Lake Bosomtwe to Become Ultra Biosphere Reserve in Ghana 

Lake Bosomtwe in the Ashanti region has been nominated as a biosphere reserve to institutionalize sustainable management of the lake and its catchment resources. If accepted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, Lake Bosomtwe will become the ultra biosphere reserve in Ghana after Bia Biosphere Reserve in the Western region and Songhor Biosphere Reserve at Ada in the Greater Accra region. 

Biosphere Reserves are recognized as sides that promote sustainable development based on local community efforts and science. There are currently 621 Biosphere Reserves in 117 countries globally. 

This came to light at a durbar at Kuntenase in the Bosomtwe District on Sustainable Management of Lake Bosomtwe. 

The head and representative of UNESCO in Ghana, Tirso Dos Santos explained that Biosphere Reserves herb to safeguard all life forms within the Reserves, promote economic and human development which is socio- culturally and ecologically sustainable and promote places for research, education and information exchange related to local, national and global issues of conservation and development . 

He said a lot of work has been done with sustainable management of the lake to create an enabling environment that will support the nomination and its catchment as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. 

Mr. Dos Santos said the capabilities of the indigenes in resource conservation have been built in order to enable them to take a leadership role in the sustainable management of the lake. 

Environmental clubs in the basic schools have been trained and equipped to enable the quality of the lake using simple signs and making valuable data over the long term.
 
Mr. Dos Santos said hundreds of farmers have been assisted with agricultural cash crops such as cocoa and oil palm and forest trees which they have inter-planted on their existing forms to help create a more diverse, productive and sustainable land use system. 

Many more members across the 20 communities have also been trained in sustainable alternative livelihoods as a way to reduce pressure on the lake while improving the socio-economic status of households. Advocacy to help enhance the fish stock of the lake has also been undertaken.

GBC