Sunyani: Dr Lawrence Kwabena Brobbey, a Senior lecturer at the Department of Silviculture and Forest Management at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has advocated urgent ecosystem restoration in the country. He said the devastating adverse effects of illegal mining activities, including the destruction of water bodies, forests, vegetative covers, and arable farmlands, required urgent attention towards restoring the nation's ecosystem.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr Brobbey noted that these natural resources are critical to human survival, yet they are being destroyed due to unscrupulous human activities, particularly illegal mining. He was speaking at a four-day short course on forest landscape restoration governance in Sunyani, organized by the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) in collaboration with KNUST and the Presbyterian University, Ghana.
The event was attended by more than 200 participants, including students, practitioners, and educators, aimed at strengthening the skills and competencies of participants in forest restoration. The training is part of the 'IMFN Climate FY2023/24' project under the International Model Forest Network (IMFN), supported by the Canadian-funded Global Forest Leadership Programme. It sought to build participants' capacity in ecosystem and landscape restoration through the Pan-African Restoration Education Initiative.
Dr Brobbey emphasized that restoration is not only about the environment but also about people and must be driven and owned by them. He noted that the program reflected KNUST's core values of learning, innovation, and service, with a commitment to advancing science for societal benefit and promoting sustainable development.
He explained that KNUST is already applying innovative learning approaches, including blended teaching, co-production of knowledge, and experiential learning, to enhance restoration education. Dr Brobbey stated that KNUST is ready to deepen collaboration with UENR, the Presbyterian University College, and other relevant institutions and stakeholders of the Forest Landscape Restoration Group to train a new generation of landscape innovators.
Prof. Mrs Mercy Afua Adutumwaa Derkyi, Director of the Quality Assurance and Academic Planning Directorate of UENR, explained that the program was designed to expand institutional networks and encourage more universities to embrace ecosystem restoration. She said it combined online and on-site sessions and recorded strong interest, with 207 applicants eager to participate in 2026. Prof. Mrs Derkyi mentioned that the School of Natural Resources of UENR had developed a restoration-focused curriculum and drafted a Master of Science program in Forest Landscape Restoration and Management.
She affirmed that UENR is not only promoting restoration education but is also committed to expanding its reach and long-term impacts.