Samartex - EcoCraft

EcoCraft is a handicraft project based in Samreboi, a small village in the heart of the tropical rainforest in Western Ghana. As part of an extensive Agroforestry program to improve the livelihood of the rural population, EcoCraft provides training and education to rural people in order to preserve the natural forest with its great diversification of animal and plant species. EcoCraft - Samartex is part of WWF's Global Forest & Trade Network. EcoCraft products are made to 90% from “waste wood” (wood not otherwise utilized) and 10% sawn lumber. All Timber is sourced from well managed natural forests of Samartex (www.samartex.com.gh). Selective felling and natural regeneration ensures sustainability of the forests. Samartex Forests were audited in November 2006 by the Rainforest Alliance ‘Smartwood initiative'. The EcoCraft workshop was established in January 2002 and now boasts 24 skilled carvers and two designers. EcoCraft is the first certified training centre in Ghana for woodcarving and lathe turning. Since June 2004 every year 20 Junior High graduates take part in the formalized apprenticeship program. With a high proportion of young women, EcoCraft also aims to help break down some traditional gender barriers. After a three-year training period the young people have the oppotunity to continue working at EcoCraft or other wood processing companies, or to set up their own workshops for the local markets. EcoCraft will also give a hand as main purchaser of the products, and as middlemen for contracts and marketing.