MIIF, Zijin Golden Ridge Partner to Restore 50 Acres of Degraded Forest Land

The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), in partnership with Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, Ghana International Bank and three other financial institutions, has joined forces with the Forestry Commission of Ghana to restore 50 acres of degraded land in the Subri River Forest Reserve.

The initiative, dubbed “Support of Forest Rehabilitation in Mining Regions and Promotion of Sustainability in Mining,” forms part of the partners’ corporate social responsibility commitments under Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles.

The two-year project is being undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Forestry Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority.

It aims to rehabilitate degraded portions of the forest reserve through targeted reforestation and restoration activities to promote biodiversity conservation, strengthen climate resilience and encourage sustainable natural resource management in Ghana’s mining areas.

Under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Forestry Commission will provide technical expertise and oversee the implementation of the project.

The scope of work includes site preparation, seedling provision, tree planting, monitoring and evaluation, stakeholder and community engagement, as well as ESG reporting.

Speaking on the initiative, MIIF Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Justina Nelson, said the project reflects the Fund’s commitment to ensuring that the benefits derived from Ghana’s mineral resources go hand in hand with responsible environmental management.

“As an institution entrusted with managing Ghana’s mineral income and State interests in the mining sector, MIIF recognises that value creation must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility,” she said.

Mrs Nelson stressed that forest restoration goes beyond planting trees, noting that it is essential to protecting biodiversity and preserving natural resources for future generations.

“Restoring degraded forest landscapes is not only about planting trees; it is about protecting biodiversity and ensuring that communities can continue to benefit from our natural resources for generations to come,” she added.

She further highlighted the importance of collaboration among government institutions, mining companies and local communities in addressing environmental challenges in mining regions.

“We believe that meaningful partnerships such as this can make a lasting difference,” she said.

For his part, the Chief Executive Officer of Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, Leon Zhang, said the company views forest restoration as a long-term responsibility rather than a one-time intervention.

“We approach forest restoration as a long-term responsibility, not a one-time gesture. Our own biodiversity offset programme at Atewa reflects that. This partnership with MIIF and the Forestry Commission to restore the Subri River Forest Reserve carries that same commitment and focus,” he said.

The project is expected to contribute to the recovery of degraded forest ecosystems, improve biodiversity and strengthen the resilience of the forest reserve to climate-related pressures.

It is also expected to create opportunities for local communities and other stakeholders to participate in restoration and conservation activities, reinforcing the role of community involvement in safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources.
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story by : Mark Acheampong