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Table of Contents

SUMMARY

1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

1.1 Purpose 81.2 Natural Resource Management Project - A Concept 81.3 Ghana's Forestry Sector 8

1.3.1 Forest Resources 81.3.2 Timber Management 101.3.3 Forest Management System 111.3.4 Forest Industry 121.3.5 Biodiversity 141.3.6 Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) 15

1.4 Ghana's Wildlife Sector 151.5 Related Donor Activities 16

1.5.1 Forest Resource Management Project (FRMP) 161.5.2 Environmental Resource Management Project (GERMP) 171.5.3 Coastal Wetlands Management Project (CWMP) 17

2. POLICY, LEGAL and ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

2.1 Forest and Wildlife Policy 172.2 Forestry Deparunent Master Plan (1996-2020) 182.3 Logging Manual for Forest Management in Ghana 192.4 Biodiversity Protection 202.5 Environmental Protection 202.6 Other Relevant Policies and Legislation 212.7 International Policies 212.8 Administrative Framework 23

2.8.1 General 232.8.2 Ministry of Lands and Forestry 232.8.3 Forestry Department 232.8.4 Department of Wildlife 242.8.5 Forestry Commission 242.8.6 Ghana National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 24

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3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

3.1 Project Objectives 23.2 Rationale 253.3 Project Components 5

3.3.1 High Forest Management "3.3.2 Savanna Resource Management 263.3.3 Wildlife Resource Management 273.3.4 Environmental Management Coordination 28

3.4 Project Support Activities 283.4.1 Policy, Planning and Institutional Reforms 283.4.2 Capacity Development 283.4.3 Resource Information Systems 293.4.4 Monitoring Land Use Changes 29

3.5 Project Financing 293.6 Implementation Arrangements 293.7 Project Sustainability 303.8 Lessons Learned from Past Operations 303.9 Special-Program Analysis 30

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 General 314.2 Baseline Data 31

4.2.1 Socio-econonic Data 314.2.2 Biophysical Data 32

4.3 Stakeholder Participation 324.4 Scoping and Bounding 334.5 Criteria for Impact Assessment 34

4.5.1 Severity 344.5.2 Extent 344.5.3 Duration 354.5.4 Frequency of Occurrence 354.5.5 Probability of Occurrence 354.5.6 Possibility of Reversibilty 35

4.6 Scoring System for Significance of Impact 364.7 Positive Impacts 364.8 EIA Team 37

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5. DESCRIPTION of the ENVIRONMENT

5.1 Location and Topography 375.2 Physical Environment 38

5.2.1 Climate 385.2.2 Physiography 395.2.3 Geology and Soils 395.2.4 Water Resources 40

5.3 Biological Environment 405.3.1 Major Ecozones 405.3.2 Biodiversity - Species Composition and Distribution 415.3.3 Threatened Wildlife Species 425.3.4 Important/Threatened Wildlife Habitats 44

5.4 Socio-economic Environment 455.4.1 The Ghana Economy 455.4.2 Population 455.4.3 Administration 465.4.4 Economic Activity, Income and Poverty 465.4.5 Culture 475.4.6 Social Structure and Institutions 495.4.7 Livelihood 495.4.8 Health and Education 495.5.9 Services 505.5.10 Rights to Resources 505.5.1 1 Relationship with Natural Resource Base 515.5.12 People's Views and Values of the Forest 525.5.13 GenderConcems 535.5.14 Issues 54

6. ENVERONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

6.1 Important Environmental Components 556.2 Benefits and Impacts 55

6.2.1 General 556.2.2 Summary of Benefits and Impacts 57

6.3 Impact Analysis 586.3.1 General 586.3.2 Description of Impacts and Benefits 58

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6 4 Cumulative Effects 766.5 Residual Impacts 786.6 Environmemal Enhancement 80

7. ANALYSIS of PROJECT ALTERNATIVES

7.1 Concept Analvsis 817.2 Alternative #1: No Project 817.3 Alternative #2: Continuation of Current FRM 817.4 Alternative #3: Historical Forestry Project 827.5 Alternative #4: Current Concept Without Comprehensive Savanna

Management Component 827.6 Althernative #5: Current Concept 827.7 Summary and Conclusions 83

8. ENVERONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

8.1 Purpose and Intent 838.2 Description 838.3 Mitigative Measures 84

8.3.1 Impact on Air Quality 848.3.2 Impact on Hydrology 858.3.3 Impact on Water Quality 868.3.4 Impact on Soils 878.3.5 Impact on Flora 888.3.6 Impact on Fauna; Rare and Endangered Species and Habitats 898.3.7 Impact on Biodiversity 908.3.8 Impact on Traditional Rights 908.3.9 Impact on Jobs and Poverty 918.3.10 Impact on Non-Timber Forest Products 928.3.11 Impact on Aesthetics 938.3.12 Impact on Migration 948.3.13 Impact on Fuelwood 958.3.14 Impact on Land Use 968.3.15 Impact on Gender Issues 96

8.4 Indicative Mitigative Costs and Scheduling 998.5 Training 998.6 Monitoring and Reporting 100

9. REFERENCES

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APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Description of Ghana's Major Vegetation TypesAppendix 2: Scoring of Criteria for Individual IECs

List of Tables

Table 1.1: Area of Forest Reserves by Management CategoryTable 1.2: Recent Trends in Timber Harvesting LevelsTable 1.3: Timber Industry

Table 4.2: Criteria, Ratings and Signficance of Impacts

Table 5.1: Climates of the Tropical Zone Represented in GhanaTable 5.2: Formation Groups of Ghana, Their Sizes, Rainfall and Percentage in GhanaTable 5.3 Timber Operation Units

Table 6.1: IECsTable 6.2: Summary of Project Impacts on EECsTable 6.3: Summary of Cumulative Impacts by Levels of SighnificanceTable 6.4: Overall Ratings for IECsTable 5.5: Cumulative EffectsTable 6.6: Residual Impacts

List of Figures

Figure 2. 1: Organogram: Structre of Ghana's Forest AdministrationFigure 5.1: Ecological Zones of GhanaFigure 5.2: Forest Reserves and Forest Zones

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Acronyms

FD Forestry DepartmentWD Department of WildlifeMoAF Ministy of Agriculture and FoodGoG Government of GhanaNTFPs Non-Timber Forest ProductsPA Protected AreaFRMP Forest Resource Management ProjectGERMP Ghana Environmental Management ProjectFC Foresuy CommissionLEAPs Local Environmental Action PlansGEF Global Environment FundPPC Project Coordinating CommitteeMI-F Mnistry of Lands and ForestryITCZ inter-Tropical Convergence ZoneGDP Gross Domestic ProductEIA Environmental Impact AssessmentIECs Important Environmental ComponentsNRMP Natural Resource Management ProjectTUC Timber Utilisation Contact

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SUMMARY

. Statement of Purpose

The purpose of this environmental impact assessment (ELA) is to identify' the potentialimpacts that the Natural Resource Management Project (NRMP) may have on aspects ofthe biophysical and socio-economic environment. The document describes environmentalbenefits that will occur as a result of the project and the likely mitigative measures that willbe required to avoid and/or minimize the negative impacts. An outline of an environmentalmanagement plan is also included.

. Natural Resource Management Project

The project's primary objective is to establish the institutional and operational framework,within the public and private sectors, for sustainable, participatory management ofGhana's soil, water, wildlife and forest resources; conservation of biodiversity; and,rehabilitation of degraded areas. It will assist communities to take lead responsibility inmanagement activities and strive to ensure that land and forest resources are sustained attheir optimum level of production and that opportunities for income generation arewidened, particularly for the growing numbers of disadvantaged rural poor who's actionsconstitute a potentially serious factor in the degradation of these resources.

The project will be comprised of four components: high forest management (includingprograms for collaborative forestry management, biodiversity and plantationestablishment), savanna resources ranagement, wildlife resource management, and,environmental management coordination. Project support activities will include policy,planning and institutional reforms, capacity development, resource infornmtion systems,and the monitoring of land use changes.

Rationale

Ghana's forest resources are dwindling rapidly as a result of annual harvesting levels thatfar exceed the country's allowable cut. As a result, certain timber species are scarce, floraand fauna populations are being threatened as habitat is reduced, and in general, thecountry's biodiversity is being reduced. If the current trend continues, the country couldlose most of its high forest resources over the next 25 years.

Communities that traditionally rely on forest products, particulrly the non-timber forestproducts (NTFPs), are finding access to these products increasingly more difficult. Sincethese products play such an important role in rural people's everyday lives and the localeconomy, rural commumiies are feeling the impacts of resource demal in many ways, notthe least of which is a steady decline in overall well-being.

The project will address both of these major issues with a focus on sustainable forestmanagement and an involvement of local communities in the planning and implementation

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process. In fact, local comnmunities will become more directly involved in the custodialship

of forest resources.

. Institutional and Legal Framework

. Forest and Wildlife Policy

The policy that will provide the basis of the project is the Forest and Wildlife Policy(1994) which has the following objectives:

. Manage and enhance the permanent estate of forest and wildlife resources for thepreservation of soil and water resources, conservation of biological diversity and theenvironment, and for sustainable production of domestic and commercial produce;

. Promote the development of viable and efficient forest-based industries, particularly insecondary and tertiary processing;

P Promote public awareness and involvement of rural people in forestry and wildlifeconservation in order to maintain life-sustaining systems, preserve scenic areas andenhance the potential of recreation, tourismn and income-generating opportunities;

. Develop effective capability at national, regional and distnct levels for sustainablemanagement of forest and wildlife resources.

Strategies relating to each of the policy objectives are outlined in the policy document.These strategies are to be further expanded within the corporate statements andoperational plans of respective insitutions, and have been incorporated in the ForestryDevelopment Master Plan (1996-2020).

. Forestry Devdopment Master Plan (1996-2020)

A forestry management plan has been prepared to guide the implementation of the Forestand Wildlife Policy and its successfil implementation is intended to maximize the rate ofsocial and economic development of the country and secure optimum welfare andadequate means of livelihood for all Ghanaians.

The objectives of the Plan are scheduled into three time hoizons. Phase I (1996-2000)will consolidate forest management systems to ensure that timber can be certified as"sourced from sustainable managed forests" by the year 2000, and ensure implementationof a Protected Areas Plan; development and launching of flexible schemes for investmentsin commercial forest planons, tree farming and propagation of nontimber products andwildlife; creation of an enabling climate for rationalization of the timber industry andconsolidation of fiscal measures for efficient uilization and increased value-addedprocessing. In Phase II (2001-2010) it is envisaged that maintenance of sustainable forestand protected areas management systems will continue with maitenance of commercial

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forest-based production systems and development of product harvesting, handling andmarketing facilities, as well as promotion of total value-added processing and competitivemarketing. Phase m (2011-2020) would include the continued maintenance of sustainableforest and wildlife management systems, commercial production systems, improvedproduct harvesting and marketing, and competitive value-added processing industries.

. Methods for EIA

. participation

A team of nine members, representing different disciplines (environmental assessment,forestry, ecology, management, sociology, economics, and forest industry) was assembledfor preparing the EIA. Limited field visits were conducted, particularly to the reserves andcommunities surrounding the reserves, and to a cross section of the forest woodprocessing industry. The main purpose of these visits was for the team members tofamiliarize themselves with the project concept and to discuss with project stakeholders,perceptions of impacts and issues as these relate to the project. The general public, NGOs,communities, and other govenument agencies were all invited, through press notices, to ageneral workshop on the ELA of the project.

data

Apart from information gained from the field surveys, secondary data was used for theanalysis.

. assessment

The basis of the assessment has been the identification of 27 important environmentalcomponents (IECs). These are those segments of the envirownent that are likely to beaffected in one way or another by aspects of the project and which are deemed worthy ofattention. For each potential impact, six criteria (severity, extent, duration, probability,frequency and reversibility) were considered. Each of these criteria were assignednumerical ratings for levels of intensity. Totals for each imnpact situation were added todetermine the scale of significance for each impact.

. The Environment

. biophysical environment

Tropical high forests occur in the south-western third of the country and form part of theGuinea-Congolean phytogeographical region. The high forest covers 8.2 million ha andcontains over 70% of the country's biodiversity. Two evergreen types (wet and moist)occur in the extreme south-west comner of Ghana and receive the highest annual rainfall of1,500-2,100mm. This is a floristic rich zone and supports many species which are absentor rare elsewhere. The compleit of the high forest provides a variety of habitats, and

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flora and fauna species. Excluding the mosses, Ghana has over 3,600 plant species and2,214 of these are high forest species. The country is also home to 225 mammal species.721 bird species, and 250 species of fish. There is a large number of threatened andendangered species, including several primates, most of which rely on the habitatsprovided by the high forest.

socioeconomic environment

Ghana has a population estimated at 12.5 million in 1994 and this is estimated to reach20.0 million by the turn of the century. Farming and other agricutural activities supportedthe main population in the rural areas and in 1984 approximately 61.1% of the populationwas engaged in these activities. Employment in the timber industry is estimated at130,000. In addition to the forest base providing jobs, both directly and indirectly, theforest provides a large number of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) that supplementrural fanily incomes. These products are essential for the day to day lives of ruralcommunities. In southern Ghana forests contribute to all aspects of rural life, providingfood, fodder, fueL medicines, building materials, materials for various household items, aswell as many more intangible benefits such as cultural symbols, rural artifacts and locales.

