Forest Fringe Livelihoods at the Edge of Deforestation in Ghana

Forest Fringe Livelihoods at the Edge of Deforestation in Ghana PDF Author: Peter Dok Tindan
Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing
ISBN: 9783659510052
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 184

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Book Description
Research and policy on deforestation has often asserted it as "evil" because of the long term environmental implications for sustainable development evident in global warming, biodiversity loss and soil degradation. While this is true, it is undeniable forest degradation and deforestation has contributed tremendously to the development of households' livelihoods, income and employment and social amenities for the sustenance of forest fringe communities. Considering the negative consequences albeit socio-economic benefits, this current research has provides a holistic discussion on the implications of deforestation on forest fringe livelihoods in Ghana, and has rather asserted deforestation as a "necessary evil." The findings are fashioned on the tripartite relationship between development, environment and management, the major tenets of sustainable development. The book is useful for researchers and professionals in forest governance who seek to ensure sustainable forest management is a collaborative activity through broad public participation of all stakeholders in decision making and policy design and implementation.

Forest Fringe Livelihoods at the Edge of Deforestation in Ghana

Forest Fringe Livelihoods at the Edge of Deforestation in Ghana PDF Author: Peter Dok Tindan
Publisher: LAP Lambert Academic Publishing
ISBN: 9783659510052
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 184

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Book Description
Research and policy on deforestation has often asserted it as "evil" because of the long term environmental implications for sustainable development evident in global warming, biodiversity loss and soil degradation. While this is true, it is undeniable forest degradation and deforestation has contributed tremendously to the development of households' livelihoods, income and employment and social amenities for the sustenance of forest fringe communities. Considering the negative consequences albeit socio-economic benefits, this current research has provides a holistic discussion on the implications of deforestation on forest fringe livelihoods in Ghana, and has rather asserted deforestation as a "necessary evil." The findings are fashioned on the tripartite relationship between development, environment and management, the major tenets of sustainable development. The book is useful for researchers and professionals in forest governance who seek to ensure sustainable forest management is a collaborative activity through broad public participation of all stakeholders in decision making and policy design and implementation.

Sustainable Livelihoods of Forest Fringe Communities

Sustainable Livelihoods of Forest Fringe Communities PDF Author: Emmanuel Acheampong
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :

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Book Description


Dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana

Dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana PDF Author: Mul, Marloes
Publisher: International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
ISBN: 9290908637
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 48

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Book Description


Deforestation in Ghana

Deforestation in Ghana PDF Author: Michael S. Asante
Publisher: University Press of America
ISBN: 9780761822974
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 294

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Book Description
Deforestation in Ghana is a research-based analytical study that explains the disconnect between the declared deforestation policy intentions and their outcomes in Ghana. Intended as a case study of the renewable resources policy process in developing economies, this book provides complete information and clarification about the phenomenon of continued deforestation in Ghana in spite of the long history of policies and actions to control it. Author Michael Asante's detailed in-depth analysis of historical, political, economic, and cultural factors and events fully explain the unending destruction of the forests in Ghana. He provides experts, students, and all others with rational, practical answers and recommendations for this lingering problem.

Politics and Economics of Tropical High Forest Management

Politics and Economics of Tropical High Forest Management PDF Author: Thorsten Treue
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401007063
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 252

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Book Description
For the last two decades the loss of, in particular, tropical rainforest has alarmed the public in the developed parts of the world. The debate has been characterised by a lack of understand ing of the causes and effects of the process, leading to the prevailing reaction being unquali fied condemnation. Such attitude has even been observed among scientists, claiming suprem acy to biodiversity conservation. Many scientific analyses are available, but the basis for so ber debates and appropriate actions is still highly insufficient. Two recent international initia tives! will hopefully lead to improved knowledge of deforestation and forest degradation as they recognise the need for studies to critically investigate those issues. This book will pro vide useful input to the initiatives. In my opinion, the scientific analyses have not sufficiently promoted the understanding that the fate of tropical forests is first and foremost a concern of the governments of the countries in which the forests are situated. Tropical forests may be important to the global environment and their rich biodiversity may be a human heritage. But their main importance is their poten tial contribution to improving livelihood in the countries in question.

