The Environment and Agroforestry Foundation (EAF), a non-profit organization based in Sunyani, organized a capacity-building workshop for participants involved in its farmland restoration, riparian ecosystem, and livelihood improvement project in the Bono Region.

The workshop, held in Berekum in the Berekum East Municipality, also marked the launch of a six-year project funded by TerraFund for AFR100, an international funding consortium comprising the World Resources Institute, One Tree Planted, Realize Impact, and Barka Fund.

Approximately 100 participants attended the event, including 70 participating farmers from four beneficiary communities: Namasua, Oforikrom, Tainso, and Berekum. Representatives from the Forest Services Division (FSD) of the Forestry Commission (FC), the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), and the Municipal Assembly were also present, along with traditional authorities, Fulani herdsmen leadership, media representatives, and Green Waterhut, an environmental NGO headquartered in Sunyani.

Mrs. Emma Baah Agyapong, the Founder/Director of EAF and project coordinator, highlighted the project's contribution to the government's commitment to restoring two million hectares of Degraded Farmlands and Africa's goal of restoring 100 million hectares of degraded farmlands by 2030. She emphasized that the project aimed to restore degraded farmlands and adjoining riparian forests while improving community livelihoods for sustainable forest management.

Using a “Participatory Rural Approach,” the project plans to build the capacity of locals to participate fully in implementation and monitoring activities.

Mr. Francis Brobbey, the Sunyani District Manager of the Forest Services Division, pledged the division's support for the project, emphasizing the government's commitment to forest restoration.

Mr. Hassan Sali, the Berekum East Director of MoFA, expressed the ministry's enthusiasm for collaborating in achieving project objectives, particularly in climate-smart agriculture and agroforestry.

Assistant Divisional Officer I Issahaku, the Berekum Municipal Deputy Commander of the GNFS, expressed concern over fire incidents in the municipality and pledged the GNFS's support in fighting fires around project sites.

Mr. Kofi Adjei, the Berekum East Municipal Chief Executive, commended EAF and TerraFund for AFR100 for selecting the municipality for the project and praised the traditional authorities for releasing land for implementation.