Between 2019 and 2021, the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research (CBCR) formerly Centre for African Wetlands (CAW), University of Ghana, worked with the Ghanaian Wildlife Division and the IUCN SSC Species Monitoring Specialist Group to develop the first systematic biodiversity monitoring system for the Shai Hills Reserve. The main objective of this project was to enhance the conservation of forest and estuarine ecosystems in Ghana by improving capacity for evidence based PA management and encourage the uptake of systems within and beyond Ghana. Implementing agencies for the project were CBCR and the IUCN SSC Species Monitoring Specialist Group.

The proposed second phase project “Expanding the use of innovative new technologies to enhance protected area management in Ghana’ will continue to enhance the conservation of key forest ecosystems in Ghana by applying lessons and extend successfully tested and implemented species and threat monitoring tools from the first phase to two priority 1 protected sites, namely, Ankasa/Nini Suhien Conservation Area and the Digya National Park, both of major conservation importance, with significant biodiversity and known to contain important numbers of threatened species and species of conservation concern.