Impacts

In balance, the NRM is enviromnentally benign. It is a project that will lead towardssustainable forest management and the involvement of people in the management of forestareas in order that they can share equitably in the forest resource. The project will lead toeffective sustainable management of the resources of the savannah.

Of the 27 IECs identified and examined, the project would have both impacts on, andbenefits for, 17 of them. The project would provide only benefits for the remaining 10EECs. Impacts by level are snumarized in Table 1. This table also summarizes the residualimpacts by level of significance. Table 2 indicates by level of significance the number ofcumulative impacts that would be expected.

Table 1: Summary of Pniject Impacts on IECs (by klve of gificance)

LOW 4 9 2MEDUM 8 2 5HIGH 3 1 3VERY HIGH 2 0 0Total 17 12 10

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Table 2: Summary of Cumulative impacts by Levels ofSignificance

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LOW 9MEDIUM IHIGH 2VERY HIGH 0not applicable 5Total 17

Prior to mitigation, taking both impacts and benefits into account, Table 7.6 provides asummary of overall significant ratings for IECs

Table 3: Overall Ratings for IECs (Impacts l-l vs Benefits l+l) (excluding IECs withonly benefits)

LOW 3 3MEDIVM 5 0HIGH 5 1VERY HIGH 0 0Total 17

As indicated above, the NRM is highly environmentally supportive and many of theimpacts on various IECs will be mitigated through various programs and components ofthe project. Of the 17 EECs that will be negatively affected by the project, impacts on 7 ofthem will be mitigated through planned project activities with an additional three beingmitigated through a combination of planned project activities with additional non-projectactions. Impacts on four EECs will be mitigated through the application of 'best practiceguidelines', and the remaining three impacts will be mnitigated through new additionalactivities.

The most serious potential impacts that will, or could be, caused by the project are thoserated very high and highL These are briefly described below. As indicted in Table 1,above, only one of these would result in a high residual impact.

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. 'ery High impacts

Rare and endangered species and their habitats

Forest harvesting practices, if not carnied out judiciously and without considerationto other forest values, can be very destructive towards plant and wildlife speciesand habitat. Without the knowledge of biological resources in any particular areato undergo harvesting, timber extraction could be devastating to rare andendangered species that may inhabit these areas. A loss of these species would be avery high impact. This potential impact will be avoided through project activities.Surveys will be conducted to determine floral and faunal content of reserve andnon-reserve areas and where important species and habitats are located, these willbe protected from logging activities. These steps will be conducted through thebiodiversity protection program of the project. There will be no residual impact.

. Jobs and poverty

Reducing timber harvesting to allowable cut levels will reduce harvesting jobs.This will reduce will output, and thus mill and other related forest industry jobswill be reduced. For these workers, their dependents, and others in supportingroles, poverty would be a real possibility. Loss of jobs and poverty creation is avery high impact of the project. However, by taking these reduction steps now, itmeans that the jobs that will be retained in a much reduced forest industry will besustainable. Through training, better resource management through thecollaborative forestry program and the savannah resource management program,and with additional jobs created in the wood processing sector as a result of moreefficient wood recovery, most of the effects of the lost jobs will be reduced, if nottotally eliminated. Better resource management in the high forest and the savannahwill contribute to poverty reduction. The residual impact will be highL This residualimpact of losing some jobs has to be considered in view of a 'do nothing'alternative which would lead eventually to a complete loss of the forest industry asforests would be eliminated over the next 25 years.

High Impacts

. fauna and biodiversity

There are three potentiaBy high impacts and these relate to fauna (two impactsrelated to harvestng and plantation development) and biodiveity. As with therare and endangered species and habitats described above, these are impacts thatcould possibly occur as a result of harvesting operations (and plantationdevelopment). For the same reasons, these potential impacts would be avoidedalmost entirely through the location identification of important species and habitatsand forest management plans that ensure the protection of these values. Since

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harvesting and plantation establishment will affect some animal populations andhabitats, the residual impact will be moderate.

Benefits

The project will provide a large number of environmental benefits. For each of the 7IECs the project will produce a benefit, albeit many would be relatively insigriificant Asindicated in Table 1, ten of the [ECs yield only environmental benefits, and no negativeimpacts. What is most important is the net overall effect of the project on the environment.There are only four negative net effects against 13 positive effects. This does not includethe ten IECs for which there is only a positive benefit. This is conclusive evidence that theproject, assuming fill and effective implementation, will be overall environmentallybeneficial.

. Project Altermatives

There are no real project altematives other than the alternative of 'do nothing'. Thereport provides several alternative paths that a project concept development could havefollowed but it is clear that the concept of NRMP as it currently stands would be the mostenvironmentally supporive. If other alternative paths had been followed, the negativeimpacts would have been greater in number and significance, and the overall net effectwould not have been as favorable.

. Environmental Management

An environmental management plan has been prepared. It outlines the mitigative actionsthat will be required for each impact. It also indicates the inputs required, the outputs andresults expected, the responsibilities for enswring implementaion, and, in very broadtenns, the cost and scheduling required. Indicative costs for implementg mitigativemeasures total US $ 955,000.

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1. INTRODUCTION and BACKGROUND

1.1 Purpose

The purpose of this environmental impact assessment (EIA) is to identify the potentialimpacts that the Natural Resource Management Project (NRMP) could have on aspects ofthe biophysical and socio-economic environment. The document describes environmentalbenefits that will occur as a result of the project and the likely nutigative measures that willbe required to avoid and/or minimize the negative impacts. An outline of an environmentalmanagement plan is also included.

1.2 Natural Resource Management Project - A Concept

Although referred to as the NRM, at the time of preparing the EIA the project is oni ;nthe conceptual stage and a full project design has yet to be prepared. Consequently.EIA is carried out on the basis of the project concept document which lacks final prc.detail. The assumption made whilst the EIA was conducted was that forest management,which is the nucleus of the Project, will be implemented along the lines descibed in theforestry development management plan, 1996-2020. As well, it was assumed that theprinciples and guidelines that have been developed by the Forestry Department (FD) forcollaborative forest management will be a focus of the Project.

The EIA will provide a number of environmental giidelines relevant to forest managementand these should be considered as the FD proceeds from the project concept stage todetailed project design.

It is noted that the project concept is based on the need for Ghana to institute an effectivesustainable resource management and development progrm Accordingly, the objectivesand strategies of the concept are environmentally sound in principle and yield a number ofbenefits that will offset the few negative impacts likely to occur.

1.3 Ghana's Forestry Sector

1.3.1 Forest Resources

At the turn of the century the forest zone of Ghana covered about 34% of the total landarea. However, by 1987 over 75% of the land area originally covered by forests had beencleared. This corresponds to a deforestation rate of 0.84% (684km2) per ann althoughthe deforestation rate appears to have been decreasing in recent years. The total volumc cftimber extracted between 1986-92 was 7.8 million m3 or 7.5% of the standing v' ne.

Ghana has established 266 forest reserves, 204 of which occupy 1.6 million ha ie highforest zone and 62 which occupy 0.6 million ha in the savanna zone. Forest res. .s wereorigially created for purposes of ecological stability, watershed protecuon and

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windbreaks, while at the same time contributing to socio-economic welfare through acontinual flow of products and services.

Production reserves constitute almost 45% of the total forest estate, with the restdesignated for protection, conservation and research. Reserved forest areas have beendemarcated and managed as permanent forest estates for the preservation of vital soil andwater resources, conservation of biological diversity and the environment, andsustainability production of domestic and commercial produce. The forest reservesprovide the source from which the bulk of the nation's timber is produced.

Based on the 1986-87 forest inventory, 32% of the total forest reserve area is in adegraded state requiring rehabilitation.

In the off-reserve areas forested land has been widely exploited and deforested, resultingin a residual forest cover of only approximately 400,00ha of forest cover. The off-reserveareas have high potential for private forestry and farming activities and are destined to beappropriated for agriculture. These areas consist of intact forests, bush fallows andagncultural areas. The intact forests are located mainly in the Western Region of thecountry and have substantial forest canopy cover with forest composition similar to thereserved areas. The bush fallows are secondary growth from abandoned farms with highpotential, assuming adequate management, for maturing into high forest. The agriculturallands are characterized by a relatively high density of trees on farms. The off-reserve areascontain about 268 million m3 of standing timber of which about 101 million m3 is reportedto be contained in trees exceeding the minimum felling size.

Farmers on whose land much of the off-reserve timber is located have no right to fell orsell timber trees. Farmers do not benefit from timber exploitation on their farms, andcompensation for damage caused by felling and hauling is inadequate. Farmers whose landis under concession often destroy all timber trees when clearing new ground in order toavoid the risk of damage to the farm by the concessionaire. As long as timber on the farmhas no value to the farmer there will be no replenishment of indigenous timber treesoutside the reserves. The principle of enhancing or modifying forest management systemsto ensure that they address local needs and engender local cooperation is enshrined in thenew Forest and Wildlife Policy as described in Section 2.

The annual sustainable yields from the timber production area of forest reserves iscurrently estimated at close to 0.5 million m 3 and includes 64 economic timber species. Arecently completed inventory confirms that a harvest of 0.5 million m3 can be sustained for99 years from off-reserve areas, provided proper use is made of all timber species (Scarlet,Red and Pink Stars). This harvest, together with the increasing yield from plantations asthey mature, will provide an estimated annual sustainable level of 1.0 million mn3. Assumingthat this level of harvest can be maintained during the next twenty years and thatencroachment and fire damage can be minimIzed, the condition of the forest estate shouldsteadily improve. At the same time, savanna woodland management, afforestation and

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aroforestry initiatives should result in an expansion of forested areas and general treecover.

It is necessary that proper controls are maintained to forestall fuirher encroachment byfarners, poachers and illegal chainsaw operators. Wildfires, over-exploitation of preferredspecies and resurgence of speculative felling must also be controlled. The annual allowablecut will have to be strictly enforced by an effective forest service while increased stumpagefees are applied to encourage greater efficiency of utilization and better retums to theforest owners.

Table 1.1 indicates the area of forest reserve by management category.

Table 1.1: Areas of Forest Reserves by Management Categoryin the High Forest Zone

Tunber production area 762,400 47.0Permanent protection area 352,500 21.0Convalescence area 122,000 7.5Conversion area 127,200 8.0Not inventoned 270,000 16.5Total Reserve Area 1.634.100 100.0

1.3.2 Timber Management

The average annual rate of deforestation in Ghana since the tum of the century has beenestimted at about 75,OOOha ApproXimateY one third of Ghana's forest area of 8.3million ha has been removed between 1955 and 1972 as a result of excessive harvesting.Salvage logging practices of the early 1970s allowed unlimited feUing of the largest orover-mature trees on a 15 year felling cycle. As well, the high grading of high valuespecies before the log export ban that was introduced in 1979 contributed significantly toforest degradation and depletion. Since this time, due to the increased acfivity of a largernumber of desirable species, recent logging activities have been more intensified in thesemi-deciduous zone than in the evergreen forest. However, illegal harvesting hasincreased and some of the drier zones are currently in critical condition.

In the past the forestry sector lacked an updated and clearly defined forest policy that setout goals, objectives and strategies for the development of the count ry's forest resourcesand the fiuture direction for the iber industry. In the absence of an effecveadministration there was widespread trade indiscipline, failure to pay royalties and otherstatutory fees, speculative felling; illegal trading in Property Marks and unauthorizedsubletting of concessions to illicit timber operators. Outdated legal sanctions and very lowfine structures offered no deterrence to offenders. The situation was further aggravated by

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a lack of local community involvement in forest resource protection and an absence ofcomprehensive and coordinated medium to long term planning.

In addition, loggers and chainsaw operators could operate illegally with impunity as aresult of the lack of cooperation from the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary. Aswell, the logging and sawmilling subsectors have been dominated by illiterate and ill-informed operators, a misinformed print media, lack of unity within private sector tradeassociations and a problem of financial intermediation.

