Forestry Research Institute of Ghana

Books and Handbooks

Assessment of the Effectiveness of Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue

Authors:
Elizabeth Asantewaa Obeng,Emmanuel Marfo, Nelson Owusu-Ansah and Gertrude Boateng Nantwi

In an attempt to develop alternatives for illegal chainsaw milling in Ghana, a multi-stakeholder dialogue (MSD) process was established in September 2008 to create a platform for shared perspective among different actors on issues and solutions for chainsaw milling activities in Ghana. It was expected to provide an effective pathway for information generation and sharing, while strengthening stakeholder groups for efficient representations. This study covers key findings of research conducted to assess the effectiveness of the MSD platform as a participatory process. The aim is to provide an input to stimulate further reflection on how multi-stakeholder dialogue can be adopted as an effective participatory mechanism in deliberating issues among different actors in specific sectors in Ghana.

Chainsaw Operators, Alternative livelihood options and climate change mitigation

Authors:
Acheampong, Emmanuel Marfo and Shalom Addo-Danso

This study sought to assess the preferences of chainsaw dependent communities for forest- based alternative livelihood interventions that also have potential for climate change mitigation. In particular, the study attempted to answer the following research questions:

What forest-based interventions have the potential to support both rural livelihoods and climate change mitigation efforts simultaneously?
What are the specific preferences of chainsaw operatives for such interventions and the reasons behind their preferences?

The Contribution of Forests to Ghana’s Economic Development

Book of Abstracts

Editors:
Joseph R. Cobbinah and Stella B. Acquah

The First National Forestry Conference titled ‘The Contribution of Forests to Ghana’s Economic Development’ was held at FORIG Campus, Kumasi from 16-18 September 2014. The conference objective was to highlight the role of forests and woodlands on livelihoods, environmental management and economic development of Ghana. It was jointly organized and sponsored by the Forestry Commission (FC), Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), Forestry Research Network of Sub-Saharan Africa (FORNESSA), College of Agriculture & Natural Resources (CANR) of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Tropenbos International (TBI) Ghana, Ghana Timber Millers’ Organisation (GTMO), Ministry of Lands & Natural Resources (MLNR), and Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI).

REDD+ in agricultural landscapes: evidence from Ghana’s REDD+ process

Authors:
Kwame Agyei, Victor K. Agyeman, Winston A. Asante, Daniel T. Benefoh, Juergen Blaser, Lawrence Damnyag, Angela Deppeler, Mélanie Feurer, Ernest G. Foli, Luca Heeb, Winnie Kofie, Maria Klossner, Boateng Kyereh, Yaw Kwakye and Kwame A. Oduro

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2013), global vegetation stores about the same amount of carbon dioxide as contained in the atmosphere, and tropical forests hold about half of that amount (Pan et al. 2011). Despite partially successful measures in some countries to reduce deforestation and forest degradation, tropical forest loss continued at an estimated 92000 km2 per year between 2000 and 2012 (Hansen et al. 2013), equivalent to about 24 football fields per minute. The resultant net loss of biomass is responsible for about 10% of global annual carbon dioxide emissions (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 2013); tropical forest loss, therefore, is an important driver of climate change. The international community is aware of the climate-regulating role of forests and trees and has created a mechanism aimed at reducing tropical deforestation and forest degradation and enhancing the conservation and sustainable management of forests and forest carbon stocks, a mechanism usually known as REDD+.

Development assistance in the forestry sector

Impacts over the last two decades and implications for the future

Authors:
Chris Beeko, Kwame Antwi Oduro, Elizabeth Asantewaa Obeng

This study was commissioned under the Growing Forest Partnerships initiative in Ghana. The purpose of the study was to provide inputs that can challenge and influence the direction and quality of development assistance in the forest sector in such a manner as to return optimum contribution to the governance environment, growth of institutions, and the development of the resource. The forest sector of Ghana can be credited for the role it has played in the country’s economic development. Currently, the sector contributes four percent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Over the last two decades, there have been several efforts from development partners to assist the sector improve on its contribution to national socio-economic development. Consequently, the sector has consistently received millions of dollars of development assistance from various development partners. In the past two decades, an amount in excess of US$ 643 million (in 2009 dollar value) has been pumped into the sector. This gives an average, between 1989-2009, of US$ 32 million a year (in 2009 dollar value). The forest sector aid architecture in Ghana has changed over the years.

Technologies for Forest Management, Utilization and Development

Compiled by:
Stella B. Acquah, Sarah Pentsil, Naomi Appiah, William K. Dumenu and Bukari Daramani

Handbook

Over the years, CSIR-FORIG has developed a number of technologies and interventions through research. Technology here refers to ‘any specific information and know-how, tangible or intangible, required to solve a problem or for the development, production, management or use of resources (Wikipedia, 2012, UNESCO, 1985). Th e technologies generated at CSIR-FORIG are aimed at combating environmental degradation, safeguarding the sustainable use of the nation’s forest resources and improving rural livelihood. All these technologies have the potential to contribute positively to the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of Ghanaians. However, many of the technologies have not been properly packaged, publicised and transferred to target stakeholders, users and the general public in comprehensible language.

