The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), with support from Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, Ghana International Bank and three other financial institutions, has partnered with the Forestry Commission of Ghana to rehabilitate and restore 50 acres of degraded land in the Subri River Forest Reserve.
The initiative forms part of the partners’ corporate social responsibility efforts focused on Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles.
The project is being undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority.
Dubbed “Support of Forest Rehabilitation in Mining Regions and Promotion of Sustainability in Mining,” the project will run for two years and seeks to restore degraded portions of the reserve through targeted reforestation and rehabilitation activities.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Forestry Commission will provide technical expertise and oversee implementation.
Chief Executive Officer of MIIF, Justina Nelson, said the initiative reflected the Fund’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits of Ghana’s mineral resources are pursued 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.
“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,” she said.
Mrs Nelson said the partnership also demonstrated the importance of collaboration among government institutions, mining companies and local communities in addressing environmental challenges in mining regions.
“We believe that meaningful partnerships such as this can make a lasting difference,” she added.
The project will involve site preparation, the provision of seedlings and other inputs, tree planting, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder and community engagement, and ESG reporting.
It is expected to contribute to the restoration of degraded forest ecosystems, improve biodiversity, strengthen climate resilience and promote sustainable forest management in the reserve.
The initiative is also expected to create opportunities for local communities and other stakeholders to participate in forest restoration and conservation activities.
Leon Zhang, Chief Executive Officer of Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, said the company viewed forest restoration as a long-term responsibility rather than a one-off intervention.
“We approach forest restoration as a long-term responsibility, not a one-time gesture. Our own biodiversity offset programme at Atewa reflects that. This partnership with MIIF and the Forestry Commission to restore the Subri River Forest Reserve carries that same commitment and focus,” he said.
