Benjamin Amedi Afful
The Lake Bosomtwe Biosphere Reserve, Ghana’s only natural lake and one of the world’s six meteoritic lakes, holds a rich and unique ecosystem, crucial for local biodiversity, environmental stability, and community livelihoods. Over time, unsustainable farming practices, deforestation, and land degradation have intensified, placing significant pressure on the soil’s health and the biodiversity within. Soil macrofauna, including earthworms and other organisms, play vital ecological roles such as nutrient cycling, soil structure maintenance, and organic matter decomposition. However, their populations and diversity are diminishing due to habitat disturbance, limiting the lake ecosystem's resilience and sustainability.
Team members inspecting a block of soil for macro fauna. ©Enock Baah.
The main aim of the ECO-SOIL project is to conserve soil biodiversity within the Lake Bosomtwe Biosphere Reserve, using soil macrofauna as bioindicators to assess soil health. By focusing on the diversity and function of these organisms, the project seeks to highlight their role in ecosystem stability and sustainability. The project will identify current soil health conditions, promote habitat conservation, and engage local communities in sustainable land-use practices that enhance both soil quality and biodiversity conservation.
Objectives:
1. Assess Soil Macrofauna Diversity and Function: By systematically collecting and analyzing soil samples from different land-use areas, we aim to understand species diversity, population composition, and ecological functions of soil macrofauna across the biosphere reserve.
2. Implement Soil Conservation Practices: This involves promoting organic farming, agroecological practices, and habitat restoration, including reforestation, to support healthy soil ecosystems.
3. Develop Soil Macrofauna as Bioindicators: With field assessments and statistical analysis, the project will establish a correlation between soil macrofauna diversity and soil health indicators, helping identify key bioindicators.
4. Community Engagement and Capacity Building: Local community members and farmers will receive training on sustainable land management, biodiversity conservation, and the ecological importance of soil macrofauna.
Intended Conservation Outcomes:
The project aims to contribute to sustainable soil management within the Lake Bosomtwe Biosphere Reserve, improving soil quality and supporting biodiversity conservation. By enhancing the diversity of soil macrofauna, the project will strengthen ecosystem services like nutrient cycling and organic matter retention. The initiative will also foster greater environmental awareness and community engagement in conservation practices, setting a foundation for long-term ecological health and resilience in the region. This will serve as a model for sustainable practices in biosphere reserves across Ghana and beyond.
Header: Team Lead preparing the land to deploy pitfall trap. ©Enock Baah.