| My Forest Friends Ireland |
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| WORLD FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE CONFRENCE (WFCCC), GHANA 2012. |
RAINFOREST FRIENDS GHANA, RAFFS/G, FOREST FRIENDS IRELAND AND FOREST FRIENDS GHANA IN ASSOCIATION WITH GOVERNMENTAL AND NON-GOVERMENTAL ORGANISATIONS ARE PRESENTING A WORLD FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE IN GHANA DURING 2012.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
The global issues of deforestation and climate change need the critical attention of every individual and nation if we are to continue to exist on this planet.
In his speech the chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC), Rajendra Pachauri, made a prediction regarding the impact of climate change on 21st century society.
He estimated that 2.40 degrees celcius global mean temperature is expected by the end of the century. A World this hot would be an unpleasant place to be. We have a seven year window to tackle the issue and to stabilise carbon dioxide emissions.
Between 20% and 30% of all species on this planet will be extinct if warming exceeds 1.5 degrees to 2.5 degrees.
Sea level rise and the flight of large populations in response are possible. The World Wildlife Fund also estimated that 20% of all Wildlife species could disappear within the next twenty years.
Scientists at NASA have suggested that a world wide expansion of deserts is likely, (Rind etal 1990).
Deforestation is one of the key factors of this gloomy growing menace awaiting mankind. Kieran Hickey, in his book, FIVE MUINUTES TO MIDNIGHT?. Said
Climate change will transform Ireland. It will bring scorching summers, parched lawns, and water rationing and escalating rates of skin cancer.
There will be fewer, but bigger and more deadly storms. Muggy, wet winters, flooded streets and sodden lawns are expected.
Today, we need no scientific data and analysis to prove evidence of the climate change. There is a lot of evidence around the World showing manifestation of climate change which for the past few years was only known by some scientists making the effort to create an awareness.
Now the layman has come to understand climate change in his own way and see this evidence in his locality.
In Ghana, 65,000 hecters of the total land area is prone to desertification, (Ghana Environmental Protection Agency report, 2004). The length of the dry season in Ghana has increased : Northern Ghana Which use to experience rainfall early March to April to start agriculture now has to wait patiently untill mid-April to May for the first rains. Harvset time sees unprecedented pest attack leading to increased famine in the region.
Illegal chainsaw operation is a threat to the remaing rainforest of Ghana, and the trade in bush meat remains a contributing factor to forest destruction in Ghana.
Ireland has been place of great biological diversity. However, due, to intensive exploitation for industrial growth, settlement and clearance for agriculture, Ireland has lost as much as 1% of it's forest cover in the early 1900's, ( from a Coilte report in 2002 under the EU life nature project).
The IPCC Chairman suggested that among the key steps mankind could take to combat climate change and its attendant effects on humanity are
- reforming agriculture and forestry
- erecting better flooding protection measures
- tackling the problem of deforestation - helping developing nations to cope with the effects of climate change
In the light of this, Forest Friends Ireland - FFI - and it's affiliated branch, Rainforest Friends, Ghana-RAFFS/G have initiated a “Global Forest and Climate Change Project” which seek as a priority to find agreed means of halting global deforestation and climate change.
As part of this project, it is anticipated to organise a global Forest and Cimate Change Conference around the World of which the first of it’s kind will happen in Ghana in 2012.
Volunteers of Forest Friends Ireland, Rainforest Friends Ghana and Forest Friends Ghana (Friends of Forest Preservation) with the involvement of Governmental and Non-Governmental Organisations in Ghana are seriously working on the conference programme to make it a reality in 2012.
Promotion of the conference will start from January, 2010 untill November, 2012.
Various promotional activities are planned in the media (Radio and TV), community, and schools awareness creation, Forest Friend’s schools and Community Club formation, tree planting exercises, clean up exercises etc. These avtivities shall be carried out in some schools and communities in the Eastern, Brong Ahafo,Ashanti and Upper East regions of Ghana.
Pre-conference activities shall be organised from 5th December, 2011 to 12th December, 2011.
A Number of local and Regional workshops, Community Durbars and multi-cultural celebrations shall be organised in selected schools and communities in the above mentioned regions.
This will culminate in a four day international conference in Accra at the University of Ghana, Legon with workshops, presentations, discussions and deliberations from Local, National and International participants on crucial topics.
Delegates shall be invited from various funding agencies to take part in this conference, and there will be opportunities to discuss potential projects with donor agencies and establish contacts for progress.
1.1 OBJECTIVES
The main objectives of this conference are:
1. To build a network of Advocates to create awareness and find lasting solutions to the global deforestation and climate change menace.
2. Help develop a strategic plan for each participant that outlines an action they will take on return to their home country to combat deforestation and climate change.
3. Involving sponsors of Environmental projects in this conference to study appreciate and support suitable projects presented by participants from different countries.
4. Create an International dialogue to promote continued discussion, networking, ideological exchange and awareness of issues in Natural Resource Management.
5. Develop this conference to establish an International Education and Training Centre for biodiversity conservation and climate change prevention.
The conference programme, which is yet to be finalised, is presented here :
PRE-CONFERENCE ACTIVITIES, MONDAY 5TH DECEMBER, 2011 TO TUESDAY, 15TH DECEMBER, 2011.
Mon.5th December 4:00pm-4:30pm
Radio programme: “Coping with Climate Change”
Venue: Bolgatanga (G.B.C).
Artists / Presenters: Emmanuel Nsor Kwesi, John Haughton, Delegate from EPA and presenter.
Tues.6th December 10:00am-2:00pm
Climate Change Awareness workshop (Theme: Remedial action to water resources problems in the white Volta Basin).
Venue: Bolgatanga, Cultural Centre.
Artist / Presenter: Delegate from water resources Commission, Students (2).from UDS.
