Vision 2050 Forestry was established about two decades ago as a community-based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) in the Kwaebibrim District of Ghana. The objective then was to sensitize residents of the local communities, particularly farmers, about the negative consequences of uncontrolled exploitation of forest resources. Recognizing that the plight of tropical forests and the people who live there attract very little or no attention from officialdom, and the fact that one of the root causes of deforestation is poverty, VISION 2050 Forestry began to pilot a reforestation and an agro-forestry project as a Poverty Reduction Strategy. The outcome of this initial thrust includes a thriving reforestation project in the Eastern Region- Akim Oda, Akyease,, Aduasa, Abenase, Kobriso, Nwiniso, Nkwatia, Asubone, Bukuruna, Pepease, Sunyani, Western Region- Wassa Agona, Simpa, Sebrebe, Abekoase, Wassa Nkran, Wassa Akropong, Gyegyemragya, Nkroful, Axim, Brong Ahafo Region- Domaa Ahenkro, Adumasua, Takyiman, Brekum, Volta Region- Kejebi, Akaa and Worawora.

At independence, Ghana inherited a total forest cover of about 8.2 million hectares. Current estimates indicate that the country’s forest cover has shrunk to 1.6 million hectares. And the experts predict that at the current annual forest loss in the neighborhood of about 65,000 hectares, Ghana’s forest cover will be extinct in less than 25 years! Rainfall patterns are altering, crop yields are dwindling, while once robust and perennial streams are drying up and southward movement of the Sahara Desert continues. The effects of this scenario on Ghana’s water resources, food security and environmental conservation can be very devastating. Climate change is expected to affect Ghana very negatively through extreme events such as Droughts, Floods, Erosion, Logging (both legal and illegal), and Bushfires, which is likely to become very frequent in the years ahead. It is against this background that Vision 2050 Forestry Network views the National Forest Plantation Development (NFPDP) recently launched by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana not only as very timely and opportune in terms of job creation, but also as an important climate change mitigation measure.

 OUR GOALS

The Food Agriculture Organization estimates that over 300 million people in the developing world, including 60 million people classed as indigenous, live within or close to tropical forests, and are heavily dependent on forest products for their livelihoods -- - food, fuel and medicine. In Ghana, the majority of these people fall into the category of extreme poor whose plight the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (UN MDGs) are supposed to address.

Therefore, the primary goal of Vision 2050 Forestry is to eradicate poverty by developing, and sustaining an effective system of reforestation, forest extension and public education to ensure greater awareness, appreciation, and sustainable management of forests with regard to the multiple roles and values of trees, forests and forest lands. Established initially as a Community- based Organization in 1998, Vision 2050 Forestry Network has grown in leaps and bounds and is now firmly on the ground, working with over 150,000 men and women farmers from 556 communities across seven (7) administrative regions of Ghana.