BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN GHANA

THE ROLE OF THE FORESTRY COMMISSIONYAW KWAKYE, PROJECTS MANAGER, FSD

PRESENTATION BY THE FORESTRY COMMISSION

PRESENTATION BY THE FORESTRY COMMISSION

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

• Introduction• Pre-Rio Conference • Post-Rio Conference• Counting the Gains• Consolidating and

Sustaining the Gains• Conclusion

PRESENTATION BY THE FORESTRY COMMISSION

INTRODUCTION

The Forestry Commission is 100 years this year, having been established originally as the Forestry Department in 1909 and evolving through the years into the present state.

It is the foremost public agency with a specific constitutional mandate to protect, manage, develop the national forest estate on behalf of the government and the for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

The mission of the FC is “to sustainably manage Ghana’s forest and wildlife resources”.

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INTRODUCTION (Cont.)

The Forestry Commission works through three divisions with clearly defined core functions.

These are; The Forest Services

Division The Wildlife Division and

the Timber Industry

Development DivisionThe FSD and the WD are

the divisions that are directly responsible for issues relating to biodiversity conservation

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Pre-Rio Era

Conservation of biological diversity has been one of the key conservation objectives of the Forestry Commission.

Huge chunks of forest reserves were carefully selected and delineate throughout the country purposely for the protection of biodiversity at the species, genetic and ecological levels even before the concept of biodiversity conservation gained currency.

To date, there are 182 forest reserves in the high-forest zone covering an area of 1.62 million hectares, 62 forest reserves in the savanna zone covering 600,000 hectares and and 16 wildlife protected areas in the country16 wildlife protected areas in the country

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Pre-Rio Era

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Some areas of reserved forests were designated variously as; Specially Protected Biological Areas (now GSBAs) Provenance Protection Areas Hill Sanctuaries Swamps Headwaters/watersheds Sacred groves

Management plans have been developed to guide the sound management of these areas (protection working circles)

Pre-Rio Era

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Under the Forest Inventory and Management Project (FIMP) which was sponsored by the then ODA (now DFID), extensive botanical surveys were conducted in the high forest zone of Ghana culminating in the formulation of the Forest Protection Strategy for Ghana in 1992.

This has been a major source document for all forest protection activities in the country, although with a far more greater emphasis on forest management

Post-Rio Era

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The UNCED Conference of 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, elevated biodiversity to global prominence by bringing it to the attention of political authority throughout the world.

Opportunities for technical and financial support for biodiversity conservation initiatives opened up for developing countries endowed with biological diversity.

Ghana secured a grant of 8.7m USD from GEF in 1997 for the implementation of the HFBCP

In 2003, additional 7.6m USD was also secured from GEF for the implementation of the NSBCP

Counting the Gains Biodiversity Hotspots in Ghana

30 areas have been identified, surveyed and pillared as GSBAs throughout the HFZ based on their relative Genetic Heat Index.

Measures are underway to enhance the legal status of these areas to reflect their global importance to ensure their continued protection

Almost all the GSBAs are also classified as Important Bird Areas (IBAs) based on surveys conducted by Birdlife International.

Also 42 areas have been identified and demarcated as Provenance Protection Areas (PPAs) as an important source of high quality tree genetic material PRESENTATION BY THE FORESTRY COMMISSION

Counting the Gains

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Knowledge Build-up Several studies and surveys have been conducted

resulting in the accumulation of valuable information crucial for sound biodiversity conservation in Ghana and contributing to bridging the biodiversity knowledge gap in Ghana and globally.

These include faunal and floral surveys in 24 GSBAs, socio-economic surveys in 24 GSBAs, protection strategy for PPAs, survival plan for great apes in Ghana, Conservation Strategy for Talbotiella Gentii etc.

Various video documentaries have been developed for educational purposes

Counting the Gains

Capacity Building Institutional capacity development

through training of staff of the FC in various categories; professional, semi-professional and technicians.

Logistical support Support to IRNR of KNUST, Botany

Department of U of G. e.g. Equipment, sharing of knowledge etc

Heavy utilisation of local expertise for research and intellectual activities through consultancies

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Counting the Gains

Local Participation and Livelihood Opportunities Through an Alternative Livelihood

Investment component of the HFBCP project, over 150 different communities with over 7,500 individuals have benefited from a concessionary loan scheme.

Micro-economic activities beneficiaries are engaged in activities that include grass-cutter and snail rearing, breeding of small ruminants, oil processing etc.

This scheme has engendered greater local support and participation in biodiversity conservation efforts

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Still Counting the Gains

Other Benefit GSBAs with high potential for

ecotourism identified for future development e.g. Cape Three Points, Atewa, Southern Dry Forests

There is greater awareness on biodiversity among local communities, according to the results of perception and attitude surveys conducted in some selected GSBAs

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Consolidating and Sustaining the Gains

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GSBAs will continue to enjoy priority treatment in the FSD as a “strategic asset”.

This should reflect in the allocation of resources and management planning activities.

Continuous engagement with key partners and collaborators, both internal and external to ensure biodiversity conservation is maintained as a national concern

Placing people at the centre, ALWAYS!

Conclusion

Given the incalculable value of our biological diversity natural heritage, no efforts should be spared by all sectors of society to ensure its sustainability.

This calls for collaboration on all fronts; funding, research, policy formulation, implementation etc.

There are immense opportunities around that should be tapped for the best results

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PRESENTATION BY THE FORESTRY COMMISSION

THANK YOU