Dependence on forest resources and tropical deforestation in Ghana

Abstract

In Ghana, forests provide many products on which the local population subsists. However, these resources are depleting due to a variety of factors including agricultural expansion and over-exploitation of forest resources. This paper presents an analysis of the level of local dependence on forest resources and its implications for forest management in Ghana. The paper also outlines the causes of continuing deforestation in the studied region from the perspective of the local residents and discusses what role they could play in addressing the problem. The aim is to share more light on the current causes of deforestation and make suggestions for improved community-based forest management practices that could help to reduce deforestation. Primary data was collected through personal interviews and focus group discussions with 431 household heads randomly selected from three Forest Districts in Ghana. The survey showed that income from agriculture constituted 60% of the average total rural household income. Forest income provided 38% of total household income, and off-farm income 2%. The four most highly ranked causes of deforestation are poverty-driven agriculture, lack of alternative rural wage employment other than farming, household population levels, and conflict in traditional land practices. This shows a shift in the view of local people who in the past were quick to blame logging companies and government policies for deforestation. The majority of the respondents depended on wild animals like snail, bush meat, wild honey and wild and cultivated vegetables. Given the reasons for deforestation, much thought needs to go into Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.

Socio-economic factors influencing household forest dependency in Chobe enclave, Botswana

“…In Asia, forest income varied from 10 to 20% of the total household income (Mukul et al 2016). While in sub-Saharan Africa, forest income ranged from 30 to 45% of the total household income (Mamo et al 2007;Appiah et al 2009;Kalaba et al 2013). These studies demonstrated the significant contribution of forests towards household economies.…”

Perceived synergy between deforestation and/or forest degradation and climate variability and change in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Ghana

“…Generally, respondents with different socioeconomic background aptly perceived that CVC influences one's decision to remove, or clear, the forest for other purposes. Contrary to the popular notion that farming activities, timber extraction, fuelwood and charcoal collection, forest fires, settlement purposes, conflict (MORARA ET AL., 2014; HOSONUMA ET AL., 2012; KIOKO ET AL., 2012; KIOKO & OKELLO, 2010;BLAY ET AL., 2007;KLOOSTER, 2003;APPIAH, 2001;APPIAH ET AL., 2009;WAGNER & COBBINAH, 1993) and the complex interactions of underlying social, political, economic, technological and cultural forces (GEIST & LAMBIN, 2001) drives deforestation and/or forest degradation, our study findings report that CVC influences respondents' decision to destroy forest resources. Further contradiction is evident from the statistical report about the Municipality where an increase in demand for fuel wood and agricultural lands due to population growth in rural areas was the driving factor of deforestation activities (GSS, 2014).…”

Performance of terminalia superba and triplochiton scleroxylon seedlings under different forest canopy

“…The forest supports the livelihood of about 20 million inhabitants particularly in rural communities. Though, the forests are essential due to the wide variety of goods and services they provide, they are under threat from especially human-induced disturbances [1][2] The 2010 Global Forests Resources Assessment showed that there was a 2% (135, 000 ha) loss of forest annually from 1990-2000 in Ghana [3] Moreover, most of the country's forest resources are considered to be degraded. Most of the indigenous species like, Milicia excels and Milicia regia, the mahoganies (Khaya and Entandrophragma species), Pericopsis elata, Nauclea diderrichii, and Triplochiton scleroxylon which, mainly generate substantial revenues for Ghana's economy; have been drastically reduced over the past decades due to unsustainable agriculture, conversion to agriculture, wanton logging, wildfires, firewood collection and charcoal production, mining, population pressure, poorly defined land and resource tenure and external factors including market failures, international trade, and the imposition of economic programs such as the Structural Adjustment Program [4].…”