THE HIVE Nviron Hive Newsletter Issue #02 - June, 2025 Launching Abonten Walks: Our Second Strategic Partnership With Lfy Arena Field Notes Company Spotlight: Freezelink - Cold Chain Innovation For Sustainable Agriculture Landfills2Landmarks 2025 www.nvironhive.com contact@nvironhive.com Website Email N V I R O N H I V E Innovating Today, Sustaining Tomorrow, Empowering Always This innovative collaboration combines Nviron Hive's sustainability expertise with LFY Arena's wellness and team-building prowess to.... - LAUNCHING ABONTEN WALKS: OUR SECOND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH LFY ARENA What’s On Global Biodiversity Day 2025, we announced our second strategic partnership - this time with LFY Arena - to launch Abonten Walks, a ground-breaking program that blends employee wellness with conservation action across Ghana's stunning land- scapes Abonten in the Twi language means "Outside" – At Nviron Hive we see Abonten as the place where freedom reigns, where cool breezes gently caress your skin, and where lush forests stretch as far as the eye can see. Abonten, is a sanctuary of natural beauty and tranquillity. This innovative collaboration combines Nviron Hive's sustainability expertise with LFY Arena's wellness and team-building prowess to create transformative experiences where organizations can contribute to Ghana's conservation efforts while promoting employee well-being and team cohesion. Our flagship location is the Eastern Region's stunning Atewa Range Forest Reserve, with plans to expand to Wli Falls, Kakum National Park's canopy walkway, Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary, and the tranquil Lake Bosomtwe. The Abonten Walks Experience: Strategic tree planting with QR-coded tracking and GPS mapping Guided wellness activities in pristine natural settings Mindfulness sessions overlooking Ghana's breathtaking landscapes Digital platform to track tree growth and environmental impact over time Corporate sustainability reporting integration "Nurturing wellness, restoring nature, building commu- nity - one tree at a time," says Otema Yirenkyi, Co-Founder of Nviron Hive Limited. "What makes Abonten Walks truly innovative is how it seamlessly integrates corporate wellness objectives with tangible environmental action." Kwaku Ofosuhene, Founder of LFY Arena, adds: "Partic- ipants don't just plant trees - they embark on a holistic journey that nurtures both personal and ecological well-being." Discovering Ananse Akuraa: Where Nature Meets Wellness Nestled in Ghana's lush Eastern Region, Ananse Akuraa has become our chosen sanctuary for meaningful environmental experiences. Professor Kofi Asare Opoku has owned Ananse Akuraa (Spider's Village) and Ananse Kwae (Spider's Forest) for the past 56 years. He has been guided by the idea that for our ancestors, time was a continuum, the past, the present and the future were all linked together. The people in the community at any time were not the owners of the natural resources on which their welfare and continuance depended. They were only caretakers who were under obligation to hold these resources (including the land) in trust for the generation that would come after them. When we asked Prof Kofi Asare Opoku why he has preserved the forest he responded; “I am preserving a forest for posterity in Ghana because I want to follow my ancestors in their wisdom of preserving the environment in which they lived so that future generations would come to find some land and forests. My desire to do so has become particularly urgent, because we have recklessly destroyed our forests in Ghana and I want, in a small way, to preserve a little forest, so that I could use it in teaching contemporary Ghanaians the immense value of forests. A more important reason for preserving a forest is that our ancestors had a vast amount of knowledge about trees and their uses. This knowledge enabled them to live in this part of the world for centuries, but this vast body of knowledge is lost to us because the educational system we have today makes us strang- ers in our own environment and very few people who consider themselves educated know the names of the trees in their environment and their uses. In effect, we go to school in our modern times to become ignorant of our environment. This catastrophe must be reversed without delay; otherwise, future genera- tions will virtually perish. I preserved the forest in order to maintain the natural majesty and inexhaustible and consummate beauty of nature, and my experiences and reflections in the forest have indelibly implanted in my mind that beauty is the signature of the Creator! And spending time in the forest regularly has brought me to an altogether deeper level of conscious spirituality” This remarkable location embodies everything we stand for at Nviron Hive - the perfect harmony between natural beauty, community connection, and sustainable action. InFOCUS What makes Ananse Akuraa special: • Ancient indigenous tree species that tell Ghana's ecological story • Pristine forest trails perfect for challenging or mindful hiking, and reflection • Ideal setting for hands-on environmental education and tree planting • Natural amphitheatre spaces for group discussions and team building The site offers a unique opportunity to experience Ghana's biodiversity firsthand while contributing to forest restoration efforts. Every visit to Ananse Akuraa creates lasting memories and measurable environmental impact. Our comprehensive approach at Ananse Akuraa includes guided tours of indigenous plant species, discus- sions on local conservation efforts, networking opportunities with sustainability professionals, and refresh - ments featuring locally sourced organic products. "There's something profoundly transformative about standing together with your colleagues, hands in the soil, creating new life in these ancient forests," reflects Otema Yirenkyi. "These experiences forge connec - tions - to nature, to each other, and to something greater than ourselves." Field Notes This month, we're proud to spotlight FreezeLink, a remarkable Ghanaian company that's revolutionizing cold chain logistics to reduce food waste and support sustainable agriculture across West Africa. Founded