Engaging partners in sustainable land restoration that will support pragmatic specialty agriculture, forestry and ecotourism are pivotal to modernizing and diversifying economies.
NBP searches for, visits and studies potential project
areas and packages appropriate opportunities for presentation to investors, partners and governments. These areas are judged on their ability to produce competitive economic, societal, financial
and conservation returns. Our partners have the rare opportunity to produce a
unique blend of personal and community benefits while diversifying their country's long term economic resilience and flexibility.
II. Project Abstract:
A. Strategic partnerships are formed to acquire undeveloped or impaired properties and implement proven
and innovative habitat management methods to increase the overall ecological
health of the native plant, forests and animal communities on these properties. A sustainable, ecological, natural community based
management approach will gradually increase the overall biodiversity of a
property and species’ populations.
The project plans on showcasing these wildlife assets through the construction of
customized lodges surrounded by ponds, water features and trails. Novel viewing blinds and observation towers may be installed as needed to enhance the visitors experience. Interpretative recreational and educational
trail markers and programs will be developed for groups, students and the
general public.
Ghana is one of the most convenient countries in West Africa to visit for North American, South American and European travelers. English is widely spoken in Ghana and it is one of the more friendly countries in Africa. The area possesses part of two important, dominant and large biomes in Africa, the Guinea-Congo Forest and the Sudan-Guinea Savanna.
A Vascular Plants
B Vertebrates
C Amphibians
D Reptiles
E Birds
F Mammals
Observing, photographing or recording lists of all bird species seen, commonly called twitching, bird watching, birding or nature photography is an important part of ecotourism. Ghana is presently known by some international birders and ecotourists but it is not strongly marketed or recognized as a great birding destination even though it deserves that recognition.
NBP has traveled to scores of countries and reviewed many ecotourism efforts. NBP has successfully established and restored a large park in the USA. Our board intimately knows the conservation and ecotourism market and how to present travel destinations to the target demographic.
We shall carefully design and then pursue the restoration project. Our biologists, zoologists and board anticipate designing the project with consideration to a select handful of "highlight" species or communities of various taxa (plants, trees, reptiles, birds, mammals for example). These species and communities will be chosen to assure some local and international interest in the project.
Concurrently with the gradual progress in the project we shall be photographing and writing about the exciting birding and biodiversity in Ghana along with our important partner Mr. Kalu Afasi.
NBP has traveled to scores of countries and reviewed many ecotourism efforts. NBP has successfully established and restored a large park in the USA. Our board intimately knows the conservation and ecotourism market and how to present travel destinations to the target demographic.
We shall carefully design and then pursue the restoration project. Our biologists, zoologists and board anticipate designing the project with consideration to a select handful of "highlight" species or communities of various taxa (plants, trees, reptiles, birds, mammals for example). These species and communities will be chosen to assure some local and international interest in the project.
Concurrently with the gradual progress in the project we shall be photographing and writing about the exciting birding and biodiversity in Ghana along with our important partner Mr. Kalu Afasi.
NBP has met Mr. Kalu Afasi in Ghana; he is a pioneering and pivotal birder in the country. We plan on working closely with Mr. Afasi and his associates on this project and consider them integral to its progress and ultimate success. He has shown thousands of people the treasures of Ghana; we intend to add another gem by managing a large park for wildlife. We also intend to contact select esteemed scientists and conservationists to design, implement and advance this project.
Ghana presently provides convenient and timely access to a majority of the many West African bird endemics, as well as some sought after North African birds. Ghana has
180 of the Guinea-Congo Forests biome birds, including 12 out of the 15 Upper
Guinea Forest endemics. Eleven of these endemic species are officially classified by important groups as being of global conservation concern. Bird species with these designations often get visitation and preservation attention by government departments, conservationists, birders, ecotourists and scientific researchers and students at local to international schools.
The rather compact country also houses 37 Sudan-Guinea Savanna biome
birds. This biome is a linear strap of area south of the Sahel of North
Africa. Some Sahel bird species also extend into Ghana, the spectacular Egyptian Plover in found in north Ghana.
Once biodiversity is lost it is almost certainly gone forever along with its everlasting and sustainable ability to attract ecotourists and their economic support of local communities.
