About this module
The Western Region has rainforest, wetlands, rivers and turtle beaches found almost nowhere else. They are disappearing fast. People who protect them can also earn from them.
Who it is for. People with no formal certificate, and school groups for field visits. National Proficiency I is a bridging level for people with minimal education.
Why conservation
- Ghana lost 18,000 hectares of primary forest in 2022, 70% more than the year before; farming, illegal mining, logging and firewood are the main causes.
- Illegal mining has poisoned and silted the Pra and Ankobra rivers, and has even cut Ghana's supply of mahogany seed.
- Ghana planted about 31 million seedlings in 2025 and aims for 30 million in 2026; the minister says success is "not the number planted but the number that survive".
CTVET status. No CTVET conservation programme was found. This module is not a CTVET curriculum. Wildlife is protected under the Wildlife Resources Management Act (Act 1115), enforced by the Forestry Commission's Wildlife Division.
How the module works
Each unit has learning outcomes, performance criteria, the range and the evidence your assessor needs. You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent from what your assessor sees, asks and reads in your logbook. About 70% of the time is practical, following CTVET's Oil Palm programme, which uses about 30% in school and 70% at the workplace.
Unit 1 · Stay safe outdoors
The bush is beautiful but not a playground. Know the snakes, the heat, and the rule never to touch wild or dead animals.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Prepare for the field | wears boots and hat, carries water, stays on paths |
| 1.2 Act on snakebite | gives correct first aid and gets the person to hospital |
| 1.3 Avoid disease | never touches wild or dead animals |
| 1.4 Look after a group | keeps everyone together and hydrated |
Range. Forest, farm and beach visits. Evidence. Observation; snakebite role play.
Snakes
Ghana has dangerous snakes such as the carpet viper, puff adder, cobras and mambas. After a bite: keep the person calm and still, splint the limb, remove rings, and get to a hospital with antivenom fast. Do not use a tourniquet, cut, suck, use electric shock or rely on herbal remedies. Antivenom is the most effective treatment.
Wild and dead animals
FAO warns: do not touch dead animals, and do not eat meat from animals found dead or acting strangely; handling and butchering infected animals is high-risk.
Heat
Drink before you go out, take water breaks about every 20 minutes, use shade and light clothing.
Safety drill
- Pack a field bag: water, hat, first-aid kit, phone, whistle.
- Role play a snakebite: what to do and what not to do.
- Walk a path in single file; practise a head count.
Snakes at home
Ask at home what people do after a snakebite. Which actions are right and which are dangerous?
Unit 2 · Ghana's forests, rivers and wildlife law
Know what we have, what we are losing, and what the law says.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 2.1 Name protected areas | names three protected areas near Takoradi |
| 2.2 Know the threats | explains the main causes of forest loss |
| 2.3 Know the law | states the closed hunting season and penalties |
Range. Western Region. Evidence. Oral questions; map.
Treasures near Takoradi
- Ankasa Conservation Area: Ghana's only wildlife protected area in wet evergreen rainforest, with forest elephants, chimpanzees, over 800 plant and 190 bird species.
- Cape Three Points Forest Reserve: Ghana's only coastal rainforest reserve.
- Amansuri wetland and Nzulezu stilt village, a Ramsar wetland reached by canoe from Beyin.
- Turtle beaches at Cape Three Points, Beyin and Akwidaa.
The wildlife law
The closed season is 1 August to 1 December every year: hunting, capturing or trading wildlife without a permit is illegal, with fines and up to two years in prison.
Make a map
Draw a map of the Western Region marking Takoradi, Ankasa, Cape Three Points, Nzulezu and the turtle beaches.
Bushmeat survey
Ask at a chop bar or market which bushmeat is sold and when. Is it in the closed season?
Unit 3 · Know the habitats and species
You protect what you know. Learn names, then share them.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 3.1 Name trees | identifies ten common trees |
| 3.2 Name birds and animals | identifies ten birds or animals |
| 3.3 Record sightings | records observations with iNaturalist |
Range. Farm, forest edge and beach. Evidence. Species list; iNaturalist records.
What to look for
- Trees: wawa, mahogany, emire, ofram, odum, ceiba. Odum has been heavily over-harvested.
- Birds: Ghana has about 682 bird species.
- Pollinators: about 75% of crop types depend on pollinators to some degree.
Citizen science
The free iNaturalist app lets you photograph a plant or animal; the community confirms the name, and good records help scientists.
Nature walk
- Walk the farm and forest edge.
- Photograph and record at least 20 species in iNaturalist.
- Make a class species list with local names.
Ten near home
Record ten species near your home with photos and names.
Unit 4 · Grow and plant trees that survive
Planting is easy. Keeping seedlings alive is the real work.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 4.1 Raise seedlings | collects seed, pots and cares for seedlings |
| 4.2 Harden off | reduces shade and water before planting out |
| 4.3 Plant and care | plants correctly and waters through dry spells |
| 4.4 Record survival | counts survival after three months |
Range. Tree nursery; planting site. Evidence. Nursery records; survival count.
Nursery steps
Collect, select and store seed properly; pot and transplant carefully; harden off by slowly reducing shade and water; and water new plantings in dry spells, possibly for three months.
Survival
Survival of planted trees in Ghana's forest zone has been about 65–85%. The Forestry Commission offers free seedlings at its offices.
Trees with crops
Cocoa yields were higher under shade trees such as mahogany, emire, ofram and odum; recommended shade is about 18 tall trees per hectare.
Run a nursery
- Fill 50 polybags with soil; sow or transplant seedlings.
- Water and shade; record growth weekly.
- Harden off over two weeks.
