If you look at Northern Ghana, for example, many native tree species are disappearing, and several natural resources that local communities rely on are becoming extinct. This raises serious concerns about the future availability of these resources. Because of this, we’ve been working closely with communities to identify and restore some of these depleting natural resources—not just for their immediate benefit, but also for future generations. It’s encouraging to see that many people in these communities recognize the changes in climate. Some even tell us that, in the past, they could predict rainfall patterns with great accuracy. But now, that’s no longer the case.

Take last year, for example. The rainy season in Ghana started in June, and during the first two weeks, we had good rainfall. Farmers planted their food crops, and those involved in reforestation planted trees. But then, a prolonged dry spell hit, lasting over two months. Without rain, everything dried up and was lost.

This is why many of us are advocating for irrigation-based agriculture. We need to move beyond rain-fed farming in Ghana—and across Africa. If we put proper irrigation systems in place, people can farm year-round, reducing their dependence on natural resources like forests for survival. Right now, most farmers are only active during the rainy season, when agricultural productivity is high. But in the dry season, when there’s no farming activity, that’s when we see an increase in deforestation, charcoal burning, and hunting of wild animals—as people turn to these activities for income.

By introducing alternative livelihood opportunities and year-round farming, we can keep people engaged in sustainable practices and reduce environmental degradation, ensuring that natural resources are protected for future generations.

Yes, my background has really helped shape my approach. I grew up in a farming community—my parents were farmers—so from a young age, I was actively involved in farm work. During my time in primary and high school, the proceeds from farming even helped support my education.

This experience has influenced how I see things and how I relate to local communities. Having lived in that environment, I understand their way of life and the traditional farming methods they use. Then, through my studies—both my bachelor's and master's degrees in natural resources and environmental conservation—I gained additional knowledge that helps me advise farmers on better practices in a way that connects with their lived experiences.

One key thing I’ve observed is that most farmers want to see results before adopting new practices. In agricultural extension, we talk about early adopters and late adopters. When you introduce an innovation or a new technique to a community, some farmers will immediately adopt it, while others will wait to see the results before they change their ways. So, our approach is to identify and train the early adopters, build their capacity, and help them achieve visible results. Once other farmers see the benefits firsthand, they are more likely to adopt the new practice as well.

For example, last April, we trained farmers on planting in rows and maintaining proper plant spacing. Initially, some farmers resisted, saying the spacing was too wide. They didn’t realize that as the trees grow, their canopies spread, and if planted too closely, they would eventually overlap and compete for resources.

To address their concerns, we took them to visit a farm where the recommended spacing had been followed. They saw firsthand how the trees had grown and how, in cases where the spacing was ignored, some trees had to be thinned out for aeration. That hands-on experience convinced many of them to adopt the practice. This is a common challenge—farmers often need to see and touch the results before they trust a new approach. That’s why we focus on leveraging early adopters to influence others and create a ripple effect that encourages wider adoption of sustainable farming practices.

In addition to planting trees, we also carry out a process called geo-tagging. This involves geocoding each tree to track its exact location.

Geo-tagging helps us monitor survival rates—for example, if we plant 1,000 trees, it’s important to know how many actually survive after the planting season. This data allows us to share accurate reports with donors, giving them clear insights into the impact of our interventions.

In fact, donors can even use certain systems to zoom in and see the exact locations of the trees. This level of accountability ensures transparency and helps demonstrate the effectiveness of our work.

And in that regard, it's good to have entrepreneurial and economic incentives in place. And ideally, even within the community itself, there is room for innovation and production on that. It doesn't mean that it is easy then to define who benefits to what degree, what's the fairest share and how is it organized. But obviously, that's a very good place to start to try and have some financial stability when implementing and developing community-led solutions.