Farm Level Tree Planting in Ghana: Potential for Reducing Vulnerability and Mitigating Climate Change

Abstract

Improvement in tree tenure and benefit sharing mechanisms has encouraged farmers with or without land to invest in economictree planting in Ghana. This has been influenced by a policy reform which gives right of ownership to individuals who engagein tree planting coupled with a national reforestation programme. However, little is known regarding the contributions ofsmall-scale tree planting in mitigating climate change at farm level. This study therefore explores the views of smallholderfarmers in six villages in the Sefwi Wiaso, Asankrangwa and Offinso Forest Districts on how tree planting at farm levelcan reduce vulnerability and mitigate climate change. The study employed a household survey among 106 smallholderfarmers, interviews of informants and validation meeting. Results revealed that farmers involved in tree planting have adoptedagroforestry models that have the potential to generate significant carbon stores. The study also revealed that institutionalpartnership and benefit sharing mechanism are crucial for the success of farm level tree planting. The paper concludes byrecommending public actor partnership with wide range of stakeholders to make small scaled farm level tree planting a realityin reducing vulnerability and mitigating climate change as well as serving as financial incentive to famers.