Farm Level Tree Planting in Ghana: Potential for Reducing Vulnerability and Mitigating Climate Change

Abstract

Improvement in tree tenure and benefit sharing mechanisms has encouraged farmers with or without land to invest in economic tree planting in Ghana. This has been influenced by a policy reform which gives right of ownership to individuals who engage in tree planting coupled with a national reforestation programme. However, little is known regarding the contributions of small-scale tree planting in mitigating climate change at farm level. This study therefore explores the views of smallholder farmers in six villages in the Sefwi Wiaso, Asankrangwa and Offinso Forest Districts on how tree planting at farm level can reduce vulnerability and mitigate climate change. The study employed a household survey among 106 smallholder farmers, interviews of informants and validation meeting. Results revealed that farmers involved in tree planting have adopted agroforestry models that have the potential to generate significant carbon stores. The study also revealed that institutional partnership and benefit sharing mechanism are crucial for the success of farm level tree planting. The paper concludes by recommending public actor partnership with wide range of stakeholders to make small scaled farm level tree planting a reality in reducing vulnerability and mitigating climate change as well as serving as financial incentive to famers.