The Shea Resource Conservation: Sustaining rural liivelihood for the present and the future

SNV GHANA

The shea Resource Conservation; Sustaining Rural Livelihood for the present and the

future.

By Issahaku Zakaria

About shea;

• Over 900,000 shea picker /processors who are basically women exist in Ghana

• Shea has a potentially large and rapid impact on rural poverty and wellbeing

• Most rural household engages in shea activity.

• Benefits Economic Social Cultural/traditional Environmental

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

Thre

ats

to

ind

ust

ry

su

stai

nab

ility

Propagation takes so long despite efforts by research to

reduce gestation period

THE PROBLEM

Current trees are old and under threat eg bush fire, charcoal, mining,

Current benefits are Individually / household based Er

odin

g b

enef

its

to

com

mu

nit

ies

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

Red

uce

d T

hre

ats

to

ind

ust

ry

su

stai

nab

ility

Development of Community Bio-cultural

protocols

THE Approach

Development of Environmental enterprise-beekeeping

Tree planting and shea protection S

ust

ain

ed s

hea

b

enef

its

to

rura

l hou

seh

old

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

Environmental Enterprises

(Beekeeping)

Community Protocols

(Bye Laws) Tree

Plantations

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

BCP Initiative

• TRUISM As long as communities have a collective benefit for a common resource, they will

have a collective responsibility for the protection/conservation

and sustainable use

+favourable policy environment and regulation from local authority

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

what we seek to achieve through BCP

• Bio-cultural protocol for the shea value chain are such that women pickers and their communities get a fair share from the industry thereby motivating them to protect and conserve the Shea tree.

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

The Goal • Conservation of the Shea tree in northern Ghana to enhance

sustainable well-being of Shea communities

The Objective • To address fair benefit sharing arrangements in the Shea

value chain, as a motivation for Conservation and sustainable use of the Shea tree.

In order to conserve the shea tree as a local natural resource, the economic utility of shea must 'compete' with the short-term alternative cash value of the tree.

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

Achievement • Well documented communities protocol for

conservation and sustainable use.

• Over 1000 acres of shea parklands covered under this protocol

• Traditional authorities are the custodians and enforces the protocol

• Well being of the community is the driving force.

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

Achievement cont’d • 540 bee hives incorporated into this

parkland as an alternative income generating activity

• Women encouraged to avoid cutting young shea plants in the wide.

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

Success factors

Opinion leaders

Pickers

Traditional authorities

Gov’t/DAs

Companies

NGOs/CBOs

Strong commitment from stakeholders

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

Partners/stakeholders

• Traditional Authorities • NGOs • Legal institutions • CBOs involved in Shea work • Women pickers • Assembly members • Media

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013