While efforts were being made to strengthen regulatory agencies, both forest and wildliferesources were subjected to a dramatic rise in the rates of exploitation, mainly by loggingand sawmilling interests, as well as by illegal chainsaw operators and hunters. A significantincrease in the rate of timber harvesting began to occur in 1992 in the off-reserve areas, anactivity that was encouraged as a result of the increased vigilance on reserves and theemergence of Far East log export markets. In order to contain these threats to thesustainability of the nation's resources, a series of ad hoc control measures wereintroduced and have succeeded, to a degree, in stabilizing the sector. These measureshave included: regulations to control illegal chainsaw operators; temporary suspension oflog exports; and, a timber auction to clear the stockpiled logs. Subsequently, otherinitiatives have been taken, including a mobile forest protection action group, thetemporary suspension of log exports, and, the felling controls for off-reserve harvesting.

The recent Forest and Wildlife Policy, approved in November 1994, provides thefoundation upon which to build an effective sustainable resource management program forthe country.

1.3.3 Forest Management System

Early management was based on the principle of sustained yield management using lowintensity selection harvesting and natural regeneration. However, management was carriedout in the absence of proper forest inventories. The Modified Selection System wasapplied during the period 1956-1970. In 1970 the Girth Limit System (GLS) wasintroduced. Since 1989 when reliable inventory data was made available the forty yearfelling cycle was adopted. Today the reserve forests are grouped into 52 ForestManagement Units (FMUs). Each FMU has a management or working plan covering aperiod of 20 years and which is based on the designation of each reserve into zonesaccording to management objectives. Objectives could include timber production,watershed management, and commercial production of NTFPs. Agreements with forestresource users are entered into and these include Timber Utilization Contracts (TUCs) andSocial Responsibility Agreements (SRAs).

Three major forest management systems have been employed, including the Uniform, theSelection and the Emichiment Systems. For vaTious reasons the Unfform and EmiclunentSystems have been all but abandoned and Reserve management is presently carried outunder the Selection system.

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In the off-reserve areas the local communities held allodial title over forested areas forpurposes of local revenue generation. Since Independence in 1957, however, the state hasattained control over the timber resource in the off-reserve areas even thouah land titlewas retained by the stools. in recent years, as a result of sustainable management beingpracticed in the reserves, exploitation has been high in the off-reserve areas as operatorsand wood processors stnve to maintain their output volumes. Table 1.2 indicates thetimber harvesting trend in recent years. A significant increase in production in the early1990s was due to an increase in log export to Southeast Asia which in turn brought abouta temporary suspension of log exports in 1995.

Table 1.2: Recent Trends in Timber Harvesting Levels ('000m3)

Y.ar Ia~aern fPR~serve Tot--1980-84* 377 179 5161985-89* 588 343 9311990 1056 234 12901991 996 233 12291992 587 731 13181993 266 1416 16821994 506 1295 18001995 167 1027 1 194

* annual average over 5 years

1.3.4 Forest Industry'

Officially recorded levels of harvest have risen from under 1.0 million m3 per year in thelate 1980s to 1.8 million e 3 in 1994. The acual level of cut is higher due to illegal logging.The sustainable level of amnual harvest is probably about 1.0 million m3 per year, of which0.3 million e 3 would come for the most valuable and heavily exploited species onreserves. Domestic demand may be in the order of 0.7 million n3 per year suggesting thatit would be possible to continue to export around 0.4 million m3 per year of roundwoodequivalent without importng or exceeding the sustainedable cut; this compares withexport of around 1.5 million e3 of roundwood equivalent in 1994.

The wood processing industry contributes about 6% of GDP and earned DM 354 millionfor exports in 1994. In addition, the economy benefits from other forest products,including fuelwood, charcoal and non-timber forest products. This may raise the GDPcontribution to perhaps 8%. It is also possible to take a broader view of the overallcontribution of the sector to the economy, taking account of non-market benefits andother outputs which are not recorded in official statistics. The forest timber industryemploys some 130,000 people.

'Foresly Conissimi 1995.

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There is evidence of a rapidly growing over-capacity in the industry, with potentialsawmilling capacity of perhaps 2 million m' per year. This over capacity is associated witha profitable industry based on access to a cheap resource and high export demand. As aresult of these cheap resources, there is no incentive for improving upon the existing lowrecovery rates. The wood processing industry recognizes that there is likely to be aproblem with resource availability in the future. Although a few companies have helped todevelop the resource through the establishment of plantations, the general view is that thisis a responsibility of Government. Some companies are successfully finding markets forfinished products manufactured from lesser known species.

The impact of continuing exploitation at the 1993194 levels would include comnmercialextinction of the 38 main timber species by 2015, together with the associated loss of jobs,economic activity and export earniings. About six of the species would becomecommercially extinct over the next five years. At some time between 2005 and .2015Ghana would become a net importer of wood in order to meet domestic demand.

Initiatives aimed at improving marketing of value-added products, for training and forresearch into utilzation of lesser used species should continue. The current range ofindustrial investment incentives available to the wood processing industy should be bettertargeted and, in particular, these initiatives should not be available for investment in newsawmilling primary breakdown equipment.

The timber industry is comprised of three categories of operation including primary(logging), secondary (sawmilling/plymilling/veneering) and tertiary (furniture, mouldings,flooring, etc.). The industry is dominated by private ownership and is comprised of anumber of establishments as indicated in Table 1.3.

Sawmilling dominates the secondary industry and almost all of the sawmill productionfrom the larger and medium size mills is exported. Sawuilling capacity is about 2.7 millionm3per annum. This capacity far exceeds the total annual allowable cut of I milion m.Most mills lack sufficient resaw capacity to achieve a higher recovery rate than the current38%.

Over the past few years there has been an increasing demand for kiln dried. lumber and kilndrying facilities have been increasing in number to take advantage of this value added step.

In the five year period between 1991 and 1995 exports of kiln dried lumber have increasedalmost five fold. The total inaed capacity of the 16 veneer and plywood plants is Imillion m . An explanation for the low capacity ufilization is the fact that the annualallowable cut is also equal to this figure.

13

Table 1.3: Timber Industry

A.-Are .f Adii-.-Y- __ __ Rv tB j =3 -Estab:lishmentyLogging 250Sawmilling 130Plymling 9Veneer milling 15Chipboard milling IPreservation treatment IFurniture manufacture (large and medium) 40Fumiture manufacture (small) _ 45,000

The tertiary sector is comprised of 40 large and medium scale furiture companies and45,000 registered small scale carpenters. The sector relies heavily on illegal chain sawoperators for its raw material supply since material from the sawmills is almost exclusivelyexported.

Under current management plans for the reserves and the proposed management of off-reserve areas, the timber industry faces a grim future. Harvested volumes, and thus, woodsupply to the secondary industry, will be reduced significantly. The industry, in general,continues to experience below capacity utiliion and in many cases some plants will nodoubt be forced to closed. For others, improved recovery rates will be necessary if theyare to remain solvent.

1.3.5 Biodiversity

Habitat loss and degradation, the major causes of biodiversity loss, have been rapid anddramatic in Ghana. Within the last 100 years 80% of the high forest has been clearedmainly for conversion to agncultural crops. Heavy losses have also occurred throughlogging, bush fires and mining. Clearances, with irreversible loss of biodiversity, have beemost severe in the high and savanna forest types. To a lesser extent, wetland andmangrove forests have been similarly affected. The genetic vanation of terrestrial faunaand flora continue to be threatened. In the past the gathering of minor forest productssuch as wild plants and animals from the forest was insignificant since it was only carriedout on a non-commercial basis. However, in recent years the pracuce has becomesignficantly commerciazed with an increased demand for non-timber forest products(NTFPs) as the country's population ises. Ghana now experiences levels of resourceutilization far exceeding the productive capacities of the exploited species to be sustained.

1.3.6 Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs)

Although the FD put back into place the fundamental elements of sustainable forestmanagement trough centralized planning, yield regulation and protected areas, itrecognized that some forest values had been neglected. Notably these included the

14

provision of non-timber forest products (NTFPs), spiritual and cultural values, and broadenvironmental services. Whilst the original reservation policies embodied elements ofparticipatorv forestry, notably the encouragement of local by-laws for reservemanagement, over time forest management planning and harvesting have been regulatedthrough a svstem of expensive short term permits which has not encouraged stewardshipamongst the NTFP gatherers. Revenue earned from permits is not re-invested in NTFPmanagement.

"For those who come face to face, without relief, with the harrowing experiencesof ill health, hunger and other forms of deprivation, the reality is the enormouscontnbution NTFPs, in all their variedforms, make to all aspects of their lives(Falconer, 1993)2

NTFPs are important among the rural poor, particularly as economic buffers. Theyprovide opportunities for earning cash, for paying medical expenses, school fees, or to buyfood during the 'hungry season'. It is estimated that about 75% of the population regularlyconsumes wild animals, fish, insects, caterpillars, termites and snails. About 80%o of therural population depends on wild resources for their basic protein requirements.

1.4 Ghana's Wildlife Sector

Ghana displays a rich faunal community of mammals and bird species. lt has the richestand most diverse butterfly populations in the region. However, inspite of this richness, theattitude of most Ghanaians towards wildlife is utilitarian. It is widely recognized as animportant component of the diet and cash income of nrral populations.

The first game reserves were legally constituted in 1909, with the promulgation of the firstwildlife laws going back to 1901. From this time up to independence in 1957, the ForestryDepartment and other departments were given the responsibility of administering theGame Preservation Ordinance. Clearly wildlife prior to independence was of secondaryconcern to the colonial government, as exemplified with the creation of the Game ControlUnit in 1953 that was given the responsibility of eliminating game and the removal ofriverine habitat for purposes of tsetse control. Soon after independence Ghana's firstGame Department was established.3 Most of the existing wildlife reserves were largelydesignated during the 1970s and since that time only two additional areas have beengazetted.

Ghana's wildlife protected area system comprises six National Parks, six ResourceReserves, one Strict Nature Reserve and three Wildlife Sanctuaries. The total area forlegally gazetted protected areas is 12,685 km2 which represents about 5.32% of Ghana'sland area. With the current establishment of five coastal wetland protected areas, along

2 Dcpa=ment of Foestry. 1995.3GWDIIUCN. 1994.

15

with the Kvabobo Range National Park, the total protected area system will cover over13,385 kmn.

Until as recently as 1994, there was very little difference in wildlife manazementobjectives. With the latest Policy Statement (1994) from the WD a standard system ofzoning has been prepared as well as definitions and management objectives.

Wildlife resources of Ghana are not currently a focus of regional tourism. With theexception of three areas (Mole, Shai Hills, and Kakum) the protected areas receive fewvisitors. Mole NP, which has accommodation facilities, receives 3,000-5,000 visitorsannually and Kakum NP receives up to 750 visitors a week.4

1.5 Related Donor Activities

1.5.1 Forest Resource Management Project (FRMP)

This project became effective in November 1989 and is due to be completed in June 1997.A number of key reforms have been implemented in the areas of logging concessions,forest revenue, policy and administration. Specifically, the FRMP has (i) strengthenedmanagement capacity within the ULF, leading to improvements in forest sectormonitoring and regulation; (ii) improved timber royalty collection and disbursement tolocal traditional authorities (Stools); (iii) improved capacity of the Wildfire Departnent forprotected area (PA) management and facilitated development of ten PA managementplans; (iv) achieved limited progress in on-fann tree planting through reorienting theAgroforestry Units towards supportng community nurseries and implementing apromising pilot for locally-based savanna woodland mement in the Upper East Regionthrough the Rural Forestry Division; and, (v) strengthened research and training capacitythrough support to the Forestry Research Insttute of Ghana and the Institute ofRenewable Natural Resources.

1.5.2 Environmental Resource Management Project (GERMP)

The GERMP became effective in March 1993 and will close December 1997. The projectexplicitly recognizes the intersectoral nature of environmental management and hasprovided support for institutional strengthening of the Environmenal Protection Agency(EPA) in its central role as a coordinating and regulatory body to stimulate reforms withinthe sectoral ministries and agencies to improve environmental monitoring andmanagement. A coherent body of regulatory guidelines, standards and monitoringprotocols have been adopted for implementation by the sectoral agencies. The principallesson from the project has been the value of investing in strengthening capacity ofsectoral agencies for elements of sectoral activity.

'GWD/IUCN. 1994.

16

1.5.3 Coastal Wetlands Management Project (CWMP)

The CNWMP is financed by the GEF as an integral component of the ERMP, within thesame time frame as the CAWP. It has addressed the issue of maintaining- the ecologicalintegrity of coastal wetland ecosystems under a multiple use management regime. Theproject has been carried out with significant input from local stakeholders in both theplanning and implementation phases.

