As part of efforts to preserve the forest reserves at the Bui Generating Station, the Bui Power Authority (BPA), has expanded the Forest Resources Enhancement Programme (FREP) to over 1423 acres.
The BPA’s FREP, which commenced in 2012, is being developed to promote reforestation/afforestation activities and conserve forest/Savannah woodlots within the Black Volta Basin and other BPA Operational areas.
Speaking on behalf of the CEO at the 27th edition of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27), held in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt in November 2022 Deputy Director, Occupational Health, Safety and Environment, Mr. Chrisentus B. Kuunifaa, told journalists that the forest programme would help protect the Bui Dam reservoir, by reducing the high temperatures that are being caused by Climate Change.
He further explained that the rise in temperature by about one degree over decades causes surface water to evaporate rapidly, especially during the dry season but “the forest vegetation will slow the rate of evaporation down so there will be more water to generate power.”
Mr Kuunifaa said the project would help create carbon sinks to remove ‘bad air’ and build climate change resilience to improve precipitation and microclimate which is all tied into Ghana’s climate plan.
The programme, the Deputy Director said, would also help control and protect the reservoir shoreline against soil erosion, siltation, sedimentation and depletion of vegetative cover within the Black Volta basin.
He added that, BPA is committed to supporting Ghana to achieve Energy Transition to Net Zero Emission and the Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to the impact of climate change.
Over 26 indigenous, economic, medicinal trees species including African Birch, Baobab, Cassia, Dawadawa, Fig Tree, Mahogany, Ebony, Black Plum, Shea and Kapok have been planted around the Bui Generating Station.