These actions result in immediate and long term damaging effects to:
the resiliency and diversity of the economy
general food production
traditional hunting industry (subsistence and bush meat)
agricultural production capacity due to eroded top soil
fresh and salt water fish ecosystem productivity due to siltation and pollution
acquifer filtration and recharge rates
quality of human drinking water
health of its citizens
general tourism
ecotourism businesses and the associated travel, hotel and restaurant businesses
natural science degree holders, students and their teachers and colleges
quality of life
and more
Presently the natural process of gradual, primary forest succession has been eliminated with the once, biodiverse forests logged resulting in a substantial loss of plant, invertebrate and vertebrate biomass and diversity. The natural biomass of Ghana may be at its lowest in twelve thousand years (or even much longer) when the West African area was likely a grass savanna during the glacial maximum.
This project will conserve and increase healthy populations of plants, invertebrates, fish and wildlife through a partnership of many individuals and groups. Stable source populations are important in counteracting loss of genetic variability, biodiversity and species extinction. The project will establish a sustainable, protected and managed area where source populations of species will thrive and emigrate to existing or future preserved areas adjacent to the subject property.
The restoration and long term management of this park shall increase:
the resiliency and diversity of the economy
general food production
traditional hunting industry (subsistence and bush meat)
agricultural production capacity due to conservation of top soil
fresh and salt water fish ecosystem productivity due to siltation and pollution
acquifer filtration and recharge rates
quality of human drinking water
health of its citizens
general tourism to Ghana
ecotourism businesses and the associated travel, hotel and restaurant businesses in Ghana
benefits to natural science degree holders, students and their teachers and colleges
quality of life for Ghanian citizens
and more
C. Partner Justification: NBP, Inc. is a US based federally designated non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation of biodiversity. NBP’s board and members consists
of twenty professionals including biologists, zoologists, ecologists, business managers, educators, engineers, attorneys and others.
NBP is uniquely qualified and purposely designed to locate, study, restore, manage and market important park-like areas and the species of animals that live there for the benefit of all stakeholders involved.
NBP has completed numerous projects with large, medium and local partners such as National Fish and Wildlife Foundation , US National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife, United States Department of Agriculture, NY/NJ Port Authority Harbor Heron Program, Open Space Institute, US Department of Defense, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Rahway River Watershed Association, Public Service Electric and Gas, Plumsted NJ Environmental Commission, Monmouth County Audubon, New Jersey Audubon Society, Union County NJ Department of Parks and others.
The firm is staffed with professionals and volunteers with up to 30 years of wildlife, conservation, project management and restoration experience including 15 years of non-profit and direct park management experience. Budgets, fundraising campaigns and grant requests initiates have been prepared and successfully completed. Our lead zoologist has over 40 years field experience in auditory and field identification of North American and International birds and animals. He has designed and completed many biodiversity-centric projects ; he has lead and managed several hundred field days of formal wildlife surveys and acoustical based population studies under federal Dept. of Defense, USFWS and/or Dept. of Interior permits and contracts. He has authored many articles on zoological, avian and ecological topics.
In 2009 he summated years of field work by himself and scientists with a public State of Biodiversity presentation (picture below). The changes in historic community species composition of beetles and wood warblers in the Watchung and South Mountain Reservations were used to illustrate the effects of forest, understory degradation.
In the last 24 months he discovered the most breeding Hooded Mergansers and young ever in NJ, recorded the most Cerulean Warblers, a pending federally endangered species, in one day in NJ, and discovered the first active nest of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in Passaic County, NJ in ~ 125 years.
Mr. Kalu Afasi is degreed in Banking and Finance; he has developed a keen interest in ornithology and the avifauna of West Africa and especially Ghana. His business and natural history background led to him starting Malimbe Tours and successfully operating it for ever a decade. He is recognized as one of the outstanding field birders in Ghana.
He has led hundreds of tours and thousands of ecotourists to many destinations in West Africa. He graciously shared his knowledge by personally training several tour guides in West Africa and especially Ghana.
NBP is uniquely qualified and purposely designed to locate, study, restore, manage and market important park-like areas and the species of animals that live there for the benefit of all stakeholders involved.