REDD, Forest Governance and Rural Livelihoods

REDD, Forest Governance and Rural Livelihoods PDF Author: Oliver Springate-Baginski
Publisher: CIFOR
ISBN: 6028693154
Category : Forest management
Languages : en
Pages : 289

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Book Description
Experiences from incentive-based forest management are examined for their effects on the livelihoods of local communities. In the second section, country case studies provide a snapshot of REDD developments to date and identify design features for REDD that would support benefits for forest communities.

The Implications of Land Tenure and Benefit Sharing Approaches on the REDD+ Scheme for Forest Fringe Communities in Ghana

The Implications of Land Tenure and Benefit Sharing Approaches on the REDD+ Scheme for Forest Fringe Communities in Ghana PDF Author: Kwame Agyei
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Climate change mitigation
Languages : en
Pages : 122

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Book Description
One essential component of global efforts on climate change mitigation is the incentive-based mechanism that seeks to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation and also enhances forest carbon stocks through sustainable forest management in developing countries (the REDD+ scheme). There are other potential co-benefits associated with the REDD+ scheme which include biodiversity conservation, poverty alleviation and enhancement of rural livelihoods. A clear challenge for the REDD+ scheme is that if its implementation should be deemed as successful, the various drivers of deforestation should be addressed whereas the rights of local or forest fringe communities to forest resources should concurrently not be compromised. This research uses Ghana as a case to explore the implications of the introduction of the REDD+ scheme for forest fringe communities. The study employs land tenure and benefit sharing issues as the conceptual framework to answer the research question: 'How should a national REDD+ scheme for Ghana be designed to maximise benefits to forest fringe communities?' The study is based on a review of relevant literature including government documents and academic literature as well as interviews with ten key informants from the REDD+ Steering Committee of Ghana, NGOs, land administrators, academia and the forest fringe communities. The findings of the research indicate that Ghana's land tenure arrangement is pluralistic and unclear involving both customary and statutory arrangements. Additionally, statutory provisions for sharing of benefits from forest resources in Ghana generally exclude forest fringe communities. Consequently, the rights of forest fringe communities in Ghana have not been fully recognised in the management of forest resources. However, under the REDD+ scheme preparatory process, Ghana has engaged forest fringe communities as key stakeholders for the scheme in general and for specific components such as the development of a benefit sharing framework for the scheme. This paper suggests that the participatory approach adopted in the REDD+ readiness phase of Ghana could build genuine support from forest fringe communities if there is strong political will to initiate reforms in the forestry sector that will legally recognise the rights of forest fringe communities and thereby make these communities shareholders of the scheme.

Livelihoods Support Programs, Conservation Attitudes, and Tropical Forest Biodiversity

Livelihoods Support Programs, Conservation Attitudes, and Tropical Forest Biodiversity PDF Author: Edem Kodzo Ekpe
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 259