2. POLICY, LEGAL and ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK

2.1 Forest and Wildlife Policy

TThe needfor specific government guidacme and control offorestry activities in Ghanahas become necessary due to changes that have occurred in the nature of Ghana 'sforestssince the adoption of the 1948 Forest Policy. This need also underpins our sensitivint tothe serious reduction in the forest land area and the increasing local and internationaloutcry over environmental issues relating to the forest Besides, forestry plays a majorrole in the growth and development of the Ghanaian economy and the maintenance ofenvironmental quality. With increasing demandfor forest landfor agricultural purposesdue to population pressure, advances in science and technology, growing ecologicalimportance of the forest in terms of genetic biodiversity apnd wildlife, izstitutiontalchanges, and the increasing needfor popular participation in resource management, theunder)ving justification for the earlier policy (1948 forest policy) no longer appearedapplicable. There is the needfor a newforest policy that provides a new set ofprinciplesfor sustainable forest management and establishes key priorities for its futuredevelopment.

(Foreword to Forest and Wildlife Policy, 1994, by Dr. Kwabena Adjei Minister of Landsand Forestry)

The importance of sustainable forest management is recognized in the Forest and WildlifePolicy of 1994. The Forest and Wildlife Policy of Ghana aims at conservation andsustainable development of the nation's forest and wildlife resources for maintenance ofenvironmental quality and perpetual flow of optimm benefits to all segments of society.The guiding principles of the policy statement are based on national conviction andinternational guidelines and conventions.

The objectives of the policy are to:

Manage and enhance the permanen estate of forest and wildlife resources for thepreservation of soil and water resources, conservation of biological diversity and theenvironment, and for sustainable production of domestic and commercial produce;

- 17

Promote the development of Viable and efficient forest-based industries, particularly insecondary and tertiary processing;

Promote public awareness and involvement of rural people in forestm and wildlifeconservation in order to maintain life-sustaining systems, preserve scenic areas andenhance the potential of recreation, tourism and income-generating opporrunities,

. Develop effective capability at nationaL, regional and district levels for sustainablemanagement of forest and wildlife resources.

Strategies relating to each of the policy objectives are outlined in the policy document.These strategies are to be further expanded within the corporate statements andoperational plans of respective institutions, and have been incorporated in the ForestryDevelopment Master Plan (1996-2020).

Forestry policy instrumentation that should be put into practice5 include:

!higher species-differentiated forest feesl Iog export levies phased in as bans phased out

. implementation of competitive concession allocation with social criteria

. realistic sanctions and effective enforcement by foresters and the judicial systemc consideration of market-based instruments, such as forest certification, as complements

to regulatory and fiscal approaches. farner rights to fees for timber trees on farm land. compensation to farmers for farm damage from logging, enforced on a district basis. adaptive local projects involving co-management of forests at village and concessionlevel as learning vehicles for improving policies

2.2 Forestry Development Master Plan (1996-2020)

The master plan has been prepared to guide the implementation of the Forest and WldlifePolicy and its successful implementation is intended to maximize the rate of social andeconomic development of the country and secure optimum welfare and adequate means oflivelihood for all Ghanaians.

The Plan recogmizes that success in management and sustainable development ofrenewable resources is dependent on effective institutions as well as an enablingenvironment in which all players can operate optimally. It recognizes the dynamicinteraction of socio-economic activities and envionmental effects, within and impingingon the sector. It outlines a series of scenarios which would ultimately arrive at theprojected aim of the Forest and Wildlife Policy and proposes a schedule of programs,project profiles and activities by which scenarios can be reaized. The goal of the Plan is

5Forsey Dpa=nt. 1996.

18

identical to the aims of the Policy, and the objectives of the Plan are the same as those ofthe Policy

The objectives of the Plan are scheduled into three time horizons. Phase I (1996-2000)will consolidate forest management systems to ensure that timber can be certified as"sourced from sustainable managed forests" by the year 2000, and ensure implementationof a Protected Areas Plan; development and launching of flexible schemes for investmentsin commercial forest plantations, tree fanming and propagation of non-timber products andwildlife; creation of an enabling climate for rationalization of the timber industry andconsolidation of fiscal measures for effcient utilization and increased value-addedprocessing. In Phase II (2001-2010) it is envisaged that maintenance of sustainable forestand protected areas management systems will continue with maintenance of commercialforest-based production systems and development of product harvesting, handling andmarketing facilities, as well as promotion of total value-added processing and competitivemarketing. Phase m (2011-2020) would include the continued maintenance of sustainableforest and wildlife management systems, commercial production systems, improvedproduct harvesting and marketing, and competitive value-added processing industries.

2.3 Logging Manual for Forest Management in Ghana

The logging manual sets out a number of environmentaly related requirements for timberoperators. These include requirements for road location, road standards, construction andmaintenance. As wel, requirements for log dumps, skidding, felling, the size of loggingmachinery and guidelines for fire protection are given.

The requirements provided in the Logging Manual are in accordance with the provisionsof the:

. Forest Protection Decree 1974, NRCD 243. Forest Protection (Amendment) Law 1986, PNDCL 142. Trees and Timber Decree 1974, NRCD 273. Control of Bush Fires Law 1990, PNDCL 229

The Chief Conservator of Forests or his representative shall be responsible for themonitoring and enforcement of the conditions contained within the manual.

2.4 Biodiversity Protection

There is no comprehensive legislation in Ghana relating to the protection of biodiversity,however, there are several pieces of sector based legislation. These include the WildlifeAnimal Preservation Act, 1961 (Act 43); the Wildlife Conservation Regulation, 1971 (LI685) which issues permits and certificates for endangered species, and the ForestOrdinance (CAP 157).

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The Ghana National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, a commitment to Ghana'ssignatory status of the Convention on Biodiversity, is proposed to determine the futuredirection of biodiversity management in Ghana. The plan is currently being prepared andwiU focus on improving the scientific knowledge base through inventories, anddocumentation of biodiversity in Ghana, and the identification of potential threats and howthese can be controlled. The plan also intends to enhance sustainable utilization ofbiological resources.

Relevant to the biodiversity strategy and action plan is the forest protection strategy. Acomprehensive survey of forest plant diversity survey undertaken in 1992 resulted in thedevelopment of a framework strategy for protecting the forests' genetic diversity. Thisstrategy prioritizes a range of protective uses for forest reserves to support environmentalstability, plant genetic conservation and for rehabilitation of degraded reserves. lIn theseareas logging is not allowed but NTFP extraction is permitted in some categories.

Fine grain measures ensure that specific forest species are given differential protectionbased on a relative conservation priority system. Each forest species has a 'star rating'based on its national and international distribution with subsidiary consideration of itsecology and taxonomy. The ratings of black, gold, blue, red, and green denote'biodiversity merit'. The highest priority species for protection in Ghana is, or are, veryrare both nationally and internationally. These are given ultimate protection within theforest management system.

2.5 Environmental Protection'

The Environmental Protection Agency Act, 1994 (Act 490) transformed theEnvironmental Protection Council (EPC) into an Agency having, inter alia, regulatory andenforcement roles. The EPC had been established by the Environmental ProtectionDecree, 1974 (NRCD 239) and was subsequently amended by the EPC (Amendment)Decree, 1976 (SMCD 58).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formally established in December 1994and given the responsibility of regulating the environment and ensuring the implementationof Government policies on the environment. Under the EPA Act (1994), the EPA will,amongst other duties: "ensure compliance with any laid down environmental impactassessment procedures in the planning and execution of development projects, includingcompliance in respect of existng projects".

The Environmental Assessment and Audit Department of the EPA has the overalladministrative oversight of the Agency's mandate to ensure compliance with establishedEIA procedures in the planning and execution of development projects in Ghana

'Gova==t of GhMnm 1996.

20

2.6 Other Relevant Policies and Legislation

. National Agricultural Policy

The National Agricultural Policy aims at ensuring food security, and will influencebiodiversity.

. National Land Policy

The National Land Policy aims at protecting the variety of habitat types. The policycategorically states that "all lands declared as forest reserves, strict game reserves, nationalparks, wildlife and similar land categories ...... are fully protected for ecosystemmaintenance and biodiversity conservation.

. Long Term Development Plan (Vision 2020)

Ghana's Long Term Development Plan (Vision 2020) is conunitted to the conservation ofbiological diversity and to ensuring that its components are utilized in a sustainable mannerfor the continued progress and socio-economic development of its people.

2.7 International Policies

Ghana has endorsed certain international principles including those of the Tropical TimberOrganization, the Rio Declaration, the African Convention on Wildlife Conservation, theConvention on Intemational Trade in Endangered Species, and others.

A non-legally binding statement of Forest Principles was negotiated at the Rio Conferencein 1992. The statement recognized the need to conserve, manage and sustainably developall types of forests as well as recognizing the sovereign rights of nations to utilize theirforests. Agenda 21 contained programs for the protection and sustainable management offorests. The International Tropical Timbr Organization has developed guidelines on thesustainable management of forests, with the aim that by the year 2000 timber exports frommember countries will originate from sustainably managed forests.

Sustainable management of forests will continue to have high profile as an issue on theinternational agenda. However, it is unclear how far the environmental arguments could beused to persuade the World Trade Organization (the successor body to GATT) to acceptthe pragmatic need for such measures.

Ghana is signatory to a number of international conventions related to the environmentand aspects of these conventions will affect how forests will be managed in the future.These conventions are briefly described below.

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. Biodiversity

Ghana is a signatory to the Convention on Biodiversity which came into force in 1993. Asa signatorY, Ghana agrees that biotic wealth is the basis of life and livelihood and thatgreater efforts are required to protect, understand and wisely use the earth's biodiversityUnder the terms of the Convention. each country is responsible for developing a strategyfor the conservation of its natural biological diversity. A central prescription for theimplementation of the Convention is the strengthening of protected areas which calls uponnations to "identify national and international priorities for strengthening protected areasand enhancing their role in biodiversity conservation".

. Desertification

Ghana is signatory to the Convention on Desertification. A National Corrmittee onDesertification has been constituted and a National Action Plan (NAP) on Desertificationhas been prepared. The purpose of the NAP is to transform the provisions of theconvention on desertification into concrete actions and measures to combat desertificationand mitigate the effects of drought.

. Wetlands

The RAMSAR Convention is intended to identify and protect wetlands of internationalimportance, particularly those that are required habitat for migrating bird species. Ghana isa signatory to the Convention and its commitment is reflected in the current establishmentof five coastal wetland protected areas.

, Montreal Protocol (Ozone Layer Depletion)8

In July 1989 Ghana ratified the Montreal Protocol and ratified its London Amendments inJuly 1992. Ghana has established an Ozone Office to oversee the implementation ofvarious projects to phase out ozone depletion substances from Ghana by 2010.

2.8 Administrative Framework'

2.8.1 General

The proposed project will be comprised of a number of components. The management andadministration of the project will be canied out under the auspices of a number of differentagencies within the Ministzy of Lands and Forestry. The relevant agencies are described inthe following sections.

'GWD/IUCN. 1994.

' Govnmnt of Ghana 1996.

9 Jecty and Company Ld. 1997.

22

2.8.2 Ministry of Lands and Forestry

Institutional support for the forestry sector is provided through the Ministry of Lands andForestry (MLF). The MLF is responsible for policy formulation and implementation ofnatural resource conservation and management programs.

The MLF is responsible to the Cabinet and Parliament. It includes two line departments:Forestry Department (FD) and the Department of Wildlife (WD). These departments arethe 'managers' of the country's forest and wildlife resources, respectively. In addition, theministry includes two quasi-government institutions: the Timber Export DevelopmentBoard (TEDB) and the Forest Products Inspection Bureau (FPIB). An organogramdisplaying forest administration in the country is provided at Figure 2.1.

2.8.3 Forestry Department

The FD is responsible for the development of an integrated forest management system forthe permanent forest estate and collaborative approaches to management of off-reserves,as well as the latter's regulation in matters of exploitation. The FD has carried out itsresponsibilities through an organizational fiamework employing various instruments ofconservation, management and working plans, allocation of timber rights, inventoryplanning and a series of regulations to ensure moral responsibility regarding forestconservation and protection.

The FD has four Deputy Chief Conservators of Forest which direct programs for forestresource development, rural forestry, and taining. It also has an extensive regional anddistrict network.

Currently proposals are being considered for the conversion of the Forestry Deparnment toa Forest Service with a semi-autonomous staus, permitting a mandate to determine itsown sources and levels of revenues, management options and a new direction ofaccountability.

2.8.4 Department of Wildlife

The Department of Wldlife (WD) is responsible for the conservation of the country'swildlife resources. It is mandated to establish, protect and manage wildlife sanctuaries and

game protection reserves as well as carry out sinilar responsibilities for wildlife outsidethe conservation areas. The WD is under the direction of a Chief Wdidlife Officer who hasthe equivalent status of the Chief Conservator of Forests. The Department has 29professional officers.

