A joint team from the Forestry Commission (FC) and Tullow Ghana (TG) undertook a two-day field visit to planting sites under the Forestry Commission /Tullow Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (FTREDD+) Project in the Bono and Bono East Regions.
This visit was to offer the team the opportunity to see at first -hand the progress made so far on the Project, which is in its second year of implementation. The mission confirmed visible progress in forest restoration, sustainable farming, and high-level community engagement.

Putting Sustainability First
Addressing the team at the Bono Regional Office of the Forest Services Division (FSD), Dr Hugh Brown, the Chief Executive who led the FC delegation, mentioned that “the visit was to see for ourselves what has been done so far since the Project began two years ago. For the Forestry Commission, the field visit was not about counting seedlings. It was about measuring real environmental impact. This project is at the heart of sustainability. So as the Commission, we are very keen to come out to see how it’s impacting positively on the environment,” he said.

The Tullow Ghana Team was led by Mrs. Julia Ross, Director for People and Sustainability and a member of the Executive Team of Tullow. For her, she wanted to understand the Project and how it is impacting the environment. “We are focused on minimising emissions from our operations in Ghana. But the next step is offsetting what we can’t avoid. And the way we are looking to do that is through nature-based projects in our countries of operation. For us, that is Ghana. It is incredibly important to us because it is the first REDD+ Project that Tullow has undertaken. We are lucky to have had such a project in Ghana and to be working with the Forestry Commission”, she concluded.

Inspection of Planted Sites
Led by the Bono Regional Manager of the Forest Services Division (FSD), Mr. Godfred Quarshigah, the team inspected planted compartments in the Tain II Forest Reserve, near the Koraso Community, where the Modified Taungya System (MTS) has been adopted. About 70 hectares of the Reserve have been planted with Gmelina, Cedrella and Ofram, intercropped with tomatoes. In Compartment 28 of the same Reserve, a 100- hectare land had been prepared and pegged, yet to be planted. The team also visited the Asukese Forest Reserve to inspect work done so far at an enrichment planting site.

The team proceeded to the Pru Shelterbelt Forest Reserve in the Bono East Region, led by the Bono East Manager of FSD, Mr. David Appiagyei. In Compartments 7 and 8, approximately 117 hectares have been planted by 67 farmers, out of a targeted 200 hectares. In Compartments 45 and 47, 70.68 hectares have been planted with teak and a few Gmelina stands.

Engagements with the farmers revealed that they value the dual benefit: food security now, and timber and carbon benefits later. Community leaders also pledged continued protection of the young trees and called for regular technical support and timely distribution of inputs.

During discussions, both FC and Tullow teams listened to concerns around cattle grazing in the Reserves, accommodation, logistics, water supply, timely supply of seedlings and benefit-sharing arrangements. These were noted for follow-up to strengthen implementation. The goal is to ensure that restoration translates into healthier watersheds, biodiversity recovery, and climate resilience for forest-fringe communities.

Courtesy Calls on Regional Ministers
In separate events, the team called on the Bono and Bono East Regional Ministers, Hon. Joseph Addae Akwaboah and Hon. Francis Owusu Antwi respectively. Briefing the Ministers on the purpose of the team’s visit to the Regions, Dr. Joseph Appiah – Gyapong, the Acting Director of Climate Change of FC, mentioned that Tullow and FC signed an Emission Reduction Payment Agreement (ERPA) in 2024 for the emission of 600,000 tons of carbon annually through the implementation of the Tullow/ FC REDD+ Project which will run for 10 years. In its second year of implementation, the Project is being undertaken in 14 political districts in the Region. “We are here this morning to look at how the project implementation is going and how best we can bring all hands on deck to ensure its success”, he concluded.

Hon. Owusu Antwi pledged the unflinching support of the Government and the Region for the Project as it ties in very well with the vision of the President of the Republic, H. E John Dramani Mahama, to restore degraded landscapes across the country. He also implored farmers engaged to give of their best for the successful implementation of the Project. “More importantly, it is what the farmers are going to benefit. For any seedling planted, we are going to get a share in the form of Commission which will serve as an additional income source to the farmers. It is the responsibility of the farmers to make sure they take care of the seedlings”, he concluded. The visit was commemorated with a ceremonial tree planting exercise.

The Bono Regional Minister informed the delegation that his office supports institutions and agencies to work effectively in their various fields and FC is not an exemption. He also pledged his unflinching support to FC, saying that “If FC needs any support, they should let me know”. Like Oliver Twist, he asked for “More of such projects to be implemented in the Region to ensure that forests are intact all the time.” He expressed his utmost appreciation to Tullow and FC for the great work they are doing in the Region.

Satisfaction at Project Implementation
Dr. Hugh Brown and Mrs. Julia Ross both expressed their deep satisfaction at the work done by the farmers and staff of the Commission. At the end of the two-day visit, both partners reaffirmed their commitment to scale up activities and deepen community engagement. With sustained partnership, technical support and community leadership, the project is on course to deliver lasting benefits: more forests and improved livelihoods for the people of Ghana.

Speaking on behalf of farmers working on the Project, Mr. Stephen Oduro, the National Vice Chairman for Tomatoes Growers Association, expressed their appreciation to FC and Tullow for giving them the opportunity to work with them in the implementation of the Project. They promised to take care of the tree seedlings till they mature. According to the farmers, the fertile nature of the land had resulted in higher yields, which had increased their revenues, and therefore looked forward to the continuation of the Project.

The FC/ Tullow REDD+ Project
The FC / Tullow REDD+ Project (FTREDD+) is an initiative between Forestry Commission and Tullow Oil. A 10-year Emissions Reduction Purchase Agreement (ERPA) was signed in May 2024 between these two institutions for environmental conservation and corporate decarbonization. Tullow seeks to achieve a net -zero emissions by 2030 through the implementation of this Project by restoring degraded forest reserves in the transition zone of the country and help improve the livelihoods of fringe communities. The Project seeks to sequester about 600,000 tonnes of carbon annually across 14 districts in the Bono and Bono East regions of Ghana.
The FTREDD+ employs the Modified Taungya System (MTS), which allows local farmers to integrate food crops alongside timber trees and enrichment planting, which involves planting high-value trees in partially degraded forest reserves to boost biodiversity and carbon capture