Women's perspectives on addressing the decline of Shea trees in Northern Ghana.

The Shea tree holds significance in the socio-ecological landscape of northern Ghana. With the escalating impacts of climate change, the diminishing presence of Shea trees has emerged as a significant concern. From a feminist political ecology standpoint, this research focuses on understanding the factors contributing to this decline in the Upper West Region of Ghana and the adaptation and mitigation strategies women propose to address the decline. Findings from eight (8) Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) reveal an interaction between anthropogenic activities like illegal logging, mechanized farming, and recurrent bushfires and climate-related factors such as heightened prevalence of pests and diseases and reduced pollination activity. To counter these challenges in the short term, suggested adaptation measures include promoting farmer-managed natural regeneration, beekeeping, restoring Shea landscapes, and establishing credit schemes for women based on Shea production. Long-term strategies like creating shea-conservation zones and planting drought-resistant and fast-yielding Shea varieties are proposed. This research underscores the pressing need for policy frameworks that incorporate approaches for both mitigation and adaptation purposes. It emphasizes the role played by women in driving these solutions within their communities, stressing their inclusion in policy formulation processes to conserve Shea trees effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]