Nature Conservation Project

  Ghana

• Accra: 
Accra

Term: Throughout the year 
Durations of Program: 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks and 3-6 months
Typical Duration of Program: 2-4 weeks

Description: Students of environmental or agricultural science are required to support nature conservation efforts through education and tree planting.

* Conservation Officer:
A conservation officer is needed to promote and implement local and national action plans to promote nature conservation.

* Forester:
The volunteer will train farmers to help sustain efforts toward making tree farming economically viable for rural communities.

* Micro-Finance Officer:
The volunteer will aid farmers to find alternative sources of financing and income generation to expand their tree farming businesses.

* Environmental Educator:
An environmental educator is needed to lead efforts to educate farmers on the benefits and economic viability of tree farming.

* Project Assistant - Planning:
The services of a project assistant are required to help identify and purchase suitable lands for tree farming.

* Office Administrators:
Constructs are keen to recruit interns who are interested in helping them out in the office. There's a lot to do and they need the help to get the office organised.

* Fundraiser:
Constructs are keen to recruit interns who are interested in helping them out in the office. There's a lot to do and they need the help to get the office organised.

* Web Designer:
Constructs are keen to recruit interns who are interested in helping them out in the office. There's a lot to do and they need the help to get the office organised.

Highlights: Vision 2050 Forestry Ghana was started in 1988 and established a number of reforestation projects in the Eastern, Ashanti and Central Regions of Ghana to attempt to stem the destruction of Ghana's forests and protect the environment as well as the natural habitat of animal life. Their mission is to collaborate with parties and beneficiaries to regenerate the depleted forests and farmlands through planning and implementation of community-specific programmes and activities.

The organisation currently has a workforce of 34 persons, supported by about 450 community volunteers and farmers. The work of these persons involves initiating projects to create employment in rural areas by using tree farming as a tool. They also aim to introduce tree farming to Ghanaians as an economic venture. To that end, educational campaigns are organized on a monthly basis in various rural communities across Ghana to train members of these communities on how to own and manage their own resources, especially the natural resources which affect the environment. Vision 2050 also seeks to sensitize the youth to develop an interest in environmental conservation, agriculture and forestry.

It is reported that natural resource depletion (the degradation of agricultural soils, forests and Savannah woodlands, coastal fisheries, wildlife resources, and Lake Volta's environment) costs Ghana USD 520 million annually. According to the report, "more than 50% of the original forest area of Ghana has been converted to agricultural land by slash-and-burn practices." The effects of these practices are alarming. Timber stocks, which Ghana was always noted for are decreasing. Annual rainfall figures are therefore dropping at an alarming rate, dry seasons are being extended, and as a result cities and towns along the coast have begun to experience severe water shortages. To add to this trend, wildlife and biodiversity are in serious decline as their natural habitat keeps getting destroyed. Since Ghana relies a great deal on its natural resources for economic development, a certain consequence of this is a drastic drop in Ghana's GDP growth in the near future. These trends are what Vision 2050 seeks to curb.

Currently operational in over 75 districts of Ghana, the organisation purchases tracts of land once decimated and trains local farmers to plant new trees and practice tree farming as an economic venture. This serves two purposes: It improves the living conditions of many families in rural Ghana, and also restores wildlife and biodiversity to its natural habitat. Vision 2050 Forestry hopes to have restored 80% of Ghana's lost forests by 2035, and hopes to lead the fight towards a sustainable environment, with a bustling ecotourism industry in Ghana by the year 2050.

Cost in US$: GBP 715 for 4 weeks, GBP 92 per week thereafter

Credit Available: yes

Experience Required: no

Age Range: 18 - 65

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Ghana Independently

Typically Participants Work Independently

Application Process Involves:

• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Resume
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Job and Internship Network

Ikando's Mission Statement: Ikando looks to support local community organisations through the placement of international volunteers. We seek to offer volunteers affordable, quality and skill specific placements with organisations that require their help. We believe our volunteers can be catalysts for change within these organisations. Ikando aims to communicate through its volunteers the positive story coming out of Africa.

Year Founded: 2004