NBP has completed numerous projects with large, medium and local partners such as National Fish and Wildlife Foundation , US National Park Service, United States Fish and Wildlife, United States Department of Agriculture, NY/NJ Port Authority Harbor Heron Program, Open Space Institute, US Department of Defense, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, Rahway River Watershed Association, Public Service Electric and Gas, Plumsted NJ Environmental Commission, Monmouth County Audubon, New Jersey Audubon Society, Union County NJ Department of Parks and others.
The firm is staffed with professionals and volunteers with up to 30 years of wildlife, conservation, project management and restoration experience including 15 years of non-profit and direct park management experience. Budgets, fundraising campaigns and grant requests initiates have been prepared and successfully completed. Our lead zoologist has over 40 years field experience in auditory and field identification of North American and International birds and animals. He has designed and completed many biodiversity-centric projects ; he has lead and managed several hundred field days of formal wildlife surveys and acoustical based population studies under federal Dept. of Defense, USFWS and/or Dept. of Interior permits and contracts. He has authored many articles on zoological, avian and ecological topics.
For
several years, under federal contract, he was lead
investigator for multiple teams performing acoustical point
surveys for NJ birds under USFWS protocol. These projects were completed on restricted land that had limited access due to its importance to the US and the conservation community. For five other field
studies he was lead scientist of teams on federally permitted,
acoustical studies on restricted US National Park Service lands for extremely rare, endangered
bird species.
He has led scores of domestic and international
trips, studies and expeditions in ~ 35 countries. He performed many years of
acoustical field work that led to teams he organized taking
top honors five times in the NJ Audubon's World Series of
Birding annual conservation funddraiser. He has led and organized field teams that hold ~ 15 American Birding Association published
field records such as most species of birds ever recorded in
any one day in January in New Jersey, most species of birds ever recorded in any one day in February in New Jersey, most species of birds ever recorded in any one day in April in New Jersey, etc., continuing through most months of the year. He has led and organized field teams that hold various county records in NJ such as most bird species every recorded in any single day in each of Monmouth County, Union Cty. and Sussex Cty, NJ.
In 2009 he summated years of field work by himself and scientists with a public State of Biodiversity presentation (picture below). The changes in historic community species composition of beetles and wood warblers in the Watchung and South Mountain Reservations were used to illustrate the effects of forest, understory degradation.
In the last 24 months he discovered the most breeding Hooded Mergansers and young ever in NJ, recorded the most Cerulean Warblers, a pending federally endangered species, in one day in NJ, and discovered the first active nest of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in Passaic County, NJ in ~ 125 years.
NBP is uniquely qualified and purposely designed to locate, study, restore, manage and market important species of animals and the parks they live in for all stakeholders involved.
He has led hundreds of tours and thousands of ecotourists to many destinations in West Africa. He graciously shared his knowledge by personally training several tour guides in West Africa and especially Ghana.
The
discovery of Green Bee-eater in Ghana is largely through his efforts; from an ecological perspective he correctly surmised that the species was likely in Ghana. He integrated the search for this species into his ecotourism business in northern Ghana eventually recording the species near the Tono Dam. He was also instrumental in the
discovery of the first Pectoral Sandpiper ever recorded in Ghana at Sakumono Lagoon.
To
encourage the people in the area visited by bird watchers to protect
their forest Malimbe tours has taken up the payment of school fees and
provision of school materials for some of the youths in the local towns and
villages. Malimbe tours has also supported many people who are in
need including those who required special operations.
D. Final Product: Short term,
this project will assure the preservation and management of a large property in Ghana. Areas that will support different habitat types will be identified and development of the natural community will commence. Components such as areas of specialized agriculture, honey production, hunting etc, ed with imination of government subsidized farming on the property. Fifty-three acres of presently farmed
wetlands will be enhanced and managed to produce more natural conditions and
communities. Long term, the project will
establish varied ecological communities through management which will increase
the area’s biodiversity. Desired taxa
and species will be actively managed for, with ongoing monitoring and data
gathering. The property’s natural assets
will be showcased with engineered blinds and various low-impact viewing
structures. Recreational and educational
programs will be developed to generate and attract grass-root support and
foster a conservation ethic in citizens of all ages.
III. Proposal: A. Project Needs:
