More than 200 students, practitioners and educators have undergone a four-day short course on forest landscape restoration and governance.
The University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in collaboration with the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Presbyterian University, Ghana, organised the training, designed to equip them with the requisite practical knowledge and skills in forest restoration and governance.
It forms part of the implementation of the “BIFN Climate FY2023/ZA-International Model Forest Network-CIFOR” project under the International Model Forest Network.
The Canadian-funded Global Forest Leadership programme and the Pan-African Restoration Education Initiative are supporting the implementation of the project aiming at strengthening restoration skills and competencies of students, practitioners, and educators.
It deepened the implementation and expansion of the Pan-African Restoration Education curriculum seeking to promote transformative teaching approaches in restoration studies and institutionalise restoration education through curriculum development and accreditation.
Professor John Kuwornu, the Acting Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UENR, addressing a ceremony at the university campus in Sunyani explained that the institution had consistently invested in research, training and partnerships that promoted ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable landscape management.
He said the short course reflected UENR’s long-term vision in leading restoration education and practice in the country, Africa and beyond.
Prof. Kuwornu highlighted the relevance of forests in climate change mitigation and other environmental challenges, saying that: “successful restoration depends not only on technical solutions but also on effective governance, sound policies, strong institutions and inclusive multi-stakeholder processes”.
He said the course was therefore designed to equip participants with practical and conceptual tools to access restoration opportunities and design sustainable, context-specific interventions.
Prof Kuwornu said UENR, with its partners, planned to roll out a Master of Science (MSc) programme in forest landscape restoration and management and hold an international conference on forest landscape governance.
Source: Access Agric
