The Living with Wildlife Project in partnership with the Nature and Development Foundation, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS), and Forestry Commission/Mole Park with support from UK aid through the illegal challenge fund has organised a one day capacity training workshop for some 23 participants from
Tantala in the Mamprugu Mourgduri District in the North East Region of Ghana and Bolenga in the Wa East District of the Upper West Region on the project Living with Wildlife: Improving Livelihoods in the Mole Ecological Landscape.
The project is being implemented by 3 consortiums namely the NDF, CK Tedam University of Technology and Applied Science, and the Mole National Park.
Addressing the participants, the park manager of the Mole National Park Mr Ali Mahama urged the participants to remember that the mission of conservation is not a singular effort since it requires partnerships, dedication, and above all, a shared vision for a future where wildlife can flourish alongside humanity.
He used the opportunity to encourage them to pay key attention and also contribute to the discussions that is taking place for the benefit of the Mole National Park since all of them live around the park adding that their conservation efforts are intertwined with the livelihoods of nearby communities, whom the park work closely with to ensure that both people and wildlife can coexist harmoniously.
An assistant law enforcement officer of the Mole National Park and project coordinator of the program, Mr Ndego Martin explained that as part of efforts and measures to get the communities around the Mole National Park to desist from the unsustainable trade and practices, the project, ‘Living with wildlife’ seeks to train and support men and women in the two Community Resource Management Areas also known as CREMAS to implement nature-based sustainable livelihood measures that will reduce poverty and inequality.
The project according to him, will further increase resilience and productivity of farms by introducing and developing agroforestry system and further contribute to strengthening collaborative wildlife management with the park-fringing communities through building capacity and capabilities of members of the targeted CREMAs.
Background
The North and North-western boundaries of the Mole National Park (MNP) which border the western and eastern wildlife corridors of the MNP are the migratory highway for elephants, buffalos, hartebeest, and other species of conservation concern. The animals ply these routes to connect from Mole National Park to the Nazinga Game Reserve and the Kabore Tambi National Park in neighbouring Burkina Faso. The Chakali Sungmaaluu and Moagduri Wuntanluri Kuwomsaasi (MWK) CREMAs are in these boundaries with communities such as Tantala, Zukpani, Holomuni, Gbatala and Grumbelle among others.However, because of poor participatory management of the Mole National Park with park-fringing communities, inadequate nature-based livelihoods and low law enforcement, these ungulates (Buffalos, hartebeest, elephants) and carnivores are exposed to high levels of poaching for bushmeat and body parts trading. The trading of these wildlife body parts and bushmeat is illegal, unsustainable and is deepening the levels of poverty in the area.
As part of efforts and measures to get the community to desist from such unsustainable trade and practices, the project, ‘Living with wildlife’ seeks to train and support men and women in the two CREMAs to implement nature-based sustainable livelihood measures that will reduce poverty and inequality. The project will further increase resilience and productivity of farms by introducing and developing agroforestry system. The project will contribute to strengthening collaborative wildlife management with the park-fringing communities through building capacity and capabilities of members of the targeted CREMAs.