2.8.5 Forestry Commission

Forest administration is governed by a complex set of laws. Developments in the nationaleconomy over the past 40 years have seen an expansion in the scope of laws, extending

23

bevond the provisions under the Forest Ordinance of 1927 for a forest policyimplementing arm of government to the establishment of laws mandating specialistagencies to oversee forest utilization. The 1979 and 1982 Constitutions have developedand sustained a concept of establishing Comrnmissions to regulate utilization of Ghana'snatural resources, bringing into being a Forestry Commission (FC).

The main role of the FC is to provide advice on policy and related implementation issues.It manages the peripheral linkages of relevance to MLF's policy objectives. The FC isresponsible for the regulation and management of the utilization of forest and wildliferesources of the country. The FC is also responsible for monitoring and coordinatingpolicy implementation relevant to forest and wildlife resource management and utilization.The FC is currently active in the area of policy analysis.

The FC is comprised of heads of forestry policy implementation agencies andrepresentatives of stakeholder group interests including the private sector. The FCSecretariat consists of two divisions with professional staff.

2.8.6 Ghana National Biodiversity Strategy ind Action Plan

The strategy and action plan is proposed to determine the future direction of biodiversitymanagement in Ghana. Under World Bank sponsorship the document is still in itspreparatory phase. Its main strategies and action plans include improving the scientificknowledge base through inventories and documentation of biodiversity in Ghana andidentiISring any potential threats and how to counter/control them. It also plans to enhancesustainable utilization of biological resources including use of biotechnology.

In forest reserves and GWD protected reas, communities at the present time are notinvolved in direct biodiversity management. However, a collaborative program is currentlybeing developed by the FD to involve local communities, particulariy those living nearforest reserves, in the planing and management of forests.

3. PROJECT DESCRIPTION'°

3.1 Project Objectives

The project's primary objective is to establish the institonal and operational framework,within the public and private sectors, for suainable, participatory management ofGhana's soil, water, wildlife and forest resources; conservation of biodiversity; and,rehabilitation of degraded areas. It will assist communities to take lead responsibility inmanagement activities and strive to enure that land and forest resources are sustained attheir optimum level of production. It will provide opporauities for income generation

"'World Bak. 1997.

24

expansions particularly for the growing numbers of disadvantaged rural poor who's

actions constitute a potentially senious factor in the degradation of these resources.

3.2 Rationale

The expected programs for managing the land, water, vegetation and animal resources.including rehabilitation of degraded areas, would place priority on private sectorresponsibility, particularly the rural communities taking ownership of the operations,including poverty alleviating activities. While some communities are already aware of thedeclining productivity of the land, the shrinking natural resource base, and the increasingpoverty among substantial numbers of the growing population, the magnitude andseriousness of these problems is not generally appreciated. There is also inadequategeneral recognition that simple practical measures to halt or reverse degradation trendsand restore at least in part, the natural balance on the land, are available and could beimplemented locally with modest inputs. These programs would be formulated on a broadbasis within the framework of sound land use planning, and in accordance with thecapability of the land. The project would assist communities, acting through local tradegroups and producer associations, families, schools, individuals and other stakeholderentities, to restore degraded areas, and manage the resources for efficient and sustainableproduction. This would build on experience gained during the last decade with communityapproaches to improving local enviromnental and living conditions.

3.3 Project Components

In support of these objectives the project will adopt a broad sectoral lending approach andwill have the following components:

3.3.1 High Forest Management

This component will support the inplementation of policy and institutional reformsdesigned to streamline public forest sector agencies and strengthen their technicalcapacity. Institutional restructuring will emphasize the role of public agencies in providingtechnical assistance in the development of collaborative forest management plans with theprivate sector, in monitoring and surveitlance of management plan implementation, and inextension of good forest management practices into non-reserve areas.

The core objective of this component will be to facilitate the transition from centralgovemnment management to community-based collaborative management of theapproximately 200 national forest reserves within the high forest zone. This will involve,inter atia, restructuring of the Forestry Department into a smaller more autonomousforestry service with the possible incorporation of more independent forest operation/logmovement, coupled with concessionaire performance bonding, and a new royalty structureto properly reflect the real value of the timber resource and to protect scarce species. Tothis end, the project will finance training, technical assistance and operational costsassociated with the institutional reform programL

25

It wil also support the collaborative forest management initiative through assistance withparticipatory planning and institutional development, preparation and implementation offorest reserve and forestry district level management plans, promotion of low impactlogging methods and direct involvement of local communities in forest reservemanagement. It will finance training and technical assistance for implementation ofparticipatory planning and co}laborative management of forest reserves, operationalsupport for implementing management plans, and technical support for monitoring andsurveillance of forest management initiatives.

Financed by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), the project will identify anddocument priority areas of global importance for biodiversity conservation to be excludedfrom future logging, develop community based management plans for protection of theseareas, finance alternative livelihood schemes for affected communities, and provide forongoing monitonng and evaluation of biological and social indicators of programperformance.

The project will promote the development of privately owned plantations to supply anincreasing proportion of wood to the processing industry when, as planned, harvesting ofnatural forest declines. Plantation development would take place on private lands off-reserve, and on degraded reserve lands. The project would establish a privately managedPlantation Development Fund/Company to be managed within an appropriateadministrative framework; facilitate reserve land allocation to approved investors andprivate plantation management companies; establish a seed bank and support developmentof a privately operated, decentralized, seed distribution system; and support plantationrelated research, extension and stakeholder training.

3.3.2 Savanna Resource Management

This component will concentrate on four main groups of activities in the Upper East,Upper West and Northem Regions.

Woodland reserve management proposals involving participation of communities wouldbe developed on a pilot basis and tested for effectiveness and sustainability. The newapproach would broaden the current restrictive encroachment protection objective to givethe communities a key role in on-reserve management including shared operationalresponsibility and a stake in revenues derived from improved forest and woodland productharvesting and marketing.

Participatory programs would be formulated to rehabilitate non-reserve areas degraded bypoor land use practices; and to sustainably manage all the savanna zone natural resources,enabling more efficient productive use of these resources and improved marketing. Theprograms would be based on integrated land use plans startng on mini-watersheds fromheadwater areas building on the expenences of the land and water managementcomponent of GERMP. They will take into account not only the physical resources, butalso the market situation, the culture, needs and capabilities of the communities which rely

26

on the land resources for their livelihood. Involvement of district environmentalmanagement commnittees in development of local land management plans would ensurecompatibility with Local Environmental Action Plans (LEAPs).

Support would be provided for capacity building within participating conmnunities, thestatutory Development Planning Sub-Committee and Environmental ManagementCommittees of the District Assemblies, and also NGOs concemed with the programs.Training would focus on front line staff and private service providers such as NGOs,conducted through local institutions and training agencies equipped with the necessaryfacilities and skills for integrated management of land, water and vegetation cover forsustainable economic activities. A savanna implementation coordinating unit would beestablished to take the lead role in the planning and implementation of the programs.

This component would contribute to development of a National Action Program againstDesertification as provided for in the International Desertification Convention to whichGoG is a signatory. This program would be planned in cooperation with the nationalEPA and relevant arrangements would be made for implementation.

3.3.3 Wildlife Resource Management

The wildlife management component will support institutional strengthening throughrestructuring and realignment of the Department of Wildlife to enhance the economic andsocial sustainability of wildlife management programs. It will also foster closecollaboration between the WD and rural communities, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and other partners in management of protected areas, andwildlife in general. The component would support implementation of management plansand infrastructure improvements for selected protected areas, technical assistance andoperational support for establishment of community managed reserves. It will also financeboth infiastructure improvements and operational support to upgrade and modemize themanagement of the zoological gardens in Accra and Kumasi. There will be a generalinitiative to improve environmental education and outreach efforts by the Department tobe undertaken in partnership with national NGOs.

The project would also seek to promote increased private sector/commurnity involvementin wildlife related economic activities such as eco-tourism and game ranching; andinprove understanding and support for wildlife conservation and management throughpublic education.

3.3.4 Environmental Management Coordination

The NRMP will provide resources to assist capacity building of the EnvironmentalProtection Agency at national and regional levels and provide operational support to assistwith the implementation of the new 5-year strategic plan for environmental managementcoordination, including human resource development. It will also develop sector specificguidelines in support of the activities of the NRMP. The project would also support the

27

EPA program to provide training and technical support to district assemblv level.environmental management commiittees in the preparation of local environmental actionplans and to bolster their capacity for local-level land use planning.

Support will be given to further develop the Environmental Information Systemestablished under the ongoing Environmental Resource Management Project. and toencourage its wider use as a planning tool in Ghana. Support will be provided to addressland administration issues influencing sustainable use of natural resources.

3.4 Project Support Activities

3.4.1 Policy, Planning and Institutional Reforms

The project would assist the goverment in designing and implementing firther sectoralpolicy and institutional reforms for enhancing revenue capture and improving sustainabilityof the forest industry. This would be accomplished through streamlinin the mandates andexpenditures of forest sector agencies and strengthening their implementation capacity.Various agencies within the forestry sector are expected to devolve a considerable shareor their responsibilities to the private sector. The project would assist private sectorproducer associations, NGOs and community-based organizations to extend theirparticipation in the commercial forestry sector. It will complement ODA financed technicalsupport for the restrucnring of the Forestry Department into a more efficient service-providing agency.

3.4.2 Capacity Development

In view of the importance of participatory approaches for the identification, planning andimplementation of the programs, priority would be given to strengthening or developingthe capacities of interested communities to phy a leading role in land and natural resourcemanagement. Such capacity building would take advantage of exising capabilities and thepotential of local institutions such as training and research institutes and NGOs, as well asindividuals, with the requisite skills for undertaking the specific activities. Support wouldalso be provided to strengthening the capacity of relevant NGOs in the rural areas tocomplement regional and district extension services and subject matter specialists, intraining the communities.

3.4.3 Resource Information Systems

The present remote sensing equipment at the Planning Branch of the MLF at Kiumasiwould be upgraded into a Forestry/Wildlife/Biodiversity sectoral resource informationnode. This would be operated under the NRNP and supported by the Remote SensingAppicaions Uit (RSAU) at the University of Ghana in LegonL A regional sub-nodewould be developed at Tamale, with the appropriate capacity to facilitate the planning andmonitoring activities of the savanma component.

28

3.4.4 Monitoring Land Use Changes

The countrywide land use/land cover information generated by the RSAU, based onsatellite images dating back to 1990/91, will be updated. Support will be given for thepurchase of satellite data from 1999/2000 images in compatible format in order togenerate new data on land use and land cover changes during the current decade.Information on changes in land cover and utilization during the 1990s, when combinedwith other socio-econbmic information, would provide a powerful tool to study and assessthe impact of recent policies and development activities on natural resources and theenvironment.

3.5 Project Financing

Total project costs are tentatively estimated at US$ 52 million over five years, of whichIDA would finance about $18 million, and other bilateral and multilateral cofinanciers whohave already expressed interest would finance an equivalent amount. A proposal iscurrently under consideration by the GEF to finance approximately US$ 9 million inincremental costs for biodiversity conservation within the high forest zone. The remaining$7 million would come from the GoG, the District Assemblies and participatingcommunities.

3.6 Implementation Arrangements

The Ministry of Lands and Forestry will be the lead implementing agency operatingthrough its Project Coordinating Committee chaired by the Technical Director. TheMinistry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) and the Environmental Protecdon Agency(EPA) would also be involved in implementation of aspects of the project. The differentcomponents would be managed by specific decenralizd management units within thecollaborating agencies. The details of operating procedures for these units are currentlyunder discussion. The implementation framework would be in line with the policies ofGoG to decentralize the public service, and to give the District Assemblies operationalresponsibilities for development and provision of services within their districts.

3.7 Project Sustainability

An important provision for long term sustainability of the NRM is Government'scommitment to policy and institutional reforms which places a greater responsibility on theprivate stakeholders, improvements in staff quality and performance in key supportagencies, and appropriate funding, particularly at the regional and district levels. Theparticipatory approach, which will give major management roles and bring greater directbenefits to the respective communities and other pnvate sector or stakeholders, willprovide the essential element of ownrhip to ensure enduring maintenance. Wlthin thehigh forest estate, Government's commitment to stabilizing sustainable harvest potential,increasing the share of benefits realized by the communities and improving both theknowledge base and management capacity for effective stewardship of the natural

29

resources, will ultimately be a major factor in sustaining these resources and their value for

the welfare of the rural population.

3.8 Lessons Learned from Past Operations

Experience from previous Bank lending operations in the forestry sector indicates theimportance of addressing key policy and institutional reforms in parallel with strengtheningtechnical management capacity including more direct. involvement of landholdingcommunities and other stakeholders. This project will support the implementation ofpolicy and legislative reforms concerning irnproved forest royalty collection, moreequitable and transparent distribution of revenues to stakeholders, introduction ofimproved sectoral guidelines for environmental protection and enhanced fiscal andtechnical monitoring and surveillance. The project will underwrite implementation of amajor policy shift towards collaborative management of forest and other natural resources.Rural communities and other stakeholders will have much more direct participation inresource management decision making and greater realization of economnic returns fromthe resource.

