4.1. National forest
policy
4.2. Laws and others
rules
4.3. Institutions involved in
FGR
4.1. National forest
policy
In 1945 the Forestry Department published a forest policy for
the northern regions and proposals for its implementation (Marshall,
1945).
The various functions of forestry in the Northern territories
were indirect utility in the conservation of water supplies, prevention of
erosion, shelterbelts and direct utility in the supply of fuelwood, poles and
possibly the production of a limited amount of sawn timber (Marshall, 1945,
1947). Silvicultural research in support of improved forest management was
prescribed:
- Investigation of the effects of no burning, early burning and late burning
on regeneration and growth.
- The effects of pruning side branches and thinning coppice in existing forest:
selective pole felling; formation of taungya plantations using leguminous
food crops and fire resistant tree species (Anogeissus sp., Bauhinia
sp.).
- Utilization research planned in preservation of roofing poles and pit sawing
of comparatively small trees.
The policy framework for Savannah Woodland Management (SWM)
has not been reviewed since 1945. The Forestry Department spends most of its
energy protecting the reserves from the people who own them and for whom they
were created. A new collaborative approach whereby the Forestry Department and
the communities form working partnerships is needed.
A new and clear policy framework is needed to guide overall
development of Savannah Woodland Management to encourage local
participation:
- A new policy should clarify the overall purpose of SWM. Is it primarily
an engine of local economic development and environmental protection or to
supply charcoal to southern Ghana and protect the Volta Lake?
- The new policy should clarify whether the area under permanent protection
is sufficient and if more protected areas are needed what strategy to employ
- The new policy should clarify the appropriate medium term and long-term
role for the Forestry Department. In the short term there will be moved from
a regulatory, exclusion, protection role to supporting the development of
more participatory forestry management (with communities, NGO's, EPA).
- The new policy should clarify the purpose of revenue generation from SWM.
As far as possible the revenue should be returned to the landowners, district
assemblies and farmers of these impoverished areas to support development
and their own forest management efforts, environmental protection, farming
systems, support, ecological maintenance e.g. Biodiversity.
- The policy on conversion needs to be reviewed such that poor sites where
the cost of establishing plantations cannot be recouped are not converted
since the Mean Annual Increment is low (Forestry Department Planning Branch,
1997).
4.2. Laws and others
rules
Existing laws are either obsolete or are inadequate to deal
with present environmental issues (Dwumfour, 1994). But two main bottlenecks
have impeded the efficacy and effectiveness of environmental legal regulations
in the country according to Dwumfour (1994): There is total lack of compliance
with existing legal commitments and an inherent weakness of enforcement
procedures. Thus, some specific, achievable actions are needed to provide
practical basis direct action for improving the environment, implementation of
national policies and programmes to reconcile social, economic and environmental
objectives in development.
Many conventions related to forest genetic resources
conservation and utilization have been signed/ratified by Ghana (Dwumfour,
1994):
- The African Convention on the Conservation of Natural Resources, Algiers,
1968.
- Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl
Habitat, Ramsar, 1971.
- Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural
Heritage, Paris, 1972.
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild flora and
fauna, Washington, 1973.
- Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals, Bonn,
1979.
- International Tropical Timber Agreement, Geneva, 1983.
- Convention on Biological Diversity, Rio de Janeiro, 1992.
4.3. Institutions involved in
FGR
Other agencies concerned with savanna woodland in management
the Northern Regions:
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Tamale. The EPA tries to raise awareness
of destruction of the environment and the steps needed to restore it. Monitoring
and education are the main activities. Inter-sectoral networks have been established.
- Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (SARI), Tamale. The main emphasis
at SARI is on food crop production. Three farming systems research groups
have been set up. One group targets each of the Upper West, Upper East and
Northern Regions of Ghana. The groups include researchers in wildlife, socio-economists,
entomology, soils and agronomy. Agroforestry research is conducted on the
use of different tree species to improve soil fertility.
- University of Development Studies (UDS), Tamale, Faculty of Agriculture.
The UDS was established in 1994. Its Department of Renewable Natural Resources
included forestry, wildlife and grassland management. Teaching, research and
extension activities are supported
- The Agroforestry Unit of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has an office
in each district. Their activities are mostly extension and supply of seedlings
to farmers. Tree species are distributed free but fruit tree seedlings are
sold to farmers to plant on cropland, woodlots, boundaries, fodder banks and
for soil conservation.
- The Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) The Forest research institute
has fourty research staff in various disciplines. FORIG has a sub-unit in
Bolgatanga to support its savannah research programme (Ofosu-Asiedu and Nketiah,
1996).
There is poor relation between the Forestry Department and
communities around the reserves. There should be a strategy of involving the
landowning groups in the process of objectives set ting and policy
formulation.
Better coordination is needed between the Forestry Department
and other agencies and NGOs by establishing local working groups.
