Involving local farmers in rehabilitation of degraded tropical forests: some lessons from Ghana |
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Authors: | Dominic Blay Mark Appiah Lawrence Damnyag Francis K Dwomoh Olavi Luukkanen Ari Pappinen |
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Institution: | (1) Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG), P.O. Box 63, Kumasi, Ghana;(2) Viikki Tropical Resources Institute, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 27, Latokartanonkaari 9, Helsinki, 00014, Finland;(3) Faculty of Forestry, University of Joensuu, Joensuu, Finland |
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Abstract: | The role of community-based plantation development in forest rehabilitation and poverty alleviation is a pressing issue for
the government of Ghana. In this paper, we present an analysis of the prospects of a community-based plantation using taungya
systems and indigenous trees as means to forest rehabilitation and livelihood improvement in Ghana. The project management
strategies, communication process and incentive mechanism and their impact on local participation are discussed with the aim
to recommending a mechanism through which local farmers can best be involved in rehabilitation of degraded sites in the future
in Ghana. Data were collected through a survey using personal interviews of 431 farming households and ten key informants
from ten communities living in scattered hamlets in and around forests reserves. The results show a high rate of local participation
in project tree planting activities. Four years after the project’s initiation, about 250 ha of plantations had been established
using twelve priority indigenous and one exotic species and farmers had indicated improvement in their farming practices and
availability of food and forest products. Restoring forest quality as a timber resource and associated values, getting money,
food stuff and timber and non-timber for domestic use, and having access to fertile land for farming were the top three issues
prioritised by respondents as motivational factors for engaging in the project activities. Overall, this project demonstrates
that reversing tropical forest degradation is possible. For this we need local involvement in tree domestication combined
with activities that addresses livelihood needs and environmental concerns. This case also demonstrates the prospects of utilising
indigenous tree species, not only exotic species that dominated tree planting in the past, for plantations and landscape rehabilitation
in Ghana.
Readers should send their comments on this paper to BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue. |
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Keywords: | Community-based forest rehabilitation Ghana Incentive mechanism Modified taungya system Priority Indigenous tree species Participation |
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