Ghana's Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, has made a significant call for a new approach to international forest financing. Speaking at the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) Roundtable in New York, Dr Sulemana emphasized that the success of global efforts to protect tropical forests depends on dependable support for countries and communities working to keep forests standing. He highlighted the need for a predictable and people-centred financing mechanism.
Dr Sulemana drew on Ghana's experience with REDD+ to identify three priorities for the TFFF. Firstly, he stressed the importance of predictable financing with clear eligibility and payment rules. Secondly, he advocated for transparent benefit-sharing that gives local communities a direct stake in forest protection. Thirdly, he suggested using existing national monitoring, safeguards, and benefit-sharing systems to reduce costs and strengthen accountability.
The Deputy Minister reaffirmed Ghana's request for representation on the TFFF Interim Board, submitted in July. He argued that Ghana's practical experience could help ensure that African tropical forest realities are reflected in the facility's development. Dr Sulemana thanked Norway and Brazil for their leadership in this initiative and challenged international partners to provide dependable support for countries protecting their forests.
The TFFF Roundtable in New York brought together stakeholders to discuss innovative financing mechanisms for tropical forest conservation. Dr Sulemana's participation in the event underscores Ghana's commitment to protecting its tropical forests. The country's experience with REDD+ provides valuable insights into effective forest conservation and sustainable management practices.
Ghana's call for predictable and people-centred financing is timely, given the urgent need to protect tropical forests. The country's forests are crucial for maintaining biodiversity, regulating the climate, and supporting local livelihoods. Dr Sulemana's emphasis on transparent benefit-sharing and community engagement reflects a growing recognition of the importance of involving local communities in forest conservation efforts.
The TFFF aims to provide a new approach to international forest financing, one that is more effective and sustainable than existing mechanisms. Dr Sulemana's priorities for the TFFF – predictable financing, transparent benefit-sharing, and the use of national systems – are critical to ensuring the success of this initiative. Ghana's participation in the TFFF Roundtable demonstrates its commitment to finding innovative solutions to the challenges facing tropical forest conservation.
The outcome of the TFFF Roundtable and Ghana's efforts to secure representation on the Interim Board will be closely watched by stakeholders in the forest conservation community. Dr Sulemana's call for dependable support and community engagement reflects a broader recognition of the need for a more effective and sustainable approach to tropical forest conservation. The success of the TFFF will depend on its ability to provide predictable and people-centred financing mechanisms that support countries and communities in their efforts to protect tropical forests.
Key points
- Ghana's Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Yusif Sulemana, has called for predictable, people-centred financing to protect tropical forests.
