The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), supported by Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, Ghana International Bank and three other financial institutions, has partnered with the Forestry Commission of Ghana to restore 50 acres of degraded land in the Subri River Forest Reserve.
The initiative forms part of the organisations’ corporate social responsibility work on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues and is being carried out with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority.
Known as “Support of Forest Rehabilitation in Mining Regions and Promotion of Sustainability in Mining”, the project will run for two years. It is intended to rehabilitate damaged sections of the reserve through targeted reforestation and other restoration measures.
The programme is designed to restore forest land, protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable natural resource management in Ghana’s mining areas.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Forestry Commission will provide technical expertise and supervise the implementation of the work.
MIIF chief executive officer Justina Nelson said the project reflected the organisation’s commitment to ensuring that Ghana’s mineral resources generated benefits alongside responsible environmental management.
“As an institution entrusted with managing Ghana’s mineral income and State interests in the mining sector, MIIF recognises that value creation must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility,” she said.
“Restoring degraded forest landscapes is not only about planting trees; it is about protecting biodiversity and ensuring that communities can continue to benefit from our natural resources for generations to come.”
Mrs Nelson said the partnership also highlighted the role of cooperation between government institutions, mining companies and local communities in tackling environmental problems in mining regions.
“We believe that meaningful partnerships such as this can make a lasting difference,” she added.
The planned activities include preparing the site, supplying seedlings and other materials, planting trees, and carrying out monitoring and evaluation. The project will also involve stakeholder and community engagement, alongside Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) reporting.
The restoration is expected to help revive degraded forest ecosystems, improve biodiversity, increase climate resilience and support sustainable forest management in one of Ghana’s important forest reserves.
Local communities and other stakeholders will be given opportunities to take part in forest restoration and conservation activities. The project is intended to reinforce the importance of community participation in protecting Ghana’s natural resources.
Leon Zhang, chief executive officer of Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, said the company viewed forest restoration as an ongoing responsibility.
“We approach forest restoration as a long-term responsibility, not a one-time gesture. Our own biodiversity offset programme at Atewa reflects that,” he said.
“This partnership with MIIF and the Forestry Commission to restore the Subri River Forest Reserve carries that same commitment and focus.”