Planting of the mangroves in the muddy and flooded areas.

Songor Ramsar site is the second largest wetland in Ghana managed by the Wildlife Division.

The human population within the ecologically sensitive areas are over 87,000, putting enormous pressure on the natural resources. The diverse fauna include manatees, marine turtles, avocets, terns and other migratory / wintering wildlife species. The species and their habitats are threatened. The threat includes conversion of ecological habitat into farms, pollution of water bodies, uncontrolled bush burning, unapproved resource extractive methods and persecution of wildlife species.

Tekpekope is one of the communities within the ecologically sensitive areas whose livelihood is threatened due to environmental degradation and unsustainable resource utilisation. The Wildlife Division in collaboration with the community will conserve the remnant wetlands resources and restore degraded areas. The project aims at the restoration of degraded ecological areas through the planting of mangroves, fruit and other trees.

The activities that will help achieved the set objectives of the project include:

- Training, education and awareness creation – Film shows, Radio programs and manuals will be used to educate and train stakeholders on environmental conservation. The target will include over 150 community members, 15 schools and 12 communities.

- Habitat improvement / manipulation - degraded areas will be surveyed and zoned and requisite tools will be acquired. The activity will involve the planting of mangroves, fruits and other tree seedlings in degraded areas (20,000 mangroves, 300 fruit and 10,000 other tree seedlings).

- Alternative livelihood project / revolving credit fund for women - livelihood activities that enhance sustainable resource utilisation will be promoted. Value of products will be enhanced to raise market value to create wealth. Assist trained women with revolving fund as start up capital.

- Efficient resource utilisation and conservation - train participants in the construction and use of fuel efficient stoves to reduce wood exploitation. Train farmers in sustainable and eco-farming systems to reduce the use agrochemicals.