3.9 Special Program Emphasis

The proposed program will give specal emphasis to sustainable management of thenatural resources and the environment, and poverty reduction through: (i) policy reformsthat will improve the logging, milling, and marketing of forest products and provide agreater share of the benefits to rural landholding communities; (ii) targeted interventionsto improve the management of land and water resources as a means of increasingagricultural productivity for farmers, to reduce poverty particularly among women in thedisadvantaged rural areas and improve food security and employment opportunities; (iii)special emphasis on community participation in the selection, planning, implementationand ownership of programs.

4. METHODOLOGY

4.1 General

The NRMP is currently only at the conceptual stage and detailed project design has notyet been prepared. Accordingly, the EIA is based on the project concept. The concept hasbeen agreed upon by the Ministry of Lands and Forestry and accepted as the basis fordetailed project design.

Since the project is country wide, the assessment could not be canried. out at eachindividual site where an aspect of the project may have an effect of one type or another ona component of the environment.

30

Only sample reserves and non-reserve areas have been selected as well as a sampling ofcommunities adjacent to these area and of industries, for purposes of collecting pnrmarydata. This data has been collected and analyzed by the EIA team primarilY to verify issuesand potential impacts that have been described in various documents.

The EIA has been carried out by an interdisciplinary team consisting of nine members asindicated in Section 4.7.

4.2 Baseline Data

4.2.1 Socio-economic Data

Existing data on socio-economnic conditions of the country's rural population, one of themajor stakeholders of the project, has been used to provide this group's profile. Tosupplement this secondary data, 25 communities (Table 4.1) representing the two majorforest regions (high forest and savanna) and the far north (Guinea savanna) were selectedin which to conduct an informal questionnaire focusing on general community conditionsand perceived issues and problems as these relate to existing forest resources, forestproducts, and their views towards collaborative forestry. The questiomnaire was directedto community leaders in those communities where they were available. Other members ofthe communuities were interviewed when leaders were not available.

The communities visited represent communities adjacent to the following forest reserves:Keni-Keni Forest Reserve and Mole Game Reserve (North); Bobri and Domi ForestReserves in Ashanti: Atewa Forest Reserve East); Assin Atandanso Game Reserve,Kakum Nature Reserve, Nkukuasa Forest Reserve (Central); Nueng North Forest Reserveand Nueng South Forest Reserve (West); and Shai Hills Resource Reserve in the GreaterAccra area. Two off-reserve areas to the northeast of Bawku were also included in thesurvey. Six of the 25 communities are not situated near reserves but play an important rolein either the production of fuelwood or use of fuelwood for food processing.

Table 4.1: Communities Interviewed

Northern Region KabampeLarabangaKanatoWayamba

Ashanti AtiemoJuabengmaKrobo

_____* KkwantaUpper East Region Bansi

.___ SBawku

31

KaadeNasiaAtoba

entlRegion Assin WorakeseAntwik-waaTumfokroKobenaano KromMensahkro

Eastern Region Ekrumso-Begoro! Agyeikrom

Western Region Shama JunctionAbopunisoBonsa MepeasemSekondi

Greater Accra Mauvi VillageDoryumu

4.2.2 Biophysical Data

All biophysical data is secondary and has been sourced from a variety of existingdocuments as referenced in Section 9.

4.3 Stakeholder Participation

The stakeholders of the project are many and varied, including the Government of Ghana,the Ministry of Lands and Forestry (including the Forestry Department and theDepartment of Wildlife), the forest industry, and the people of Ghana. Of particularimportance, and the group that could be affected most directly, are the local communitiesin the vicinity of the forest reserves and wildlife areas, and the communities that rely onthe forest products industry, particularly timber harvesting and sawmilling, as a basis oftheir economy.

In view of the direct effect that the project will have on communities in the vicinity offorest reserves and wildlife areas, a sampling of these communities was visited to gain asense of their concerns towards forest management and other aspects of the project.

Similarly, a sampling of the forest industry was selected in an attempt, through an informalquestionnaire, to deternine conces and impacts that the project is likely to have on theindustry.

The Ministry of Lands and Forestry, the Forestry Department and the Department ofWildlife partHipated actively in the preparation of the EIA Five staff members of theseagencies w assigned to the EIA team. In addition, a member of the EPA participated inthe three da session for determining impacts and mitigative actions.

32

A presentation of the initial draft of the ELA was made on September 30, 1997 Thepresentation was made to invited govemrnent departments, the forest industry, the generalpubhc, and NGOs. Representatives of the communities adjacent to a selection of Reserveswere invited and were provided with transportation to attend the presentation. Thepresentation allowed for input to be made and based on the feedback from the input, thefinal EIA document was prepared. A iist of organizations invited and in attendance at thepresentation is provided in Appendix 1.

In addition, notices was placed in the Daily Graphic (a facsimile of which is provided onthe back cover of this report) and Ghanaian Times newspapers to offer the opportunity foranyone interested in reviewing the draft document prior to the presentations, to do so atthe Ministry of Lands and Forestry.

The World Bank was also given the opportunity to review the initial draft document andprovide comments which were used in the preparation of the draft final and finaldocuments.

4.4 Scoping and Bounding

The basis of scoping has been the identification of the Important EnvironmentalComponents (1ECs). These are the features of an area for which an EIA is being carriedout that are deemed important enough to ensure that they are not lost or damaged. Theyare features that stakeholders agree are worthy of protection and agree to devoteresources to this end. The IECs provide a focus for the ElI. The EICs were initiallyidentified by the participants of the EIA workshop held in June. As the assessment wascarried out this initial list was modified and a final list of IECs was agreed upon. The EECsare listed in Section 7.

The bounds of the EIA have been set arbitrarily. Boundaries for activities within reservesand in off-reserve areas, and the communities adjacent to the reserves, have been set to theextent of the reserves and the contiguous forested area of the off-reserve area, and theimmediate area occupied by the relevant communities. Impacts of timber harvesting ongroundwater and surface water systems were considered for the portions of the systemswithin the forested areas and for a length of surface water system not exceeding one kmbeyond the forested area under consideration. In some instances, such as the downsizingof the timber industry, the boundaries for impacts extended regionally. Impacts occuring inthe savanmah region have been treated in a sinilar fashion.

4.5 Criteria for Impact Assessment

Several criteria were considered for determining the significance of an impact. Criteriaselected were sevety, extent, duration, frequency, possibility of occurrence, andpossibility of reversibility. These are briefly described.

33

4.5.1 Seventy

. Very Highbiophysical impacts: major losses or system disruption, system unable to functionwithout mitigation or major compensation.socio-economic impacts: major socio-economic losses/disruption.communities/individuals unable to function traditionally without mitization ormajor compensation.

. Highbiological impacts: substantial losses or system disruption; system wouldprobably still fimction, albeit at a lower level and mitigation would be required forrestoration.socio-economic impacts: substantial loss to existing conditions; communities andindividuals would probably still function, albeit at a lower socio-economic order;communitiesfindividuals would require mitigation/compensation to maintain level.

. Moderatebiological impacts: measurable losses, or system disruption; system able tocontinue without mitigation but at a slightly lower level.socio-economic impacts: measurable socio-economic losses; communities/individuals would be able to fumction quite well without mitigation but at a slightlylower level.

.Lowbiological impacts: small changes, possibly measurablesocio-economic impacts: small changes, possibly measurable

4.5.2 Extent

. Site (local): within close range of a specified component or activity, extent of range isdependent on the nature of the impact. Where many sites are involved (e.g. logging at sitein many reserves in any one year, scale would be increased from site to general area [seebelow]).

. General Area: within the general area; could refer to extent as great as the watershed;covering an area beyond the boundaries of site but not to the extent of the region.

. Regional: within a specified area of Ghana; could be an ecological region (e.g. the highforest region, the coastal region, the savama)

. National: country wide

. International: where an impact would be of concem to other countries (e.g. trans-boundary impact, loss of a species, severe impact on people)

34

4.5.3 Duration

. Temporary: occurrence for a period of up to 5 years

. Medium term: 6 - 20 years duration

. Permanent: effects of impact will be felt forever

4.5.4 Frequency of Occurrence

. Once

. Several times

. Many times

4.5.5 Probability of Occurrence

. Definite: no doubt that the impact will occur

. Probable: probability of impact occurrence judged to be greater than 50%/c

• Possible: probability of impact occurrence judged to be less than 50%/c

4.5.6 Possibility of Reversibility

• Probable: probability of impact being reversed is greater than 50%/.

. Possible: probability of impact being reversed is less than 50%/.

. Not likely: highly unlikely that reversibility will occurThe significance of an impact is determined by the total score of the various criteria for-each impact. The significance ratings are indicative only, allowing the consideration of anyone impact relative to the others. The values assigned to each level of each criteria aresubjective. The numerical ranges for detemining the different levels of significance arearbitrary.

. Very High (total score of 24-26)

. High (total score of 19-23)

. Moderate (total score of 13-18)

. Low (total score of 9-12)

35

4.6 Scoring System for Significance of Impact

This scoring system (Table 4.2) has not been prepared on the basis of other scoringsystems. It is a simple system using few criteria, but essential criteria that will result in anappropriate ranking system of the various impacts. A complex system has been avoided,simply because the increasing use of numbers (or scores) tends to cloud the analysis.particularly in the absence of real quantifiable data. In the end, a more complex systemusing weightings, multiple impact analysis, etc. would in all likelihood not modify theimpact significance ratings significantly. A review of the final impact significance ratingsappears to bear this out.

Table 4.2: Criteria, Ratings and Significance of Impacts

CRIThRTA.. '_W MEDIUM H.GH VFkY HIGHExtent site general area regional national or

(1) (2) (3) international(4)

Duration temporary medium term prolonged permanent(1) (3-7 years) period (8-20 (4)

(2) yrs)(3)

Severity small changes measurable substantial major losses(3) losses losses (6)

Frequency once several times many times

Reversibility probably possibly not likely(1) ~~~(2) (3) SOON 1

Likelihood of possible probable dfntOccurrence i p b (3) lSignificance |-11 12-16 17-20 121-23of Impact

4.7 Positive Impacts

Positive impacts have been described as benefits. These are presented with the impacts foreach IEC. Where there are benefits, only, for a particular EEC, these are discussedseparately in Section 6.4.4.

36

4.8 ELA Team

John Ambrose EIA Co-ordinatorDr. Sesi Akoena Local Team Leader/Environmental EconomistDr. Andrew Boateng Dua Forest EcologistOphelia Ayeh Rural SociologistPaul Tweneboah Forest Industrial SpecialistDr. Victor Agyeman Forest Management SpecialistOppon Sasu Collaborative Forestry SpecialistAbu Juam Biodiversity SpecialistMoses Sam Wildlife Management SpecialistAgyarko Tabi Environmental Specialist

In addition to the core team, others participated in the impacts identification workshopheld July 21-23.

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT

5.1 Location and Topography"l

Ghana has an area of 238,500km2 and it is situated along the Gulf of Guinea, extendingfrom 4045 N at Cape Three Points to 1101 iN at the northem boundary with BurkinaFaso. To the east (1014E) it is bordered by Togo and it stretches to 3007W at theboundary with Cote d'Ivoire. It is roughly rectangular in shape with an average width of350km, an inland extension of 675km and a coast line of 5671kn. The Greenwich Meridianruns through eastern Ghana about 241an to the east of Accra, the capital.

The topography of Ghana is undulating with prominent scarps seldom exceeding 600m inheight, occ-ring at Akwapim, Kwahu, Mampong, Ejura and Gambaga. The highest hillsrun in a northeast direction between Volta Lake and the Togo border. This lake wascreated in 1964 through the damming of the Volta River. It is the largest artificial lake inAfrica and covers an area of 8,500ktn2 when at its normal operating level.

5.2 Physical Environment

5.2.1 ClimateU

The tropical climate of Ghana is governed by the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone orInter-Tropical Front (ITCZ). The ITCZ is a surface discontinuity separating northeasterlydry continental air masses from southeasterly wnnds (moist air flow from the Gulf ofGuinea). It moves in relation to the sun's movement and is associated with rainfall. Five

11GWDI1UCN. 1994.

' 2GWD/IUCN. 1994.

37

'climates' from the climate classification of Troll and Paffen (1964) are found within theTropical Zone and three of these are represented in Ghana as indicated in Table 5.1.

