Administrative framework

The Ghana Forestry Department was established in 1909, and the permanent forest estate - maintained as Forest Reserves - was created during the 1920s and 1930s. The old system of concession leases has been replaced by a system of Timber Utilisation Contracts, under which the Government as stewards of the forest will invite bona fide timber companies to apply for a contract to harvest logs under strict conditions. Only those companies that can operate in an environmentally responsible and efficient manner will receive contracts. Applicants will have to demonstrate that they are properly equipped and staffed and that they are prepared to invest in plantation development programmes. Contracts will be drawn up so that total log production does not exceed the national sustainable limit of one million m3 per year. The Government has been refraining from allocating new concession leases since 1992, to open the way for the reallocation of timber rights to significant areas of forest where concessions have elapsed, and stumpage fees and land rent have also been increased. The introduction of Timber Utilisation Contracts is closely linked with the development of Ghana´s national certification framework (TFU 1995, TT 1/1999, TT 7/1999).

last updated: Thursday, October 28, 2004