What a great concept to get the locals involved in
their development. I hope other gov'ts can learn from
this.  Aggo, thanks for the news. You've been missing
for a while. Post for us more of those African intriguing news.
Have a great weekend and keep warm.
Comfort

> -----Original Message-----
> From: E. Aggo Akyea [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Friday, January 29, 1999 5:18 PM
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      Ghana's new perspective on trees
>
> BBC World Service
> Friday, January 29, 1999 Published at 03:54 GMT
>
> Ghana's new perspective on trees
> A nature lesson can become an exciting adventure
>
> Mark Doyle reports from the forest canopy in Ghana's remarkable ecological
> success story.
>
> Most African parks and reserves attract foreign tourists. Kakum Park
> attracts young Ghanaians as well. Some 70% of the visitors to Kakum Park
> are locals. The reason is a walkway high in the forest canopy. And the
> walkway is obviously a major attraction. Nature lessons for the local
> children will never be the same again. Most of the school children who
> visit Kakum Park have parents of relatives who live off the land - some,
> no
> doubt, contributing to deforestation. The authorities hope that this new
> generation will take more care of the rain forest. And the first step to
> encouraging this is attracting the children's interest.
>
> Children I spoke to said they like visiting the park, and they like
> learning: "If we cut down the trees and destroy the animals in it, there
> will be no leaves for preparing medicine when we are ill."
>
> There is a growing realisation that protecting forest reserves with
> physical barriers, or by mounting patrols simply does not work in places
> where governments are under-resourced.
>
> As one of the park keepers told me, the local people have to feel that
> they
> own a stake in the parks - and this is where education comes in: "Last
> year
> for instance the Kakum Park generated about $50,000 income. This can also
> help educate people on conservation because bringing up wildlife clubs..
> and so many other things all need money. Without the walkway we can't help
> educate the people."
>
> But this remarkable structure does require expert and therefore expensive
> maintenance to keep it safe. The charity Conservation International built
> the walkway with American aid money.
>
> While it is successful at pulling in the visitors, there is a suspicion
> that many people come here more for the fairground thrill than because of
> any commitment to conservation.
>
> But my park guide admitted that was no problem at all: "Absolutely they
> do,
> and anyway, even if they don't gain any appreciation of the forest, their
> money is still used by the park - for the anti-poaching team and for a
> number of conservation activities."
>
> Timber felling and agriculture have eaten away at most of Ghana's
> rainforest - but what remains is, by common consent being relatively well
> managed, and the canopy walkway is playing its part in the strategy to
> conserve what is left.
>
> The walkway is something of a gimic - but it is a gimic that works. It
> attracts Ghanaians to the park - thereby raising awareness.
> Conservationists say that that is the only way that the forest will be
> saved in the long run.