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Saving Atewa Forest
A Rocha is campaigning to save Atewa Forest in Ghana, home to one of the highest recorded numbers of globally threatened species of any forest in West Africa: over 100 are threatened or near threatened with extinction, including five Critically Endangered species. One plant, two butterflies and one frog are found nowhere else in the world. There are strong economic and social arguments for protecting the forest. A Rocha ensures that the rich yet vulnerable biodiversity of the forest also has a voice.
Home to the endangered mangabey monkey
The mangabey – a rare terrestrial monkey – is known from only a handful of sites in Ghana and is considered by the IUCN to be globally Critically Endangered with extinction. The mangabey was discovered during the course of a camera trapping survey of Atewa Forest. A Rocha scientists were trying to establish the current status of animals living on the forest floor which are often vulnerable to hunting and trapping. Read A Rocha research and papers on Atewa
Source of water to millions of Ghanaian people
The importance of the ecosystem services that Atewa Forest provides to many Ghanaians was highlighted in a report to the Government of Ghana titled The Economics of the Atewa Forest Range, Ghana. Chief amongst these services is the clean water supply flowing from the Atewa hills on which many millions of Ghanaians depend.
How you can help - support our campaign!
More information
- Read about the biodiversity of Atewa Forest in our special research report
- PRESS RELEASE (2 Feb 2021): ‘BMW Group, Tetra Pak and Schüco International Express Concerns About Sourcing Aluminium from Ghana’s Irreplaceable Atewa Forest’
- PRESS RELEASE (15 Dec 2017): ‘Critically endangered primate discovered in bauxite-threatened Atewa Forest, Ghana’ – it includes more detailed background information on Atewa Forest and the impending threats to it.
- This joint letter from Dr Russell Mittermeier (Chair of Primate Specialist Group of IUCN’s Species Survival Committee) and Dr Inza Koné (President of the African Primatological Society) have already expressed their concerns to President Akufo-Addo.
- This letter to China’s Ministry of Commerce from 260 NGOs calling on them not to prop up environmentally and socially damaging projects around the world which are threatened by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bauxite mining in Atewa Forest is listed amongst 60 of the worst projects highlighted.
- Download the Atewa Forest TEEB (The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity) IUCN
Report - Download the Atewa Forest 2016 Policy Brief
- Listen to an interview with Daryl Bosu from A Rocha Ghana for BBC World Service, Focus on Africa about the campaign to save Atewa Forest (beginning at 31 minutes)