00:00Africa contributes less than 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
00:05Despite its relatively small carbon footprint,
00:09the continent remains highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change.
00:14In Ghana, the United Nations Red Plus Initiative,
00:17Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation,
00:21is helping communities adopt indigenous solutions to curb emissions.
00:26Through partnerships with the Global Landscapes Forum
00:29and the African Forest Forum,
00:32farmers are learning sustainable agricultural practices
00:34that reduce pressure on forests while promoting tree planting.
00:40When this initiative comes, you know,
00:42they've built my incapacity on so many things,
00:45and I've adapted it and I've used that into the practices,
00:49and it is really helping.
00:51Previously, we used to harvest a few bucks from our cocoa,
00:54but now, during the adaptation of the climate smart,
00:58we are getting more, and it is really helping the farmers.
01:01So I would say it has helped to alleviate poverty in my landscape.
01:04Farmer cooperatives are receiving tools and training in alternative livelihood projects
01:10to reduce over-farming.
01:12Officials from Ghana's Forestry Commission say
01:15many communities are making significant progress in protecting forests
01:20while sustaining their incomes.
01:23The goal of the Ghana Cocoa Forest Red Plus program
01:27is to stop the expansion of the cocoa farms into the forest lands
01:32and also plant trees within cocoa farms to improve yield.
01:37Now, this goes a long way to decrease deforestation and forest degradation.
01:42So the impact has been great.
01:44Most of the farmers are now farming within their lands
01:47and even planting more trees, which is equally improving yields.
01:51In northern Ghana, locals have outlawed the felling of trees in their forest,
01:57creating new forest areas to safeguard their environment
02:00and adopting organic farming practices,
02:04including the use of organic manure.
02:06This excites experts who see these initiatives
02:10as powerful examples of African green traditions
02:14in the fight against climate change.
02:16I think I'm very, very impressed, actually,
02:20by what I've witnessed in the communities.
02:22We've seen them sustain their cultural identity.
02:25We've seen their food systems and how they are thriving.
02:29We've seen them be able to get sources of income
02:32from the activities that they are engaging in.
02:34So anyone who recognizes the urgency to act
02:38either on climate or on sustainable development
02:40or biodiversity conservation or land degradation neutrality.
02:46I think there is a very good case at the community level
02:50to harmonize all these different sectors
02:53and make sense for the farmers
02:55and also have an impact at that level.
02:58Going back to indigenous farming traditions
03:00is turning many Ghanaian farmers into carbon warriors
03:04while preserving forests and improving their harvest.
03:10And so we've seen them on the left hand
03:15in the right hand the whole story
03:18of the diet as well.
03:19And so of course,
03:20depending on their diet
03:21and the diet,
03:22if you're a human being,
03:23we're not having this toughitude
03:25or not having this toughness
03:26for the first time.
03:27We're going to take care of the whiteness
03:29and if we're providing these competition
03:30for the season,
03:32we're going to make sure
03:33that we don't have it
03:33and these people are looking at
03:35and everything.
03:35And so we're looking at
03:36and the best of the health
03:38and this is the longest
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