Friday.9th December 10:00am-12:00pm
Rainforest awareness workshop (Theme: “Raising a new generation of high environmental consciousness”).
Venue: KNUST-Faculty of Forest Reources Techonlogy Sunyani.
Presenter / Artist: The Dean (FFRT, Emmanuel Nsor, Joseph Sarpong&John Haughton).
5:00pm-7:00pm - Drama (Using Agroforestry Technology to enhance resource poor livelihoods).
Venue: Sunyani Cultural Centre.
Presenter / Artist: Agroforestry Drama Group. (Forest Friends Schools Clubs).
Thurs.12th December.
Community Durbar (Theme:”Contro-lling bushmeat trade, a measure to Forest, Wildlife conservation and climate change prevention”).
Venue: Ayinam
Artist / Presenter: Delegate from FC.
15th Tues.December - 10:00am-12:00pm
Community Durbar (Theme: “Making Abonse a tourist village, a potential for social development, Forest and environmental conservation”).
Venue: Abonse Chief Palace.
Artist / Presenter: Minister for Mines and Natural Resources, Chief of Abonse,Madam Letitia Boateng & Clare
5:00pm-8:00pm
Celebrating Biodiversity and Cultural diversity: a night of story telling, traditional dance, local games,drama,local craft display etc.
Venue: Abonse Chief Palace
Artist / Presenter: RAFFS/G COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL CLUBS.
FIVE DAYS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE IN UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON FROM MONDAY, 19th DECDEMBER 2012 TO FRIDAY, 23rd DECEMBER, 2012.
Mon.19th December 5:00pm-7:00pm
Press conference (Complete events programme presentation).
Venue: The Great Hall ,Legon
Artist / Presenter: The media, Emmanuel Nsor, Gilbert Baase, Enock Ofosu and John Haughton.
Tues.20th December 8:00am-12:00pm
Launch of the WFCCC (Theme: Chainsaw Opertion, a driving force for climate Change”.) Delegates Presentations with Cultural dance and musical interludes.
Venue: The Great Hall, Legon.
Artist/Presenter: Tropenbos,Ghana,FC,Chief of Okyeman,delegates from Conservation Iternational and WWFN.(3 students)
2:00pm-5:00pm
Group discussions and knowledge sharing.
Venue: Great Hall, Legon.
Artist / Presenter: Various groups’ members.(Intercontinental grouping).
Wed.21st December 8:00am-12:00pm
Workshop - Theme: “Mitigating water resources problems; floods and droughts, arising from climate change”). A number of presentations with musical interludes.
Venue: Great Hall, Legon.
Artist / Presenter: Delegate from Water Resources Commission, (2 Students), Delegate from Forest Watch Ghana.
2:00pm-5:00pm
Projects Video shows.
Venue: Great Hall,Legon
Artist / Presenter: John Haughton, RAFFS/G. 3 Students.
Thur.22nd Decem. 8:00am-12:00pm
Climate Change Biodiversity Awareness workshop (Theme: “Halting species extinction”).
Presentations with Musical interludes.
Projects discussions with delegates from Donor Agencies.
Venue: Great Hall, Legon.
Presenter / Artist : IPCC Chairman, EPA delegate, Prof.Oduro William (KNUST), 3students.
Friday 23rd December 8:00am-12:00pm
Sustaining Biodiversity (Theme:”Grants and incentives for Biodiversity Forestry projects”).
Venue: Great Hall, Legon.
Artist / Presenter: ITTO Delegates
2:00pm-6:00pm:
Celebrating Biodiversity and Cultural Diversty;a night of traditional music &dance,storytelling,poetry ,songs etc.
Venue: Great Hall, legon.
Artist / Presenter: Various participants, local drama troops etc.
CONFERENCE PLANNING TEAM:
Emmanuel Nsor Kwesi (Team Leader) Email: nks3@ymail.com (CEO-RAFFS/G).
Adum Gilbert Baase (Proj.Dev.Officer, RAFFS/G): adum2010@yahoo.com
Enoch Ofosu (Assistant project Development Officer, RAFFS/G): blessesdenoch@yahoo.co.uk
SUPERVISORS:
Mr.K.S Nketiah (Tropenbos Ghana International): ksnketiah@yahoo.com
Mr. Edward Obiyaw (Resource Management Surpport Center, Kumasi)
Professor William Oduro (KNUST, Dean, Faculty of Renewable natural Resources): williamoduro@yahoo.co.uk
John Haughton (Chairman, Forest Friends Ireland): jjhaughauton@gmail.com
Madam Vivian Nuhu (Wildlife Division, Forestry Commission): vannuhu@yahoo.co.uk
Madam Letitia Boateng (Progress Queen of Abonse): letitiaboateng@hotmail.com
Mr. Tony Pepra (Environmental Quality Engineering) : tonypep62@yahoo.co.uk
Dr.Rex Barnes: (Ecologist, Fire Manager, and Climate Change) rexbee@yahoo.co.uk
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| Forest Friends Plant Trees :) |
Forest Friends plant trees during Ireland's National Tree Week at Killester College on March 11th 2010. The photography students of the college, (the Killlester 'paparazzi'),descended on John Haughton. You can
view their wonderful video on flickr.
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| WORLD FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE CONFRENCE 2012 |
Read the full conference programme here.
Rainforest Friends Ghana,
RAFFS/G, Forest Friends Ireland
and Forest Friends Ghana
in association with governmental
and non-governmental
organisations are organising
a World Forest and
Climate Change Conference
in Ghana in 2012.
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| Ireland's Green Desertification |
This documentary is by Naoise Reynolds and features John Haughton - founder of Forest Friends Ireland - speaking on the damage caused large-scale monoculture
tree plantations. You can
view the video on YouTube via this link.
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