Management of Ghana’s modified taungya system: challenges and strategies for improvement

Abstract

Since 2001, Ghana has introduced a number of forest-based strategies to improve the livelihoods of forest communities, restore the country's forest cover and address timber deficits. Among these strategies is the modified taungya system (MTS). Through a mix of qualitative methods, field observations, and a household survey among 146 MTS farmers from eight villages in the Tano Offin, Tain II and Yaya Forest Reserve areas in the high forest zone, this paper explores the challenges related to MTS management in Ghana. Results indicate that the lack of regular income from timber until tree harvesting, the delay in signing MTS agreements, the absence of a clear mechanism for sharing the 40 % timber benefits among individual farmers, restrictions on tree and crop species allowed under the MTS, and inadequate support and supervision from the implementing agency demotivate farmers to invest labour in farm maintenance. The study also reveals that the quality of partnership among the actors impacts on the performance of the scheme: a co-management arrangement exclusively between the Forestry Commission and MTS farmer groups generated poorer results in terms of the quality of the timber stands, income-generating potential and motivation of the actors involved. The continued commitment of both participating farmer groups and coordinating agencies is key to the performance of the MTS. Lastly, the prospects for future income from timber revenues determine to a large extent farmers' commitment to tree maintenance in the MTS. Linking up with the concepts of interactive and landscape governance and partnerships, the authors make recommendations to overcome these challenges.

Trees in the landscape: towards the promotion and development of traditional and farm forest management in tropical and subtropical regions

“…The findings suggest that communities are still restricted to subsistence use and not forest enterprising to move out of poverty. The main conclusion mirrors the findings from Ghana (Acheampong et al 2016) that the introduction of the co-management program did not bring out the expected outcomes in areas of community organization, forest access, forest product availability and commercialisation of forest products. Both studies also seem to suggest that a multi-institutional approach important to draw upon diverse talents and experiences from individual institutions both government and non-governmental in order to achieve meaningful social change.…”

“…As discussed above, the main challenges identified were the management system such as the lack of alternative livelihoods between tree planting and end of the rotation of the trees and clear benefit sharing mechanisms among the farmers and also between the state and the communities (Acheampong et al 2016). Indeed the attitudes of the communities/farmers to the project were further compromised due to the choice of especially the agricultural crops allowed in the system.…”

Natural Resource Management Schemes as Entry Points for Integrated Landscape Approaches: Evidence from Ghana and Burkina Faso

“…Income is derived from the sale of food crops, seedling production and re-investment of revenues in petty trade, resulting in increased food security, improved housing and uptake in school attendance among children (Derkyi 2012; Insaidoo et al 2013; Ros-Tonen et al 2014). These benefits are however transitory as inter-planting food crops is possible until canopy closure (3 years on average), while long-term timber benefits are subject to risks of theft and wildfire (Ros-Tonen et al 2014; Acheampong et al 2016). Measurements of the carbon potential of MTS have been disappointing (Yeboah et al 2014), but its contribution to climate change adaptation may be promising (Lasco et al 2014).…”

“…Approximately 75,000 ha of taungya plantations were established in the 1970s (Agyeman 2006), but the scheme was suspended in 1984 due to a lack of support from farmers who lacked long-term incentives as they were not entitled to shares in timber revenues (Agyeman et al 2003; Blay et al 2008; Kalame et al 2011). The MTS is a co-management arrangement between the Ghana Forestry Commission and local communities and differs from the previous system in that (a) farmers are now entitled to 40% of the timber proceeds to compensate for their efforts in tree planting, maintenance and protection, and (b) institutions were established to provide farmers a voice in management decisions (Ros-Tonen et al 2013, 2014; Acheampong et al 2016). A total of 94,115 ha was planted under the MTS between 2002 and 2009 (FC 2015).…”

“…Protection and replanting of threatened tree speciesProduction forests each sub-divided for 20–25 year rotational harvestingSawadogo (2007), Ouédraogo (2009), Sawadogo and Tiveau (2011), Coulibaly-Lingani et al (2011), Foli and Rabdo (2016), Arevalo (2016)• CAF Management Board: administration of forest sites and enforcement of statutory laws and voluntary regulations• CAF Audit Committee: audit efficacy of the quota system on wood volumes harvested, sales, taxes and revenues (financial arm) and monitoring wood extraction and regeneration activities (technical arm)• CAF technical unit: technical support to the Forest Management Groups’ activities• Forest management group: cooperative of woodcutters responsible for controlled wood harvesting and users of non-timber forest products• Union of cooperatives that utilize the same forest sites• External partners: funding CAF activities, technical support and capacity building of CAF technical unitsModified Taungya System (MTS), GhanaForest restoration program in degraded forests with farmers engaged in tree planting and maintenance and benefitting from intercropping of food crops and a share in timber revenues• Forestry Commission (FC): supplying seedlings, training and extension; marketing the plantation products; overall supervision; financial managementCo-management with responsibilities and benefits shared between the state (Forestry Commission), small-scale farmers and local communitiesDegraded forest reserves with a focus on restorationProgressive transformation of degraded forest reserves via early agroforestry systems (intercropping with food crops) to plantation forestsAgyeman et al (2003), Blay et al (2008), Kalame (2009), Kalame et al (2011), Ros-Tonen et al (2013, 2014), Acheampong et al (2016)• Forest services division: the FC’s district representation• Resource Management Support Center (technical wing of the FC): supports the implementation of the MTS• MTS farmers: tree planting and maintenance• Administrator of Stool lands and traditional authorities: providing secure and uninterrupted access ...…”