1. SNV GHANA
The shea Resource Conservation;
Sustaining Rural Livelihood for the present and the
future.
By Issahaku Zakaria

2. About shea;
• Over 900,000 shea picker /processors who are
basically women exist in Ghana
• Shea has a potentially large and rapid impact on
rural poverty and wellbeing
• Most rural household engages in shea
activity.
• Benefits
 Economic
 Social
 Cultural/traditional
 EnvironmentalShea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

3. THE PROBLEM
Propagation takes so long
despite efforts by research to
Eroding benefits
to communities
reduce gestation period
sustainability
Threats to
industry
Current trees are old and under
threat eg bush fire,
charcoal, mining,
Current benefits are
Individually / household based
Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

4. THE Approach
Development of Community
Bio-cultural
rural household
Sustained shea
protocols
Reduced Threats to
benefits to
sustainability
industry
Development of Environmental
enterprise-beekeeping
Tree planting and
shea protection
Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

5. Environmental
Enterprises
(Beekeeping)
Community
Tree Protocols
Plantations (Bye Laws)
Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

6. Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

7. BCP Initiative
• TRUISM
As long as communities have a collective
benefit for a common resource, they will
have a collective responsibility
for the protection/conservation
and sustainable use
+favourable policy environment and
regulation from local authority
Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

8. what we seek to achieve through BCP
• Bio-cultural protocol for the shea value chain are
such that women pickers and their communities
get a fair share from the industry thereby
motivating them to protect and conserve the Shea
tree.
Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

9. The Goal
• Conservation of the Shea tree in northern Ghana to enhance
sustainable well-being of Shea communities
The Objective
• To address fair benefit sharing arrangements in the Shea
value chain, as a motivation for Conservation and sustainable
use of the Shea tree.
In order to conserve the shea tree as a local natural resource,
the economic utility of shea must 'compete' with the short-term
alternative cash value of the tree.
Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

10. Achievement
• Well documented communities protocol for
conservation and sustainable use.
• Over 1000 acres of shea parklands covered
under this protocol
• Traditional authorities are the custodians
and enforces the protocol
• Well being of the community is the driving
force.
Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

11. Achievement cont’d
• 540 bee hives incorporated into this
parkland as an alternative income
generating activity
• Women encouraged to avoid cutting young
shea plants in the wide.
Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

12. Success factors
Traditional
Opinion
authorities
leaders
Companies
Strong commitment
from stakeholders
Pickers
NGOs/CBOs Gov’t/DAs
Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

13. Partners/stakeholders
• Traditional Authorities
• NGOs
• Legal institutions
• CBOs involved in Shea work
• Women pickers
• Assembly members
• Media
Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013

14. Shea Resources Conservation Presntation @GSA Conference, March 2013