MEDIA ALERT
October 8th, 2007
8:00 AM PST (BC, Canada), 5:00 AM EST (US), 3:00 PM UTC
(Ghana, Accra)
CSRD PARTNERS WITH NATURE CONSERVATION RESEARCH CENTRE ON GHANA PROJECT
Signed MOU and Concept Document Mark Milestone in CSRD’s Underwater Harvesting Project
on Volta Lake
Cobble Hill, British Columbia, Canada, October 8, 2007— Clark Sustainable Resource Developments Ltd. (CSR Developments) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) and developed a Concept Document with the Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC) to collaborate on the ecological and social issues facing the communities around Volta Lake, Ghana. This agreement is an important step in the company’s effort to harvest underwater tropical timber resources in Volta Lake. The Volta Lake project is expected to be the largest underwater tropical timber recovery operation ever undertaken.
“CSR Developments was founded on the belief that business can and should inspire social good and contribute to the sustainability of our planet’s ecosystem," said Wayne Dunn, president and CEO of CSR Developments. "In line with our founding principle, the ecosystem in and around Volta Lake is of utmost importance to CSR Developments. We are very pleased to have entered into this partnership with the NCRC and will jointly work to ensure that the natural, historic and cultural diversity of Ghana is protected.”
When Ghana’s 8,600 sq km Volta Lake was created in 1964, hundreds of square kilometers of valuable tropical timber – including mahogany, odum, wawa, kusia, ceiba and danta – were flooded. CSR Developments believes Volta Lake has the potential to become one of the world's most valuable forestry resources because submerged forests not only retain their timber quality, they gain market appeal because they do not involve the harvesting of live trees.
The ecological activities expected to be undertaken under the CSR Developments and NCRC partnership include: shoreline conservation and plantation development around Volta Lake, research to better understand the manatee population on the lake, sonar data sharing on manatee presence, and reduction of human-manatee conflict in critical areas for conservation of manatees.
The social activities outlined under the partnership include: better understanding water safety issues, provision of household solar lighting and safe water supply to target communities, and scholarship funds for Junior Secondary School students.
CSR Developments and NCRC signed a Concept Document in September 2007 that marked the agreement of both parties on the two objectives of the partnership: 1) to increase knowledge of the West African Manatee population and the protection of shoreline habitats in the Afram arm of the Volta Lake and 2) to improve social conditions and economic opportunities for up to 20 rural communities at the Afram arm of the Volta Lake. The timeframe for the MOU between CSRD and the NCRC is three years in duration (2007-2010) with the expectation by both CSR Developments and the NCRC that it will be extended for an additional seven years.
About CSR Developments
Clark Sustainable Resource Developments Ltd. (CSR Developments) was launched in 2005 to secure and operate licenses to harvest timber from forests submerged by hydro-power reservoirs. The company is committed to its mission: develop resources that create social and financial value while respecting and enhancing the environment. By uniquely applying this triple bottom line business methodology, CSR Developments makes more efficient use of our planet’s natural resources, while benefiting local communities and generating financial value across the board. For more information: http://www.csrdevelopments.com/
About the Nature Conservation Research Centre
The Nature Conservation Research Centre (NCRC) is a Ghanaian non-profit voluntary organisation that implements conservation initiatives to encourage protection of Ghana's natural, historic, and cultural diversity. The NCRC is best known for promoting ecotourism in Ghana, developing community owned and operated conservation areas, and facilitating field research. The NCRC's nature conservation efforts are in harmony with local cultural beliefs, and have tangible economic, community, and environmental returns for the people of the region.
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Amber Roberts
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