Conservation initiatives for the tropical high forest.
1996
Frimpong Mensah K.
The Tropical High Forest in Ghana contributes substantially to the gross domestic product of the country and provides benefits both economically and socially to the people. The forests which at the beginning of the century covered a third of the land surface area, has now been reduced considerably through agriculture, logging and harvesting of forest products, fire and mining. Creaming the forests for specific primary species of high commercial value by loggers, has rendered some species especially; - Milicia excelsa [Odum], Mahogany, Entandrophragma cylindricum [Sapele], and Pericopsis elata [Afromorsia] which are endemic to the country very endangered. The rate of exploitation of these species far exceeds their growth rate. The paper examines the quality of the remaining forests and the number of conservative initiatives undertaken by the Forestry Commission, the Forestry Department and Non-Governmental Organisations to preserve these and other species. Protection of the forests by legislative instruments or special rules governing logging and other activities within and outside the forest reserves has been instituted with varying success. Through policy reforms on tree planting, rationalisation of concession holdings, charging of realistic royalties on trees considered endangered, regeneration as well as the exploitation of the forests and these endemic species sustainably managed. Local communities preserve and manage their groves and butrial grounds with stocks of the species threatened in other areas with the assistance of NGOs. There is continous need of education on conservation integrated with the efficient utilisation of the forest resources in Ghana.
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