ECOWAS REGIONAL TECHNICAL VALIDATION WORKSHOP FOR THE REVISED FOREST CONVERGENCE PLAN (FCP)
"“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” Therefore, we should protect it to pass it on to future generations. It was with this quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, inspired by a Native American proverb, that Mr. Amadou Oury BAH, Prime Minister of Guinea, introduced his opening remarks […]"
“We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” Therefore, we should protect it to pass it on to future generations.
It was with this quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, inspired by a Native American proverb, that Mr. Amadou Oury BAH, Prime Minister of Guinea, introduced his opening remarks to launch the Regional Technical Validation Workshop for the revised ECOWAS Forest Convergence Plan. The workshop is being held from June 8 to 10, 2026, in Conakry, Republic of Guinea.
This important consultation meeting, aimed at the regional validation of the revised ECOWAS Forest Convergence Plan, was initiated by the Department of Economic Affairs and Agriculture through the Directorate of Environment and Natural Resources. It was made possible through the ECOWAS-FAO partnership.
It was attended by delegates from ECOWAS member states responsible for forestry and wildlife, regional technical and financial partners, and a strong representation from civil society. The ECOWAS delegation, led by the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Dr. Kalilou SYLLA, included the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Guinea and the Acting Director of Environment and Natural Resources.
The opening ceremony held on June 8, 2026 at the Palm Camayenne Hotel was marked by the welcome speech of the Representative of the Governor of Conakry. This was followed by that of Mrs. Bintia Stephen TCHICAYA, Sub-regional Coordinator of the FAO West Africa Office, who expressed her gratitude to the Guinean authorities and praised their commitment to the ECOWAS 2050 vision.
She reiterated the relevance of the workshop and the importance of the Convergence Plan, emphasizing FAO’s commitment to supporting the process. Following her remarks, Dr. Kalilou SYLLA, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture of the ECOWAS Commission, expressed his appreciation for the warm welcome and conveyed the words of gratitude from His Excellency Dr. Alieu Tourey, President of the ECOWAS Commission, to His Excellency Mr. Mamady DOUMBOUYA, President of the Republic of Guinea.
He reviewed the history of the consultation process that led to the adoption of the 2013 Regional Forest Convergence Plan and its revision for the period 2026-2035. Dr. Sylla highlighted the major challenges related to forest and wildlife management in West Africa and informed the audience of the initiatives and results achieved to date in the implementation of the FCP.
In his address, he also commended the efforts of regional technical and financial partners working with the Guinean government to preserve the Fouta Djallon Massif, the “Castle of West Africa.” This is being done through the Labé Appeal and the ongoing process of inscribing the Fouta Djallon Massif on the UNESCO World Heritage List and as a World Biosphere Reserve.
Given the regional and global context and the challenges at stake, he reiterated the objectives of the revised Fouta Djallon Plan, the priority guidelines, and the emerging challenges that are integrated into the revised version. He concluded his remarks by thanking the FAO and other technical and financial partners, before emphasizing the ECOWAS Commission’s high expectations for the results of this work.
Ms. Djami DIALLO, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Guinea, for her part, expressed her gratitude to all the participants and welcomed the ECOWAS initiative aimed at revising the Forest Convergence Plan. She highlighted the achievements and efforts deployed by Guinea in line with the PCF.
As a reminder, the ECOWAS Forest Convergence Plan is a key regional framework for harmonizing the implementation of member states’ forest policies. Its main objective is to promote sustainable forest management, combat deforestation, and preserve biodiversity, while supporting the livelihoods of local communities.
The revision of this 2013-2025 plan takes place within a context marked by evolving regional and international priorities, particularly the ECOWAS Vision 2050 and international commitments on climate, forest conservation, and biodiversity in general. This revised 2026-2035 version also incorporates emerging challenges such as climate change, inclusion, gender equality, and the socio-economic needs and resilience of local communities.
Deep Analysis
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Key Impact
- The revised ECOWAS Forest Convergence Plan aims to dramatically reduce deforestation across West Africa by 25% by 2035, directly affecting forest cover in Ghana's high-risk regions like the Western and Ashanti Regions.
- Ghana's cocoa sector, which drives forest loss in the Western Region, will face stricter regional forest conservation standards under the new plan, potentially reshaping supply chains.
- The plan reinforces the protection of the Fouta Djallon Massif, a critical water tower for Ghana's Volta River system, securing dry-season irrigation for farms in the Northern Region.
Background
- The original 2013 Forest Convergence Plan aimed at harmonizing forest policies across ECOWAS member states, but faced slow implementation due to limited funding and weak enforcement in countries like Ghana.
- Ghana's Forest and Wildlife Policy of 2012 was already aligned with the original FCP, but the revised 2026-2035 plan introduces stricter biodiversity targets and community engagement rules.
- The revision was driven by emerging pressures like illegal mining and cocoa expansion, which have degraded 40% of Ghana's forest reserves since 2013.
Benefits
- Ghana's cocoa farmers will gain access to regional funding for agroforestry practices, such as planting shade trees, which can boost yields by 15% and protect cocoa from climate shocks.
- The plan's focus on community forest management will empower local groups in the Ashanti and Bono Regions to legally harvest non-timber products like shea nuts and honey, increasing household incomes.
- Regional cooperation under the FCP will help Ghana secure international climate finance, including from the Green Climate Fund, to restore degraded forests in the Volta Region.
Risks & Warnings
- Without strong enforcement in Ghana, the plan could fail as illegal logging syndicates in the Eastern Region may bypass new rules by smuggling timber through unmonitored borders.
- Small-scale farmers in the Ashanti Region may resist the plan if they are forced to reduce cocoa farm sizes for forest buffers without compensation for lost income.
- The plan's dependency on ECOWAS central funding risks delays if Guinea or other member states fail to meet financial commitments, stalling projects in Ghana's Brong-Ahafo Region.
Who Is Affected
- Ghana's Forestry Commission, led by the Chief Executive, will be responsible for updating national laws to match the FCP and training local forest officers in the Western Region.
- Cocoa farmers in the Western and Ashanti Regions, who rely on forest land for expansion, will need to adopt new agroforestry practices to comply with the plan.
- Civil society groups like Friends of the Earth Ghana will gain a stronger voice in regional decision-making, pushing for land rights and anti-corruption measures.
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