Nature Conservation Project

Vision 2050 Forestry Ghana was started in 1988 and established a number of reforestation projects in the Eastern, Ashanti and Central Regions of Ghana to attempt to stem the destruction of Ghana’s forests and protect the environment as well as the natural habitat of animal life. Their mission is to collaborate with parties and beneficiaries to regenerate the depleted forests and farmlands through planning and implementation of community-specific programmes and activities.

The organisation currently has a workforce of 34 people, supported by about 450 community volunteers and farmers. The work of these persons involves initiating projects to create employment in rural areas by using tree farming as a tool. They also aim to introduce tree farming to Ghanaians as an economic venture. To that end, educational campaigns are organized on a monthly basis in various rural communities across Ghana to train members of these communities on how to own and manage their own resources, especially the natural resources which affect the environment. Vision 2050 also seeks to sensitize the youth to develop an interest in environmental conservation, agriculture and forestry.

It is reported that natural resource depletion (the degradation of agricultural soils, forests and Savannah woodlands, coastall fisheries, wildlife resources, and Lake Volta's environment) costs Ghana $520 million annually. According to the report, “more than 50% of the original forest area of Ghana has been converted to agricultural land by slash-and-burn practices.” The effects of these practices are alarming. Timber stocks, which Ghana was always noted for are decreasing. Annual rainfall figures are therefore dropping at an alarming rate, dry seasons are being extended, and as a result cities and towns along the coast have begun to experience severe water shortages. To add to this trend, wildlife and biodiversity are in serious decline as their natural habitat keeps getting destroyed. Since Ghana relies a great deal on its natural resources for economic development, a certain consequence of this is a drastic drop in Ghana’s GDP growth in the near future. These trends are what Vision 2050 seeks to curb.

Currently operational in over 75 districts of Ghana, the organisation purchases tracts of land once decimated and trains local farmers to plant new trees and practice tree farming as an economic venture. This serves two purposes: It improves the living conditions of many families in rural Ghana, and also restores wildlife and biodiversity to its natural habitat. Vision 2050 Forestry hopes to have restored 80% of Ghana’s lost forests by 2035, and hopes to lead the fight towards a sustainable environment, with a bustling ecotourism industry in Ghana by the year 2050.

Read more about sustaining Ghana's Forest reserves.

Available Positions

Requirements:

• You must be at least 18 years of age upon application.
• You must have an educational background in Environmental or Agricultural Science.
• In order to maintain the sustainability and high performance of this project all interns are required to complete a detailed hand-over document for successive interns .
• You will need to be flexible and tolerant, show initiative and enthusiasm to face the many hurdles and challenges that you will encounter.
  
  

The Application Process

Step 1: The Application Form - To apply for one of our positions please complete our online application form. To save us and more importantly our already overstretched partner organisations time, please only complete this form if you are serious about applying.

Step 2: The Additional Info Form - As soon as we receive approval for your placement from the partner organisation we will send you an additional form to complete. This form requests information on your emergency contact details, your health background and other important information. Please email this form back to us as soon as possible.

Step3: Secure your Placement - Once we receive your additional information form back we will invoice you for your placement. Your deposit will be due within a week of the date of the invoice. If you are applying less than 60 days before the start of your placement, you will be invoiced for the whole amount. Please be aware that your placement is not secured until you have received confirmation from us of receipt of either the deposit or full payment. Once you have secured your placement you can start booking flights. We recommend you purchase insurance as soon as you secure your placement.

Step 4: Speak to your In-Country Coordinator - We will email you a week before your remainder is due. As soon as we receive your remainder we will introduce you to your In-Country Coordinator who will help you prepare for your trip and will ensure that an Ikando member of staff is at the airport to meet you.

Documentation Requirements:

• A completed application form - required for application.
• A personal or professional reference given by an employer, teacher, lawyer or doctor. This reference must include detail of the context in which the referee knows you and stating that he/she knows of no reason why you should not volunteer. The referee should also provide their contact details in order that Ikando can contact them prior to your departure to confirm the reference given. This reference should be emailed by the referee to info [at] ikando.org.
• A copy by email to info [at] ikando.org of your travel (including medical) insurance certificates.
• Information on your travel arrangements (flight number, airline, arrival and departure time and dates). We always recommend volunteers who book online to email us their booking.
• A copy of the photo page of your passport to be emailed to info [at] ikando.org.

All Documentation must be sent to us at least two weeks before arrival.

The Orientation

We will provide you with a stress-free and in-depth introduction to Ghana by picking you up from the airport and giving you an orientation that helps to settle you into the country as quickly as possible. The Orientation will include showing you the places of interest in Accra, getting your money changed, informing you where you can do your shopping, and much, much more.

We have staff on-call 24/7, so if there is ever anything you need we are there and happy to be of assistance.

Important Details

Click here for more information on our pricing.

What’s included in the project fees?
• Accommodation and a fully furnished kitchen
• Welcome pack
• In-country introduction to life in Ghana.
• Airport pick-up & drop-off
• Live-in Ikando staff support
• 24/7 Emergency support.

What’s not included?
• Flights & Visa
• Vaccinations (please speak to your local doctor)
• Insurance, both Medical and Travel (required)
• Donation (as Constructs is a profit making organisation).

Health and Safety
Ghana is one of the safest countries in Africa. In the Global Peace Index it is ranked above both the United Kingdom and the US. It is the perfect introduction for first time volunteers to Africa. It has a democratic electoral process and a stable economy. Our ten-strong team in Ghana is there to ensure your health and safety at all times and you'll have emergency support 24/7.

Accommodation
The volunteer will be housed in our accommodation in the centre of town, with it possible to walk from the accommodation to nearby shops, communication centres, bars and restaurants. The spacious accommodation with a fully furnished kitchen is well maintained and has live-in staff to ensure you are well looked after. The surrounding garden and balconies overlooking Accra are perfect for chill out sessions with fellow volunteer housemates.

Food
Food is not included in our placements as in our experience volunteers prefer to cater for themselves. We have a fully furnished kitchen and our staff will show you where you can do your shopping. Western-style supermarkets and the bustling markets can be found nearby. A weekly vegetable & fruit shop can cost as little at $10, however shopping at the western-style supermarkets can be quite dear as most goods are imported.

"Quarshi (Ikando Staff) will introduce you to a woman named Felicia who sells mangos and bananas. Her mangos may very well be the sweetest in town. And, you will love shopping in the market." Elise Wray.

Airport Pick up
An Ikando member of staff will be at the airport arrivals to meet you and take you to the Accra accommodation. Please be aware that arrivals is located outside the airport, just keep an eye out for a sign with your name on it. Please ensure you send us your flight details two weeks before arrival.

Flights
Volunteers must arrange their own flights to Accra Airport (ACC). Please be aware that you should aim to arrive on the day your placement is due to start. If you are unable to do so please just check first with your volunteer coordinator whether the new dates also work for us. The following airlines fly into Accra:

• Alitalia (Lagos, Rome-Fiumicino)
• British Airways (London-Heathrow)
• Delta Air Lines (New York-JFK)
• EgyptAir (Cairo)
• Emirates (Abidjan, Dubai)
• Ethiopian Airlines (Abidjan, Addis Ababa, Lagos, Lome)
• Ghana International Airlines (London-Gatwick, Dusseldorf)
• Kenya Airways (Nairobi, Freetown, Monrovia)
• KLM (Amsterdam)
• Lufthansa (Frankfurt, Lagos)
• South African Airways (Johannesburg)

Volunteer Visa