Table 5.1: Climates of the Tropical Zone Represented in Ghana

Cl}aima::_:R -.. ' x,. .. 2 . i._.< ' Period t(=I8tIL)

VI Tropical rainy climates 0 - 2.5V2 Tropical humid-summer climates 2.5 - 5V3 Wet and dry tropical climates 5 - 7.5

The zone with Tropical rainy climates (VI) more or less corresponds with the high forestzone. The rest of Ghana, with the exception of the southeastern corner, falls within theTropical humid-sumrner climates (V2). The eastem coastal plains have a wet and drytropical climate (V3). The area in proximity to Accra with rainfall below 760mm can beclassified as transitional between V3 and V4 climates, with V4 being Tropical dry climatewith 7.5 to 10 and months.

Harmattan winds from the Sahara blow between December and March, lowering humidityand temperatures and bringing fine dust particularly to the northern parts, though itseffects are felt as far south as the coast.

The average rainfall decreases with increasing distance from the coast from more than2000 mm/yr to about 1000 mm/yr in northern Ghana. The rainfall in the eastern coastalarea does not follow this general pattern and is as low as 714 mm/yr. Rainfall is ermatic andintensities up to 200 mm/yr lead to high runoff and soil erosionL High temperatures andwind cause high rates of evapotanson. The northern third of the country has a netprecipitation of less than 300 mmlyr while the southern sector has over 500 mm/yr.

Ghana can be divided into two c)imatic types according to temporal rainfall patterns. Thenorthern part (roughly north of 8o - S9) has a climate of the Sudan type with a rainy seasonextending from April to October/November. The climate in the southern part is of theGuinea type with two rainy seasons (March to July and October to November) separatedby and periods. The eastern coastal area forms the western end of the Ghana dry belt (theSo-called Dahomey gap). This belt comprises the littoral of eastern Ghana, Togo andBenin and is bordered by tropical humid areas to the east and west. This low rainfall iscaused by winds paralle to the shore causing frictional divergence, and by a cool pool orcurrent of water in the region.

In addition, the southeast coastal plains are in the rain shadow of the Akwapim TogoRanges and the few inselbergs m the generally flat plains are not high enough to doirbthe maritime air masses, causing them to rise, cool and rain.

The average annual temperature range in the coastal area is 5° - 6C and 7° - 90C in theinterior. The mean diumal range also shows a marked increase with increasing distancefrom the coast. It is 70 - go C at the coast and up to 110 - 14° C in northern Ghana. The

38

mean monthly temperature is always above 250C in the whole of Ghana. March and Aprilare generally the hottest months while August to December are the coolest months.Humidity is generally high during the rainy season and during the night and eariymomings. The overall humidity declines with increasing distance from the coast. Relativehumidity between 95 and I O10/o is common along the coast during the night and earlymornings and drops to 65-75% in the afternoons. During the period when northern Ghanais influenced by maritime air masses the relative hunmidity can reach 80% and drops as lowas 20-30% under the influence of dry continental air.

5.2.2 Physiography13

The country contains seven distinct regions ranging from the coast through to foldmountains that form the easter boundary of the Voltaian Basin. The Votaian Basin is thelargest of the seven physiographic regions, comprising about 41% of the total area of thecountry.

5.2.3 Geology and Soils14

Most of Ghana lies within the Precambrian Guinean Shield of West Africa. Precambrianrocks are widespread in Ghana and are overlain by the sandstones, shales, mudstones,conglomerates, limestones and tiUites of the Voltaian Systern. Younger rocks are found atseveral locations along the coast. Different masses of granitoids are intruded into theBirmian rocks (Precambrian).

The country has three soil groups and these correspond to a large degree with thedistribution of the vegetation types. The soils of the forest zone range from Forest Oxysolsin the wettest parts to Forest Ochrosols in the areas with semi-deciduous forest. The soilsof the savanna zone are mainly Savanna Ocbrosols and Groundwater Laterites. Soils ofthe coastal savanna are comprised of a complex mosaic of different soil types, reflectingthe complex geological structures of the 'Dahomeyan System' which occupies thesoutheastem corner of Ghana.

5.2.4 Water Resources'5

The Black and White Volta Rivers form the dominant river system draining the northemnand eastem parts of the country. the Volta River basin covers 70% of the country anddrains the entire interior savanna region. The wetter west area is drained by the Pra,Ankobra and Tano rivers. Volta Lake covers about 4% of the area of the country andretains about 25% of the combined flow of the basin's rivers.

13 GWDiiUCN 1994

''GWD/IUCN. 1994.

lGWDIIUCN. 1994.

39

Many of Ghana's water courses are seasonal and less than 1% of Ghana is underlain by

exploitable aquifers. Groundwater is generally of high quality.

5.3 Biological Environment

5.3.1 Major Ecozones

High Forest

Tropical high forests occur in the southwestem third of the country and form part of theGuinea-Congolean phytogeographical region. Both flora and fauna composition is closelylinked to those of Cote D'Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone but to a lesser extent, Nigeria,as a result of the separation by the and "Dahomey gap".- High forest covers 8.2 million haand contains over 700/0 of Ghana's total flora diversity. Seven vegetative types within theclosed forest are recognized in Ghana, each with a distinct association of plant species andcorresponding rainfall and soil conditions. Two evergreen types (wet and moist) occur inthe extreme southwestem corner of Ghana and receive the highest annual rainfall (1,500-2,100 mm/annum). This is a floristically rich zone and supports many species which areabsent or rare elsewhere. Table 5.1 provides a summary of the vegetation fornationgroups in Ghana'6, including the seven types withi the closed forest and the savannavegetation.

Figure 5.1 indicates the country's major ecological zones and Figure 5.2 indicates thelocation of the country's forest reserves and the forest zones within which they arelocated.

The vegetation formations indicated in Table 5.1 are described in detail in Appendix 1.

Savanna Woodland

Savanna covers 66% of the total land area and is represented in the north, eastern andcoastal regions. There are two types - coastal and interior savanna woodlands. The coastalsavanna is part of the Guinea-Congolean/Sudan regional transition and only occupies anarrow wedge-shaped area flanking the south of the high forest and extend northeastwards to a drier type of savanna which is not truly transitional. Coastal savannaincludes mixed subdivisions broadly grouped as the strand and mangrove, and the grassand coastal thicket communities.

"GWD/IUCN. 1994.

40

e n X I

* P._

W~~~~~~~~~~~~~ . .lg . .> .k- ..J .... . . .:: . .i .

X~~~~~~~~~~~ . . . . . {.,1 ̂._ . . . . o.

-I0imaP,...,,.i,'.,'..,.',...4 IeW I

0 ? S *. } 0 0 24:::. i .