by Owusu Akoto in 2018, FreezeLink is solving a major challenge in Africa's agriculture and healthcare sectors—inefficient cold chain logistics. "I was inspired to create FreezeLink to address the post-harvest losses that keep farmers unnecessarily poor in West Africa," Akoto explained to The New York Times. Recent Recognition and Global Impact: FreezeLink has been making waves internationally. The company was recently named on Bloomberg's inaugural list of 25 innovative African startups to watch in 2025, selected from a pool of over 2000 applicants. This recognition highlights the company's innovative approach to addressing critical infrastructure challenges across the continent. CEO Owusu Akoto recently represented African innovation at the prestigious Qatar Economic Forum 2025, where he shared insights on the continent's startup ecosystem. "There is, from my perspective, an increase in momentum with challenging pension funds to fund alternative asset classes, including private equity and venture capital," Akoto told Bloomberg's Jennifer Zabasajja at the forum. Proven Track Record in Critical Moments: FreezeLink's impact extends beyond agriculture. The company played a crucial role in Ghana's COVID-19 vaccine distribution, with the Global Cold Chain Alliance commending CEO Owusu Akoto for supporting the transport of 600,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines. Their innovative approach includes: • End-to-end cold chain solutions with real-time temperature monitoring • Solar-powered cold storage systems reducing environmental impact • Partnerships with drone delivery companies like Zipline for rural access • AI-powered logistics optimization requiring analysis of 77 different variables • Digital platform connecting farmers to local and global markets Company Spotlight: Freezelink - Cold Chain Innovation For Sustainable Agriculture Highlights from our recents site visits & conferences Our cofounder Kwame Agyapong represented Nviron Hive at Landfills2Landmarks 2025 at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra from 22nd - 23rd May, 2025. This global summit and fashion showcase focused on address- ing textile waste and promoting the circular economy. The event gathered global leaders and industry stakeholders to discuss changes in the fashion and textile industry with the goal of setting standards for sustainable retail. Nviron Hive is exploring opportunities for Ghana to utilize carbon credit markets through innovative textile waste manage- ment strategies, contributing to green economic policies. Landfills2Landmarks 2025 Leadership Excellence: Akoto brings impressive credentials, holding an MBA from Imperial College London and a Bachelor of Arts in Inter- national Relations from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was one of 8 out of 2,000 graduates to receive a Senior Honour Award. Before founding FreezeLink, he led supply chain transformations at global companies including Diageo, Unilever, and Procter & Gamble, and managed a $3 billion supply chain transformation programme at the UK Ministry of Justice. "FreezeLink eliminates food and medicine waste in Africa for the next billion Africans through cold chain. If it's cold, we store it and transport it, and we build it with an engineering team to connect farmers and factories to local and global markets," Akoto explained during his Qatar Economic Forum appearance. "FreezeLink represents exactly the kind of practical, scalable solution Africa needs," says Dzifa Amegashie, Co-Founder of Nviron Hive. "They're not just preserving food - they're preserving livelihoods and building climate resilience." We're excited to explore partnership opportunities with FreezeLink as they continue scaling their impact across the continent, representing the best of African innovation on the global stage. Field Notes Highlights from our recents site visits & conferences Ghana's Biodiversity: A National Treasure Worth Protecting FEATURED INSIGHT Ghana's rich biodiversity represents both our natural heritage and our economic future. From the coastal wetlands of the Volta Delta to the montane forests of the Eastern Region, our coun- try hosts ecosystems that support millions of livelihoods while providing critical climate regula- tion services. The Atewa Range Forest Reserve alone contains over 2,000 plant species, including many found nowhere else on Earth. These forests provide clean water to millions of Ghanaians, regulate local climate patterns, and store massive amounts of carbon. Yet challenges persist. Deforestation, mining pressures, and climate change threaten these irreplaceable ecosystems. This is why initiatives like Abonten Walks matter - they create econom- ic incentives for conservation while building the next generation of environmental stewards. Ghana's biodiversity by the numbers: • Over 3,600 known plant species • 728 butterfly species • 225 mammal species including forest elephants and western chimpanzees • Critical habitat for migratory birds along the East Atlantic flyway Through partnerships, community engagement, and innovative financing, we can ensure these natural treasures thrive for generations to come. Proverbs Corner "The forest is not inherited from our ancestors, but borrowed from our children." - West African Proverb These timeless words remind us that environmental stewardship is not just about today's actions, but about the legacy we leave for future generations. Every tree we plant, every ecosystem we protect, and every sustainable practice we adopt is an investment in tomorrow's prosperity. "When the roots of a tree begin to decay, it spreads death to the branches" - Nigerian Proverb "A tree is known by the fruit it bears; you can't get mangoes from a coconut tree" - Ghanaian Proverb - About Us. Nviron Hive is Ghana's premier sustainability accelerator, fostering breakthrough innovations in ESG initiatives and climate solutions. Our collaborative platform connects visionaries, experts, and resources to accelerate Africa's transition to a sustainable future. We provide startups and companies with the tools, resources, and expertise needed to scale their environmental impact while building profitable, resilient businesses. LEADERSHIP N V I R O N H I V E