Ghana Forest and Wildlife Handbook

Compiled and Edited by:
Kwame A. Oduro, Akwasi Duah-Gyamfi, Stella B. Acquah, Victor K. Agyeman

Ghana Forest and Wildlife Resources

The Forestry Commission of Ghana is responsible for the regulation of forest and wildlife resources utilization, conservation and management and the coordination of policies related to them. As part of its policy of contributing in a timely manner to public debate on issues related to forest and wildlife resources, the Forestry Commission is committed to providing information on the status of these resources through the publication of a Forest & Wildlife Resources Handbook. Such information increases our understanding and knowledge of the status of forest and wildlife resources and provides a basis for informed debate on how best to encourage sustainable forest management. Ghana’s quest for sustainable forest management, which dates back to the early 1900’s, has largely involved enactment of legislations, policy reforms and other legal approaches for the control of forestry activities. In the mid-1990’s, reforms in the forestry sector culminated in the 1994 Forest and Wildlife Policy, and the 1996 Forestry Development Master Plan (1996 –2020). These and other recent regulatory tools and mechanisms have been the main driving force that has spurred Ghana to work towards sustainable forest management over the past decades. This Handbook is a compendium of information about forests and wildlife resources, forestry and wood processing in Ghana. It includes information on environmental and social aspects of forests and other related issues.

Bamboo Resources in Ghana: Diversity, properties, products and opportunities

Author:
Stephen Lartey Tekpetey

Bamboo Resources Handbook Data and information on bamboo resources in Ghana are scattered and in various forms. This impedes quality research work and effective dissemination of information on this valuable resource. Especially in an era where there is the introduction of new courses in Non-timber forest products especially bamboo in most forestry related educational institutions in Ghana, the publication of the handbook of bamboo resources in Ghana will improve access to information and data on bamboo in Ghana. The book titled ‘Bamboo Resources in Ghana: Diversity, properties, products and opportunities” was published with financial support of ITTO fellowship (Ref No 010/10A). It is divided into eight chapters with each chapter comprising data and information on different aspects of bamboo resources in Ghana.

The Impact of Logging Damage on Tropical Rainforests, their Recovery and Regeneration An Annotated Bibliography

Authors:
W. D. Hawthorne, C. A. M. Marshall, M. Abu Juam and V. K. Agyeman

Impact of Logging Damage

This annotated bibliography is an output from a DFID/FRP project (R6716 – Impact of harvesting on forest mortality and regeneration in the high forest zones of Ghana). The aim of the project as a whole was to improve our knowledge of the negative impacts of logging in tropical rainforests, and to recommend improvements in the logging system. The focus of the bibliography therefore has a Ghanaian/West African slant, although papers from across the tropics are included as well as some relevant papers from temperate regions. At its core, the bibliography summarizes available knowledge on logging damage and recovery, forest regeneration, and the allometry, growth, dispersal, reproduction and death of trees related to logging disturbance. It also documents the logging system in Ghana. Some key zoological references are included, mainly thanks to the efforts of A. G. Johns and L. Darcy, which cover the impact of logging on tropical forest animal biodiversity, the role of animals as dispersers and pollinators, and as bio-indicators of forest condition. Social and economic impacts of logging are not treated, although they are of direct relevance to tropical forest management and conservation. This is a broad set of subject areas, each of which is extensive on its own, with a disproportionate amount of unpublished ‘grey’ literature circulating in internal reports and bulletins. We have tried to obtain some of the more relevant documents in the time available, but there must be very many more.

Mixed indigenous species plantations in Ghana

Compiled by:
P.P. Bosu, J.R. Cobbinah, B. Darko-Obiri, E.E. Nkrumah, S.S. Stephens & M. R. Wagner

Most forest plantations all over the world have been established using monoculture or single-species approach. Plantations consisting of two or more species on the same site, otherwise known as mixed-species plantations (or polycultures) are very few by comparison. One does not need to be an expert to figure why most tree growers prefer monoculture over mixed-species or polyculture systems. To a large extent, the motivation for most individuals or corporations to undertake tree plantation projects is economic. The objective may be to produce timber for construction, manufacture of furniture or some other secondary wood products. Plantations may also be established with the aim of producing utility poles, or raw materials for the manufacture of pulp and paper products. As the economic or financial return is key in all these ventures efforts are made to maximize the production of wood fibre with as little an investment as possible. Under such operational conditions, monoculture plantations are often preferred because of relative ease to establish and manage whether under small, medium or large-scale operations.