Addressing Behavioral Barriers Associated with Tree Planting (ABBAT)

Green for Change Ghana, in collaboration with Ranas Ltd, is implementing a landscape restoration initiative, the Addressing Behavioral Barriers Associated with Tree Planting (ABBAT) Project. The goal of this initiative is to enhance tree planting, nurturing, and protection efforts in the communities surrounding the Mole ecological landscape by applying behavior change strategies.

The project addresses the question: How can we ensure trees are planted in a way that gives them the best chance of survival? As part of this effort, Green for Change Ghana is working with farmers in 20 communities along the northern borders of Mole National Park. Over 62,000 tree seedlings have been distributed to 1,544 beneficiaries, each receiving 40 seedlings for planting in agroforestry systems.

Farmers have been trained on best practices for tree planting, orchard maintenance, and integrating behavior change techniques (BCTs) to improve tree survival rates. Monthly visits are conducted to support farmers, address challenges, and encourage discussions on how to improve the environment for future generations.

The ABBAT project is funded by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) and the Audemars Watkins Foundation (AWF) for the baseline and implementation phases. The project commenced in August 2022 and will continue until December 2025. We are open to strategic collaborations and funding opportunities for the upscaling phase, which is set to run from 2026 to 2028.