P171933Region AfricaCommitment Amount US 110.00 millionTotal Project Cost US 122.76 millionConcept DescriptionConversion of forests to agricultural land is the primary driver of deforestation which in turn contributes to the loss of environmental services soil erosion and loss reduced agricultural productivity declining crop yields and economic losses to the country. Reduction in cocoa and food crop production because of continued land degradation is putting Ghana not only at a high risk of economic crisis and food insecurity but also loss of its biodiversity because of deforestation. 18.Total deforestation from 2001 to 2015 surpassed 4.7 million ha which equates to an annual loss of more than 315000 ha across the country and one of the highest rates of deforestation in Africa. Of even greater concern is that between 2012-2015 annual deforestation increased substantially to 529476 hayear largely due to substantial losses across the Savanna Zone MLNR 2017a. Figure 1 shows increasing national deforestation over this period. From 2001 to 2012 the majority of deforestation occurred in the High Forest Zone and Transitional Zone but from 2012-2015 there was a significant increase in forest loss across the Savannah Zone. 19. Nearly 70 percent of Ghana is estimated to be subject to severe to very severe erosion. Soil erosion by wind or water stems mainly from inappropriate use of soil by agriculture forestry and infrastructure. Figure 2 illustrates soil erosion geographically across the country with darker areas suffering the worst effects. Apart from the northern regions12 there are significant levels of soil erosion in the Oti Region and Bono Bono East and Ahafo regions as well as in Greater Accra Region where it resulted in the loss of large quantities of topsoil. EPA 2002 estimated that 35 percent of Ghana is prone to desertification with the overwhelming area of vulnerability located in the Upper East Region and eastern part of the Northern Region.