Tamale: A stakeholders’ forum on Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) has been held to provide a regional consultative platform for comprehensive discussions on their status, focusing on identifying opportunities and challenges faced by CREMAs.
According to Ghana News Agency, the forum aimed to identify and highlight the unique successes, drivers, and benefits of CREMAs in the Northern, Upper East, Upper West, and Savannah Regions. It also sought to foster collaborative strategies for sustaining and strengthening these areas by drawing from shared experiences and insights.
The event was organized in Tamale by No©, a French international organization dedicated to safeguarding biodiversity globally. The forum was funded by the French Development Agency in collaboration with the West African Primate Conservation Action, ORGIIS-Ghana, A ROCHA-Ghana, among other partners. It was part of the second phase of the ECONOBIO project, which aims to develop sustainable economic sectors in and around CREMA-implemented areas in the country.
Participants included representatives from CREMAs, the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, academic institutions, civil society organizations, NGOs, Departments of Agriculture, and District Assemblies from the northern part of the country. Mr. Songwa Diyabanza, Country Director of No©, stated that the forum is part of ongoing efforts to sustain the CREMA model by strengthening civil society actors and sharing lessons learned from the project to maximize its impact on biodiversity conservation.
The CREMA concept is a decentralized community-based natural resource management framework that empowers local communities to manage their natural resources, especially wildlife, for both economic and social benefits. Since its introduction in 2000, CREMAs have expanded across various landscapes and regions of the country. Despite their growth, CREMAs often operate independently with limited opportunities for cross-learning, collaboration, and regional engagement. This isolation has restricted the sharing of knowledge and best practices at a regional level, making it challenging for stakeholders to coordinate and support CREMAs effectively. The forum aimed to address these gaps.
Mr. Diyabanza explained that “This CREMAs forum aligns with the objectives of the ECONOBIO II project, which seeks to create a collaborative platform to help CREMAs to operate more effectively.” Professor Yakubu Balma Issaka from the University for Development Studies discussed conflicts that sometimes arise from parallel hierarchies between traditional authorities and CREMA executives, noting that such tensions could lead to disagreements over enforcement powers and mandates.
Professor Issaka highlighted that “Traditional authorities often consider themselves the rightful custodians of natural resources in Ghana. As a result, they may view CREMAs as competitors rather than partners in conservation.” He called for the creation of a CREMA Sustainability Fund, to be financed through a special levy on the use of natural resources by businesses, traders, and individuals in the districts to support CREMA activities. He also urged District Assemblies to prioritize the development of business plans that leverage CREMA resources to support local development initiatives.
Mr. Moses Anongura, Regional Manager of the Northern Wildlife Division, Forestry Commission, commended No© and its partners for organizing the forum. He called on traditional authorities to collaborate with CREMAs to strengthen the country’s biodiversity conservation efforts.