Climate Change

Background

DUAPA Reforestation Project In Ghana

DUAPA, which literally means “Good Tree”, hinges on the importance of trees in reforestation and the role of nature tech in facilitating climate restoration and resilient interventions. The Project originated from the Youth Bridge Foundation’s Youth-Plant-To-Own-A-Tree Campaign that sort to contribute to Ghana’s mitigation and adaptation strategy and the global campaign for nature based solutions (NbS) as a sustainable alternative for a greener climate.

The Project, which was piloted in 2021 in Bowkrom in the Nsawam Adoagyiri Municipal Assembly of the Eastern Region in Ghana, was in collaboration with Nature 4 Climate – a conglomerate of 19 global climate-focused organizations, If-Not-Us-Then-Who (a US-based organization) and the Environmental Protection Agency of Ghana. DUAPA rides on the use a mobile application originally used for mountain biking to track and monitor growth of medicinal seedlings planted by community indigenous youth. The intent is to Monitor, Report and Verify (MRV) changes in degraded lands through the capture of aerial views with drones. YBF is the first Organisation in Africa to benefit from this technology transfer directly from Tom Berwick and the N4C

Restoration through Nature Tech

Indigenous African youth now have knowledge in using mobile phones to collect data and monitor their restoration initiatives. They are now able to fly drones to capture aerial views of landscapes as a contribution to the scientific process of data collection that supports mapping in showcasing progress of youth-led reforestation and conservation initiatives in Africa.

SDG Goal 13

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

The Project also led the transfer of this proven Tech-Enabled indigenous conversation and reforestation system from Ghana to Liberia, Uganda, Nigeria and Kenya

Now African youth, who hitherto had no experience in scientific research methods and data collection, are now able to use technology and indigenous knowledge to reclaim lost lands and monitor plants growth in their restorative and conservative interventions.

DUAPA Project has had significant impact on the Bowkrom society and contributed to the positive climate agenda. It has offered livelihood options networking prospects to the youth and the whole community. During the 2023 African Climate Summit, young Lucinda Afful and other youth from Kenya, Uganda, Nigeria and Liberia; represented their communities to share lessons from the Project with other youth from the Continent.
Indigenous African youth now have knowledge in using mobile phones to collect data and monitor their restoration initiatives. They are now able to fly drones to capture aerial views of landscapes as a contribution to the scientific process of data collection that supports mapping in showcasing progress of youth-led reforestation and conservation initiatives in Africa.