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Book Description
Human activities are a major driver of biodiversity degradation and loss, especially in tropical forest areas, where forest-fringe towns and villages depend on the forests for their livelihoods. In order to reduce threats that human activities pose to biodiversity, livelihoods support programs are employed as economic incentives for biodiversity conservation. These programs support the livelihoods activities of local communities, with the aim of triggering favorable attitudes and behaviors towards conservation, and ultimately reduce biodiversity degradation. Their effectiveness as conservation tools has not been evaluated. I investigated the effects of livelihoods programs on conservation attitudes and the consequent effects on biodiversity in the Afadjato-Agumatsa and Atewa forest areas in southeastern Ghana. The study areas are coupled human and natural systems, which are excellent for research in the theoretical framework of biocomplexity in the environment. Using literature reviews and field visits, I documented the specific livelihoods support activities (LSAs) used for biodiversity conservation, their historical trend and geographical distribution in Ghana. I used ex-post cost-benefit analysis to determine socio-economic estimates of the LSAs in the two forest areas. Since communities were not randomly assigned to the interventions, I employed quasi-experimental design to evaluate the effects of LSAs on environmental attitudes. I evaluated the effect of conservation attitudes on biodiversity at two levels. These levels included 1) functional biodiversity at the landscape level represented by mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of forest; and 2) compositional biodiversity at the species level represented by species diversity of fruit bats. The earliest record of LSAs used for biodiversity conservation in Ghana was in 1993. I identified 71 different activities belonging to eight categories. Some of these activities are beekeeping, animal husbandry, crop farming, and snail rearing. Most LSA programs have been in northern Ghana. There was an increasing tendency to make LSAs part of every conservation program in Ghana and this satisfies the current policy of collaborative conservation. The socio-economic estimates of LSAs included: 1) capital investment; 2) net socio-economic benefits; and 3) the benefit-cost ratio. The per-community values of the three estimates were not different between the two study areas. The per capita values of capital investment and net economic benefit were not significantly different between the two study areas. However, benefit-cost ratio per capita was higher in Afadjato-Agumatsa than in Atewa. Estimates of economic returns from LSAs were marginal but the perceptions of success were relatively high. Environmental attitudes in LSA communities and non-LSA communities were not significantly different, and this was confirmed by an estimate of infinitesimal effects of LSAs on forest conservation attitudes. Among LSA communities, benefit-cost ratio of LSAs predicted favorable forest conservation attitudes; and change in pro-conservation attitudes were significantly higher in communities that had active LSAs than in communities which had no active LSA. Mean NDVI of the forests decreased from 1991 to 2000 and decreased further but at a slower rate to 2010. Higher forest conservation attitudes predicted higher mean NDVI in 2010. Higher change in mean NDVI from 1991 to 2000 predicted higher change in mean NDVI from 2000 to 2010. Eleven of the 13 fruit bat species in Ghana were recorded in the study areas. Longer distances between a local community and its forest predicted higher species diversity of forest-specialist fruit bats. The results indicate that LSAs have become a major contribution to Ghana's current collaborative forest policy. The fact that perceptions of LSA success were moderate even though the economic returns from them were marginal suggest that other factors such as provision of employment, training in new skills and community cohesion played a part in how communities viewed the success as LSAs. Evaluations of conservation attitudes suggest that just participating in LSAs did not improve attitudes; but higher benefit-cost ratio predicted favorable conservation attitudes, and conservation attitudes were higher in communities that sustained their LSAs. Therefore, it may serve biodiversity conservation to invest in LSAs that can be sustained and involve the least costs to local communities. Primary production of the forests, a proxy for a functional habitat, continued to decrease. Preventing communities from locating closer to forests could improve fruit bat diversity, which contributes to natural forest regeneration. Improving conservation attitudes should be an objective of conservation at the landscape scale. On the basis of the results, I developed a conceptual model for forest biodiversity conservation in a biocomplexity framework. This model could be useful for evaluating conservation in tropical forest areas. Lessons from this study can be applied in other incentive-based conservation programs such as payments for ecosystem services systems and carbon market schemes. I suggest that this study be repeated after a decade and that other socio-political and biogeochemical variables be integrated into future studies.

Why Forests? Why Now?

Why Forests? Why Now? PDF Author: Frances Seymour
Publisher: Brookings Institution Press
ISBN: 1933286865
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 389

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Book Description
Tropical forests are an undervalued asset in meeting the greatest global challenges of our time—averting climate change and promoting development. Despite their importance, tropical forests and their ecosystems are being destroyed at a high and even increasing rate in most forest-rich countries. The good news is that the science, economics, and politics are aligned to support a major international effort over the next five years to reverse tropical deforestation. Why Forests? Why Now? synthesizes the latest evidence on the importance of tropical forests in a way that is accessible to anyone interested in climate change and development and to readers already familiar with the problem of deforestation. It makes the case to decisionmakers in rich countries that rewarding developing countries for protecting their forests is urgent, affordable, and achievable.

Forest entomology in West Tropical Africa: Forest insects of Ghana

Forest entomology in West Tropical Africa: Forest insects of Ghana PDF Author: Michael R. Wagner
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 9401579369
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 214

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Book Description
It is a great honor and indeed a privilege for me to write the Foreword to this book, the first of its kind from the Forest Products Research Institute The study of forest insects is now becoming a matter of great concern to many people all over the world because insects damage the already depleted forests and forest resources. In Ghana very little interest was shown in the insects of forest trees and products. But as forest practices have become more intensive so also have the pests on the crops increased and the damage caused increased to alarming proportions. Foresters are now becoming in creasingly aware of the immense havoc that some of these insects can cause. To aid the fight against the pests they have to be fully identified and studied so that effective control measures can be implemented. It is in an effort to bridge this gap in our knowledge that one welcomes this book by Professor Michael R. Wagner, Dr. S.K.N. Atuahene and Dr.