What have we been up to?

Eco Restore has officially launched its 2026 Annual Tree Growing Season at Tari No. 2 in the North Gonja District of the Savannah Region, marking the beginning of the organization’s annual field planting activities across its restoration landscapes.

The launch, held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, also provided an opportunity to strengthen partnerships, promote environmental stewardship, and reaffirm a shared commitment to restoring degraded landscapes and enhancing ecosystem health across northern Ghana.

This year’s season is closely aligned with the Golden Forest × Eco Restore Indigenous Tree Restoration Project (2026–2028), which is being implemented across four communities in the Daboya enclave, namely Singa, Tari No. 1, Tari No. 2, and Ayanto. The project targets the planting of 12,000 indigenous trees, including shea, baobab, rosewood, mahogany, kapok, and other native species to restore degraded landscapes and strengthen climate resilience.

Speaking at the launch, representatives of Golden Forest emphasised the importance of protecting mature shea trees and called for an end to harmful practices such as unsustainable charcoal production, encouraging stronger community stewardship of natural resources.

The District Director of Agriculture, Mr. Mahama Sule, encouraged farmers to adopt sustainable agricultural practices that promote soil conservation, improve productivity, and support long-term land restoration efforts in the district.

A Director at Eco Restore, Mr Senyo Kpelly, underscored the importance of reviving traditional and sustainable land management practices to improve soil health.

“We need to look at the traditional practices that have sustained our soils for generations and make better use of organic, locally available inputs such as manure, rather than relying heavily on chemical fertilisers that can degrade soil quality over time,” he said.

The Chief of Tari No. 2, Abdulai Bankpema pledged the commitment of traditional leadership to strengthening community by-laws that protect shea trees and promote sustainable land management practices.

The launch brought together farmers, women’s groups, youth associations, traditional authorities, government institutions, development partners, and community members, who jointly participated in indigenous tree planting activities, reaffirming a shared commitment to restoring and protecting the Savannah landscape.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the farmers, women’s groups, traditional authorities, partners, and all community stakeholders whose participation and support made this launch a success. 

The Golden Forest × Eco Restore Indigenous Tree Restoration Project (2026–2028) was officially launched on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the Yagbonwura’s Palace in Damango, marking the beginning of a major landscape restoration initiative in Ghana’s Savannah Region.

Implemented by Eco Restore with funding support from Golden Forest, the three-year project will restore 12,000 indigenous trees across the communities of Ayanto, Singa, Tari No. 1, and Tari No. 2. The initiative will promote the planting of native species, including shea, dawadawa, baobab, mahogany, rosewood, kapok, and tamarind, to restore degraded landscapes, strengthen biodiversity, and improve community resilience.

To date, 11,481 trees across nine indigenous species have been planted, representing significant progress towards the project’s overall restoration target, while planting activities continue across the landscape

Addressing participants at the launch, Mr. Vlad Kolesnik, representing Golden Forest, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to sustainable sourcing and the importance of healthy landscapes to the long-term future of the industry.

“Investments in restoration contribute not only to environmental protection but also to the resilience of supply chains and rural livelihoods,” he said.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Operations) of the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Mr. Rich Kofi Kofituo, delivered remarks on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Andy Ankrah, highlighting the Authority’s commitment to strengthening Ghana’s shea value chain through improved collaboration and sustainable development.

Eco Restore emphasized that lasting landscape restoration depends on strong community ownership and long-term stewardship. Through the project, the organisation will promote indigenous tree restoration, regenerative land management practices, and Nature-based Solutions (NbS) to strengthen ecosystem health and climate resilience across the savannah landscape. 

The overlord of the Gonja traditional kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Yagbonwural Jewu Soale I, in a speech read on his behalf by the Damangowura welcomed the partnership and underscored the vital role of traditional leadership in protecting natural resources and supporting environmental restoration.

The launch also featured the symbolic planting of indigenous tree species like shea and mahogany, officially signalling the start of field implementation. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) was presented to women shea collectors and farmers to support safer participation in restoration and shea-related activities.

The event brought together traditional authorities, government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, and community representatives, demonstrating a shared commitment to restoring degraded landscapes and building climate-resilient communities.

We extend our sincere appreciation to all partners, stakeholders, and community members whose support made this launch possible.

Because everyone needs to see fresh shea seedlings. Views from a couple of our nurseries this week 💚 🌱

Thank you Kparigu for such a wonderful tree growing launch. Children of today preparing to plant baobab and shea seedlings to grow into giant trees for their future 🌱 🌳 💚