- Plant out; mark each tree; count survival after three months.
Plant one tree
Plant one tree at home or school and look after it. Record it monthly.
Unit 5 · Protect water, soil and coast
Rivers, soil and beaches feed us. Keep them clean and keep fire out.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 5.1 Protect rivers | explains riverbank buffer strips |
| 5.2 Prevent bush fires | explains causes and prevention |
| 5.3 Reduce plastic | runs a clean-up and sorts waste |
| 5.4 Protect turtles | explains turtle season and threats |
Range. Rivers, farms, beaches. Evidence. Clean-up record; oral questions.
Rivers
Ghana's riparian buffer policy keeps strips of vegetation along water: 10–60 m along major rivers. Never cut trees or farm right to the riverbank.
Bush fires
Most fires happen in the dry harmattan season from farm and hunting fires, cigarettes and rubbish burning. Beekeepers who protect their hives have helped stop fires in their forests.
Plastic
Ghana produces about 840,000 tonnes of plastic waste a year, and less than 10% is recycled.
Turtles
Turtles nest on Ghana's beaches from about August to March; threats are fishing nets, killing nesting females and egg poaching.
Clean-up day
- Run a beach or riverbank clean-up with gloves and sacks.
- Sort and weigh the waste: plastic, glass, metal, other.
- Record the results and share them.
Fire plan
Write three rules your community could follow to prevent bush fires.
Unit 6 · Guide visitors
A good guide keeps visitors safe, tells good stories, and leaves nature as it was found.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 6.1 Plan a walk | plans a safe route with stops and stories |
| 6.2 Lead a group | briefs, leads and counts a group |
| 6.3 Include everyone | adapts walks for disabled visitors |
| 6.4 Know licensing | explains how to become a licensed guide |
Range. Farm and forest-edge walks. Evidence. Guided walk observed by the assessor.
Becoming a guide
The Ghana Tourism Authority trains, registers and licenses tour and site guides. Ecotourism drew over 800,000 visitors in Ghana in 2025. Community sites like Nzulezu have grown visitor numbers and created jobs.
Accessible paths
Paths at least 1.2 m wide, gentle slopes (1 in 20 is best), a firm non-slip surface, and seats every 50–100 m let more people enjoy nature.
Lead a walk
- Plan a 30-minute farm walk with five stops.
- Give a safety briefing.
- Lead your classmates; count them at every stop.
- Get feedback; improve.
Practise a story
Prepare a two-minute story about one tree or animal for visitors.
Unit 7 · Your location, business and brand
Nature can pay, if you protect it while you earn.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 7.1 Choose a location | links business ideas to nearby sites |
| 7.2 Add income ideas | plans at least three conservation incomes |
| 7.3 Market yourself | sets up a profile and partnerships |
Range. Western Region. Evidence. Business plan.
Where
Takoradi is within day-trip distance of Ankasa (about 120 km), Nzulezu (about 90 km) and the Cape Three Points and Akwidaa turtle beaches. Farms, schools and the agro-tourism centre are close at hand.
Ideas to earn
- Tree nursery: native shade trees for cocoa farmers. Note that free government seedlings compete with paid ones.
- Eco-guiding: turtle walks, birding, forest walks (licensed).
- School nature clubs and field-visit packages.
- Beekeeping and mushrooms from the forest edge.
- Crafts and food at visitor sites, as at Nzulezu.
- Carbon payments: Ghana's Cocoa Forest REDD+ programme received World Bank payments for cutting emissions.
Market yourself
A free Google Business Profile shows your tours on Google Maps with photos and reviews. Partner with schools, hotels and the Ghana Tourism Authority's Visit Ghana listings.
Price a school visit
A school brings 40 pupils. Costs: guide fees 2 × GH¢150, water GH¢80, materials GH¢60, seedlings for each pupil to plant 40 × GH¢5. (1) Total cost? (2) Price per pupil for a 30% margin?
Business plan
Write a one-page plan for one conservation business: what, where, who pays, costs, price, partners.
First partner
Visit a school or hotel and offer a nature walk or tree-planting activity.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Agroforestry | Growing trees with crops |
| Biodiversity | The variety of living things |
| Closed season | 1 August to 1 December, when hunting is banned |
| Competent / Not Yet Competent | The two possible results of a CBT assessment |
| Harden off | Prepare seedlings for full sun before planting |
| Habitat | The home of a plant or animal |
| Riparian buffer | A strip of vegetation along a river |
| REDD+ | Payments for reducing forest loss |
Logbook
Copy these pages into an exercise book. Your logbook is part of your assessment evidence.
- Unit 1: field bag check; snakebite role play
- Unit 2: map
- Unit 3: species list; iNaturalist records
- Unit 4: nursery records; survival count
- Unit 5: clean-up results
- Unit 6: walk plan; feedback
- Unit 7: business plan
- Every homework, dated
Self-check quiz
- What should you never do after a snakebite?
- Why not touch dead wild animals?
- Name three protected areas near Takoradi.
- When is the closed hunting season?
- What does "harden off" mean?
- What tree survival rate is expected in Ghana's forest zone?
- How wide should a buffer strip along a major river be?
- When do turtles nest on Ghana's beaches?
- Who licenses tour guides in Ghana?
- Name three ways to earn from conservation.
Further reading and sources
Best next reads: the Forestry Commission's tree-planting guides; Visit Ghana's Western Region attractions; the Ghana Wildlife Society.
What this module does not cover: hunting, wildlife rescue and handling, forestry timber operations, and current guide licence fees (ask the Ghana Tourism Authority).
Every source used in this manual is listed, with links, in the Teacher Copy.