Establishment of Transboundary Biosphere Reserve 2019

The Transboundary Biosphere Reserves Work Group undertook a recognizance visit to the Gbele Resource Reserve from 9^th to 13^th April 2018 in line with the work plan of the UNESCO National MAB Secretariat.

The Work Group was tasked to make recommendations to the MAB National Committee on the suitability of Gbele Resource Reserve as an alternative site for a Transboundary Biosphere reserve.

The work group called on community leaders as well as management of the three districts that envelope the Gbele reserve (Sissala East, Sissala West and Diffiama Bussie Issa District Assemblies). The team was assisted by the EPA office in Tumu Area Office and the Wildlife office in Tumu.

All stakeholders consulted were receptive to the idea of Gbele Resource Reserve being nominated as a UNESCO transboundary biosphere reserve.

When the recommendations of the recce are endorsed by the MAB National Committee, the work group will hold further stakeholder consultations and also seek funds to conduct research and implement other initiatives for a successful nomination.

This was done in line with the operationalization of the Ghana Plan of Action for BRs, the Lima Strategy for BRs, SDGs 13 and 15.