Speaking at the launch of a handbook for mainstreaming biosphere reserve concept into development planning at Sege in the Greater Accra region, Mr. Mensah Aborampah, said biosphere lies at the heart of the country and called on Development Planners to integrate the laudable concept into the management of the ecosystem at the district level.

Ghana’s Biosphere Reserves provide unique opportunities to take local action to address global issues such as global warming, biodiversity, coastal erosion and other issues relating to human settlement and development.

The handbook is to guide District Assemblies to mainstream the Biosphere Reserve Concept into development planning.

Director General of the National Development Planning Commission, NDPC Kojo Mensah Aborampah expects that the manual will achieve its intended purpose.

“The handbook is a means to bring these National preservation ideas, the effective and sustainable utilization  of these resources to manifest in the respective district plans, and therefore this is a great opportunity to bring the relevance to these preservations to the district and how we can also make gains from it” Mr Mensah Aborampah said.

District Chief Executive for Ada West, Sampson Tetteh Kpankpah said biosphere reserve is a laudable project which must be supported by all. He pledged his district’s commitment for a sustainable mainstreaming.

“Being the host to the second largest Biosphere reserve in Ghana and in our quest to conserve biodiversity, I pledge the commitment and support of the Ada West District in implementing the National Environmental Action Plan as well as the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan” Tetteh Kpankpah noted.

Secretary General of Ghana Commission for UNESCO, Ama Serwah Nerquaye-Tetteh commended the National MAB Committee for promoting Biosphere reserve concepts in Ghana.

“There is empirical evidence of the contribution of biosphere reserve to climate change, biodiversity restoration and sustainable development. I take this opportunity to congratulate the National MAB Committee, ably hosted by the EPA, for effectively coordinating this project.” Madam Nerquaye-Tetteh said.

Authors of the manual were from EPA, University of Cape Coast, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission, Wildlife Society and Ghana Commission for UNESCO.