In August 2023, the elected executives of the Dusornu Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) in the Anlo-Keta Landscape underwent a two-day training session focused on effective governance and management practices for the inclusive and sustainable management of the CREMA. The Dusornu CREMA encompassed user groups engaged in various aspects of the mangrove value chain, youth and women groups involved in fish-mongering and related activities, and farmer groups hailing from five communities: Galo, Sota, Klonu, Korsikope, and Galotse.
The training took place at the Titanic Hotel in Msambweni, Kenya, from the 22nd to the 23rd of August 2023, with the primary objective of equipping the Community Resource Management Committee (CRMC) and the CREMA Executive Committee (CEC) with the essential knowledge and skills required for the sustainable utilization and management of their aquatic resources, particularly mangroves. Over the course of two days, training participants delved into pertinent topics such as leadership, team building, time management, identification of gender mainstreaming issues, and transformational/change leadership.
This training initiative formed an integral part of AU-IBAR's collaborative efforts with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) aimed at supporting local environmental-based NGOs in devising gender-sensitive workplans that would enhance the participation of women and youth in biodiversity protection and environmental governance. This collaborative effort was undertaken within the framework of the SIDA-funded Aquatic Biodiversity Conservation project.
The training represented a significant milestone in enhancing the capacity of the leadership and management committees within the Dusornu CREMA, enabling them to effectively conserve and restore blue carbon ecosystems. These ecosystems play a vital role in environmental sustainability and bestowed numerous benefits upon local communities. By imparting essential tools and knowledge to community leaders, the AU-IBAR and IUCN collaboration sought to promote sustainable practices, foster gender inclusivity, and champion biodiversity protection within the Anlo-Keta Landscape.
