Newmont seeks to conserve a rare bird
Accra, Oct. 3, Ghanadot/GNA
- Newmont Ghana Limited is undertaking a five-year project
aimed at conserving a rare kind of bird called “White-necked
Rock fowl”, found mainly in Africa.
The bird whose local Ghanaian name is “Anamie,” was thought
to be extinct until it was re-discovered in 2003 in some
forests in the Ashanti region.
Mr Augustus Asamoah, a Doctor of Philosophy student in
Conservation and Wildlife at the University of Ghana, at a
dinner to discuss findings from an earlier research over the
weekend, said Newmont had taken the right decision to embark
on the conservation project since it could be developed into
livelihood opportunities for ecotourism.
“There is a new breed of tourists who just like to watch
birds and for every bird watcher who travels to Africa, the
number one priority is to see the White-necked rock fowl.”
Mr Asamoah who is working on a similar project, recommended
to Newmont to expand their research programme to give it a
broader perspective.
The project which is being pursued in collaboration with
Earth Watch Institute in the United Kingdom, Ghana wildlife
Society, Forestry Services Division, Chiefs and people of
Asumura, a village in the Ashanti region and some
environmentalists cost about 26 thousand dollars.
Mr Patrick Adjewoda, Principal Investigator in the project,
said the White necked rock fowl numbered about 10 thousand
in the whole world, hence the need to protect the bird which
is found only in few African countries.
He said at the end of the project, he would share the
knowledge gained with the rest of the world especially other
African countries where the bird could be found.
Mr Adjewoda said one major challenge was the slow pace of
data gathering on the bird and said the project would serve
a wider conservation purpose apart from protecting the bird.
The bird also known as “Picathartes Gymnocephalus” requires
a specific kind of vegetation to live comfortably, he added.
Mr Yaw Antwi Dadzie, External Affair Manager at Newmont,
Ghana said his organization signed a Memorandum of
Understanding for a period between March 2007 and February
2011 with a sponsorship amount of about 96 thousand dollars
per annum for four years to embark on the conservation
project.
He said the project was in line with Newmont’s commitment
towards environmental sustainability.
GNA
