The District Chief Executive (DCE) for the Nadowli-Kaleo District, Mary Haruna, has reaffirmed the District Assembly’s commitment to supporting community-led environmental conservation following the inauguration of a Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) involving communities from three districts in the Upper West Region.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Madam Haruna described the initiative as a significant milestone in the sustainable management of natural resources through community participation. The CREMA initiative, spearheaded by the Forestry Commission of Ghana through its Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, aims to empower local communities to take an active role in protecting and managing forest resources within their localities.
The programme brought together fifteen communities drawn from the Wa East District, Daffiama Bussie Issa District, and the Nadowli-Kaleo District, reflecting what the DCE described as a strong demonstration of unity and shared responsibility in safeguarding the environment.
Madam Haruna expressed excitement over the signing of the Certificate of Devolution of Authority by the sector Minister, a move that formally transfers certain management powers to the CREMA executives. According to her, the certificate signifies government’s trust and confidence in local communities to responsibly manage and protect their natural resources.
“This milestone officially empowers the CREMA executives and reinforces the trust placed in local communities to manage and safeguard these precious resources responsibly,” she stated.
The DCE urged the newly inaugurated CREMA executives to carry out their mandate diligently by guiding their communities to uphold the regulations governing the conservation areas. She emphasised that their leadership would be critical in ensuring that the objectives of the CREMA initiative are achieved.
Madam Haruna also assured the executives and participating communities of the full support of the Nadowli-Kaleo District Assembly, stressing that the Assembly remains committed to providing the necessary assistance to enable them to effectively perform their duties.
While commending the Forestry Commission for leading the initiative, the DCE underscored the importance of strengthening the alternative livelihood component of the programme. She noted that conservation efforts would be more sustainable if communities directly benefited from improved socio-economic opportunities linked to the project.
“For conservation efforts to truly succeed, the communities involved must see real socio-economic benefits,” she said, urging stakeholders to give adequate attention to livelihood support programmes that accompany environmental protection initiatives.
Madam Haruna concluded by calling for continued cooperation and dedication among all stakeholders, stressing that collective action is essential to preserving the region’s natural heritage while improving the living standards of local communities.
The CREMA concept is widely recognised as a community-based conservation strategy that allows local people to participate directly in the protection and sustainable use of natural resources within their environment.
The inauguration marks another important step in Ghana’s efforts to promote community-driven conservation and sustainable environmental management.
The Trial News
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