Figure 5.2: Forest Reserves and Vegetation Zones

. [ ~P P E R v L T A p5 .

~~~~ v,F< U. *

._.'~~~~~~~~~Sa ........ .?pp

> 14_._ .4.. _tX- °0'"wS

x t ~~~~~~~~~~~A- -. ^,.,rt;,!_-< *_ t_ _

, e - wO ,*~~~~~ ~~ _ . _ 00._. ty.

- o' ~~- q ., -b = . _ p 'L.

i 1_ '- o-. _1_'__,_r

' ' _ O,^onto - - to f.#_^ t _ _ _ r_~~Am" u _^ r

- 1 ' ~~ 5a¢,, | '~~~~ ~_ T'

rJ . . _ ¢ r i rJ.~_ r-GHA --A

I I ,, ru__ ~~~~~ s ~ ~ ,, . e , S~~~~- r, CI, i l L_ * r_e , '- I r~ ~ O' .t- ; w17

Table 5.1: Formation Groups of Ghana, Their Sizes, Rainfall and Percentage Cover of Ghana(Modified after GWDIIUCN. 1994)

Wet evergreen forest WE 6.570 2.75 1500-2100Moist evergreen forest ME 17.770 7.45 1250-1750Upland evergreen forest UE 292 0.12 1250-1700Moist semi-deciduous forest MS 32.890 13.79 1250-1600Dry semi-deciduous forest DS 21.440 8.99 1250-1500Southern marinal forest SM 2.260 0.99 1150-1400South east outlier forest SO 20 0.0083 100-1300

Total Forest 81.342 34.1Tall grass sawanna TGS 144.948 60.77 900-1200Short grass savanna SGS 10,540 4.42 300-850

Total savanna 155.488 65.19 700-1400Mangrove forest MA 1.670 0.7Total for Ghana 238,500 99.99

The Sudan types are dominant in Ghana and two distinct zones are recognized; the narrow

discontinuous derived savanna zone lying adjacent to the forest region, and the entire

breadth of the Guinea savanna zone to the north.

The Guinea savanna zone supports a typical fire controlled tree savanna community of

deciduous trees, densely distributed in a continuous ground cover of perennial bunch

grasses and associated forbs.

5.3.2 Biodiversity - Species Composition and Distribution

Flora

Excluding mosses and other lower plants a total of 3,600 plant species have been recorded

in Ghana. From a recent botanical inventory" 7 2,214 are high forest species with 680 being

trees greater than 5cm dbh. The remainder are savanna zone species. However, an

imbalance exists in the knowledge of the composition of plant species.

Most of Ghana's forest plant species are also fairly widespread in Afica. 85% of ruderal

(weed) species typical of farms or paths have a wide tropical distribution, even extending

outside of Africa, whereas 3% of primary forest species occur outside of Africa. About

half of the non-ruderal forest species are at least Guinea-Congolean species, with a range

usually from western Ghana to the Congo basin or beyond. A firther 20% of forestspecies are widespread in West Africa, occurring to the east and west of Ghana.

"Haw'hn D. and hi Abu-Ju- 1995.

41

Species of the savanna are part of the Sudanian regional center of endemism. The Guinea-Congolian/Sudanian region has less than 2,000 plant species, most of which are Guinea-Congolian or Sudanian wides, or link species with an even wider distribution.

Fauna

The wildlife of Ghana can be divided into the two broad ecological zones: savanna and theclosed forest. Vertebrate species include 221 amphibians and reptiles, 721 birds, 225mammals, and 250 species of freshwater fish. The herpetofauna includes 70 species.Avifauna comprises 402 non-passerines and 319 passernes of which 587 are Africanspecies. Migratory species comprise mainly palearctic and Afrotropical migrants with afew vagrants from the Holarctic, Nearctic and Antarctic regions. Keystone species such ashombills, parrots and other birds of prey are well represented in the country. However, ofthe 721 bird species listed in Ghana, one, the white breasted Guinea fowl Agelastesmeleadrides, is endemic to the Upper Guinea forests. There are about 1,200 species ofbutterflies and 12,000 species of moths in Ghana, and a conservative estimate is that thereare more than 100,000 species of invertebrates.

Savanna fauna is comprised of no fewer than 93 mammal species, about half of which canbe considered to be large. This group also includes several species of carnivore includinglion, spotted hyena and hunting dog. Over 350 bird species have been recorded from thesavanna as well as nine amphibians and 33 reptile species.

The fauna of the closed forest is more diverse. There are 200 of the 250 species of forestmammals recorded from Ghana. These species include 60% of the primates recorded fromthe country and at least 74 species of bat. Infonnation on the distribution of forest birds isincomplete, but at least 240 are found associated with the forest, and 12 with marinehabitats. The wet evergreen and the moist evergreen forests of Ghana are the mostimportant repository of butterfly diversity in West Africa, and by implication, of thediversity of other insects. Of the 860 recorded butterfly species in Ghana, 83% areassociated with the forest while 13% are associated with the savanna species. Twenty-three of these species are endemic.

5.3.3 Threatened Wildlife

A number of wildfire species are under threat in Ghana. Table 5.2 provides a list of thesespecies and a brief summary of the current status of each species. Some of these speciesare globally endangered.

42

Table 5.2: Threatened Wildlife Species of Ghana

elephant Ghana's elephant populauon is generalvclassified as Vulnerable, though elephantswithin the forest zone are classified asEndangered. An estimate for both speciestoeether. has raneed benveen 1.500 and 3.500

leopard The leopard is widehl distributed in Ghana.occurning in all vegetation zones and has beenrecorded in 12 of the 15 GWD protected areas.

_anatee The West African Manatee is considered to beVulnerable. The species is threatened byhunting and incidental capture in fishing nets.

Ogilby s duiker The species is lied as Vulnetrable and has arestricted recorded distribution in Ghana.

red-fronted gazelle The species is Vulnerable and has beenrecorded in northern Ghana which is thesouthern limit of the species' range.

bongo The species is globally endangered. The Nini-Suhien National Park and Ankasa ResourceReserve support strng populaions.

M_ M

Diana monkey This species is listed as Vulnerable but isconsidered to be one of the most threatened in

._____ ______ ______ ______ ___ _ Africa.red colobus The species is listed as Vulnerable and

threatened by habitat loss. logging andintensive hunting.

olive colobus The species is listed as Rare thrughout itsentire range, though it is less easy to hunt thanother colobus due to its cryptic behaviour.The species is imernationaLly Vulnerable, withone or two relict populations found in SWGb=na where thy are protected in Bia andAnkasa conservation areas. Sightings are ran.

Populations are very low with possibly fewerthan 400 with less than 90 breeding females. It

mangabey ___________________________ is vulnerable to habitat disturbance and discase.

mnangabey The collared mangebey is listed as Vulnerable.It is primarily resident in high canopyprimary forest but can also be found in galletyand inland swamp forest. There may be only afew troops survmng due to the past logging ofthe closed forest.

white-breasted Guineafowl The white-breasted guineafowl is endaeic to

the Upper Guinea forest block and Is list asEndangered. It is considered to be one of themost threatened birds in continental Africa anduntil recently it was thought to be extinct inGhana. The species seems to be confined to

43

pnmany fores and often disappears afterloging.The species is hunted for food.

vellow-footed honeyguide Although the stams of this bird is uncenain t1appears to occur at verv low densities.

olive greenbul The vello -bearded olive greenbul is listed asVulnerable and is endemic to the UpperGunmnea rainforest. Logging is a senous thlraito this species which has a very specialisedfeeding niche.

white-necked picatbartes The species is listed as Vulnerable. Little isknow of its distribution.

fishing owl The rufous fishing owl is considered Rare uithonly 4 records from Ghana. It likely occursalong the larger rivers in the Western remon.

marine turtles Fivc species of marine nurtles are known fromGhana's coastal waters. These include;loggerhead turtle. green turtle. Atlantic ridlev.hawksbill turtle and leatherback turtle. There isvery little reliable infonnation on the status of

__________________________________ these species.

5.3.4 Important/Threatened Wildlife Habitats

. The Closed Forest

A distinct guild of forest species occurs throughout the Upper Guinean region, with adiscontinuity in the fauna between the Sessendra and Bandama rivers in south_eastern

Cote dlvoire. The forest fauna in southwest Ghana and southeast Cote dlvoire is distinctfrom the other Upper Guinean forests.

The Wet evergreen forest, which is restricted to the highest rainall zone of southwestGhana contains the highest concentration of rare and endemic species in Ghana. It is theleast disturbed forest type in Ghana with 700/% of the forest still relatively inact and it isthe ecosystem in which the greatest diversity of animal and plant life exists.

All other tpes of forest are equally important for the survval of forest funal species butthese habitats are under confinual threat from barvesfing operations, poaching and

encroaching agricultural activities.

. The Savanna Woodland

The short grass savanna (sometimes referred to as Coastal savanna or grassland), a uniqueformation group with very limited distribution in Afica, is a highly sigificant habitat. Eastof the Volta River it is well represented within the Kalakpa Game Reserve. The ACcraPlains, however, which exhibits an ample variety of sites at the dnest extreme of the

'Dahomey Gap' is represented only by the Shai Hills RR (50km 2). The vegetation along the

44

Abunr scarp is aimost completely deforested and extremely degraded, showing signs ofsevere erosion.

Tall-grass Savanna

The tall grass savanna zone is adequately represented in the Protected Areas svstem. Ofthe seven protected areas within the tall grass savanna zone, the Mole National Park is thelargest and most important.

The largest populations of roan, hartebeest, oribi, waterbuck, warthog, Buffoon's patasmonkeys and savanna elephants are found in Mole National Park, a protected areasufficiently large enough to support these populations.

Mole National Park also supports the last remaining populations of lion, hyena andpossibly, side-striped jackal.

. Wetlands

There are six Ramsar sites in Ghana. Five are along the coast and comprise of either openor closed brackish lagoons, estuaries, river deltas and adjacent seashores. The five coastalRamsar sites provide habitat for internationally significant populations of 11 species ofmigratory shorebirds as weUl as nesting sites for three endangered species of marine turtles.

. Environmental Contributions

The forests and savanna grasslands of Ghana fulfill important environmental functionsincluding soil conservation, hydrological stabilization, amelioration of the agriculturalmicroclimate, and the protection of biodiversity and endemic species. Catchmentprotection is an important consideration in Ghana. Lake Volta provides jobs for 30,000fisherfolk and is the basis for 912 mW of hydroelectric generating capacity, irrigationwater, and provides an important navigation route. Without the maintenance of savannawoodlands in the catchment annual soil losses could increase from less than one ton/ha toin excess of 100 tons/ha.

Maintenance of tree cover in the savanna woodland prevents the leaching of valuable soilnutrients and transfers deep lying leached nutrients into the trees and eventually back tothe surface soil in the form of litter and roots.

5.4 Socio-economic Environment

5.4.1 The Ghana Economyl"

Agriculture accounts for almost 50%/. of the GDP and industy accounts for a further 15%.Services generate the remaining 35%. Within the industry sector, forestry contributed$153 million in 1993. However, this would diminish over time as a result of non-

ISGWD/IUCN. 1994.

45

sustainable forestry practices and a suspension of round log exports. The forest industry is-described in Section 1.3.4. Gold is the largest single source of export earnings at $468million in 1993. Bauxite, diamonds and sea salt are significant export minerals. The singlemost important agricultural crop is cocoa which supplies about one third of the country'sexport earnings. Tourism is reported to be the third largest foreign exchange earner inGhana after gold and cocoa and it is expected to displace cocoa in export eaniungs overthe next few years.

5.4.2 Population19

The 1984 census indicates that Ghana's population was 12.3 million in that year. At anannual growth rate of 3.4% from 1980 to 1990, and with an estimated reduction to 3.0%/o

from 1990 to 2000, the population is expected to reach 20 million by the turn of thecentury and 34 million by the first quarter of the next century. The population is veryyoung with about 47% of the population below the age of 15.

Two thirds of the country's population is located in rural areas and is highly dependent onnatural resources for survival. However, according to census figures over the past 35years, the rural population of the counry is decreasing. Over 50%0 of the population isconcentrated in the Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra and Central regions which constituteless than a quarter of the country's.land area. Whilst the Greater Accra area has apopulation density of up to 441/mi2, the Northem Region has a density as low as 17/mi2.Urbanization for the 1990s is estimated to include 34% of the population and is expectedto reach 39.2% by 2000.

The rural population, which is the focus of the nanural resource project and which will bethe prnmary direct benefactor of the project, for the most part lives below the poverty line,is uneducated or only semi-literate, and has limited access to social amenities such ashealth and education facilities.

5.4.3 Administration

Ghana has a democratic system of government with the seat of this centralizedgovemment situated in Accra. Although decentralizaon policies have been in place since1990, to a large extent the government still operates under the centralized system. Thecountry is comprised of ten administrative regions and frther divided into 110 districts.The regional head is the Regional inister who has a Deputy. Distncts are headed byDistrict Chief Executives.

The traditional system of the chieftaincy in the rwual areas paranllels the administrativesystem and this is described in Section 5.4.6.

'9 GWD/IUCN. 1994.

46

5.4.4 Economic Activity, Income and Poverty

Farming and other agricultural activities are the main occupation in the rural areas ofGhana, although other occupations such as trading and various service activities areimportant. ln 1984 about 61.1% of the employed population was enraged in agriculturalactivities. Fallow rotation is widely practiced and this has placed intense pressure on forestresources.

The Ghana Living Standards Survey (1988-92), indicates that about 31% of the Ghanaianpopulation is poor or very poor. Rural areas which contain about 66% of the country'spopulation account for almost 75% of the country's total poverty. However, regionalvariations are found and the rural savanna, although containing only 23% of the totalpopulation of the country, accounted for 28% of the total poverty and 31% of the very

poor.

Poverty is greatest amongst farmers and the least amongst those employed in the formalsector, either in goverment or the private sector.

Employment in the timber industry is conservatively estimated at 130,000. This number isbased on the number of operations in each of the timber industry activities as indicated inTable 5.3.

Table 5.3: Timber Operation Units

logging 250sawmilling 130plymijling 9veneer milling 15chipboard milling Ipreservation treatment plant Ifuniuture manufacturng (large and small) 40small scale furniture manufacturing 45,000

5.4.5 Culture

. Ethnicity and Religion

Ghana is comprised of a variety of ethnic groups and there are believed to be 185 differenttribes although there are only about 30 major groups. The major groups are distinguishedprimarily by language and to a lesser degree by their political, social and culturalorganization. The largest and most predominant is the Akan ethnic group which is foundin five of Ghana's 10 regions. The;group is identified by a common language which is

differentiated amongst the sub-groups by dialects. These sub-groups include the Ashanti,Fante, Kwabu, Akwapin and Assin. The Akan has a common system of inheritance which

47

is matrilineal and is differentiated from other groups through a unique set of culturalcharactenstics and insititutions.

The other major groups of southern Ghana include the Ga - Adangbe, the Ewe, and theGuan. There are, as well, a number of other smaller ethnic groups in the south.

In northern Ghana the people are grouped by three language types including the Gur. Kwaand Mende language groups. The two well known Gur speaking groups include theDagomba and Mamprusi. The Kwa group consists of the Gonja and Nchuburung, and theMende consists of the Busansi and Ligbi speaking groups.

Religion of the country is dominated by Christianity and Islam with the latter prevalent inthe northemn regions. In the northern regions, the earth priest (Tindaana) holds a religiousposition although not as authoritative as in the past prior to the introduction of Islam andChristianity.

African traditional religion which is very much a part of the daily lives of many Ghanaians.It is based on the belief that the links amongst the unbom, the living and the dead providean unbroken chain. Whatever is carried out by the living can bring upon them favour ordisfavour with the dead.

. Taboos, Beliefs and Mores

A system of taboos, beliefs and mores are used to establish and maintain sociallyacceptable behavior in communities. However, the introduction of fomWal education,organized religion, as well as two-directional migration have eroded these traditionalcontrols. Today, many of the taboos related to farming, entry into sacred groves and othertraditional values, are flaunted with impunity. Chiefs, elders and other persons of authoritdo not have the legal instrumentation with which to enforce compliance with traditionalbeliefs.

Common beliefs include the sacredness of land, and the belief that the living are onlycustodians for the land on behalf of the dead. There is a belief of the commonality oftraditional institutions and laws on resource use. Sacred groves, for example, are conmnonto all tribes in the country.

While the family head is usually the link between a family and its ancestors, and the chief isthe link between tribal ancestors and the people, the fetish priests are seen as linksbetween their different gods and the community.

The primary duty of the earth priest is to ensure the prosperity of the community throughcapturing the goodwill of the earth. He is required to pierce the soil when a new grave isdug and he must turn the first sod when a farm or house is to be established on virginground. He allots land previously unclaimed for faniing and building. All lost propertythat the community chief is not entitled to goes to the earth priest.

48

. Sacred Groves

There are a variety of sacred plants and animals which may be associated with particularspirits in sacred groves and rivers, with fetish priests, or with clans of people. Severalforest plants are believed to be sacred throughout the entire region: the forest emertem,odii, the 'odum' tree and the liana, 'ahomakyem' were found to be sacred in all of thecommunities studied in southern Ghana. Some sacred plant species may be used to protectan entire community. Even some animals have sacred or fetish value and are used inspiritual healing and for protection. The presence of sacred groves throughout southernGhana indicates the high value placed on forest vegetation and its spiritual associations.

. Inheritance

Two systems of inheritance are practiced in Ghana. In the matri£ineal system which ispracticed by the Akans, the lineage can trace descent from a common female ancestor. Achild is considered to belong to it's mother's lineage and is expected to accrue all rights,benefits and responsibilities through that lineage. Properly of a women will be passed onto her sisters and her daughters while a man's property will be passed on to his sister'ssons who are deemed as belonging to the same lineage rather than his own children whobelong to their mother's lineage.

The patrilineal system which is practiced by the other tribes. Under this system ofinheritance an individual belongs to the same lineage as his/her father. A lineage iscomprised of a group of persons that can trace descent through a common male ancestor.The heirs to a man's property are commonly his brothers and his sons.

To ensure that those who do not inherit directly from a person are not neglected and leftdestitute, custom demands that the heir to a deceased's property takes care of theremaining dependents. Education, urbanisation, migration and the introduction of 'wills'has affected these traditional systems and has left a g in many places between heirs anddependents of deceased persons. Government has attempted to correct this through theIntestate Succession Law.

Cultural Erosion

Urbanization has broken down famnly and kinship ties which in the past compelled peopleto conform to socially accePted behavior of communities to which they belonged. Nolonger does a person's day to day existence, well being and protection depend on familyand kinship.

5.4.6 Social Structure and Institutions

Traditional authority is usually vested in chiefs, both divisional and paramount, and in theelders. Their basic function under this system is to perform executive, legislative andjudicial functions. However, in recent times with modern western style government

49

systems. much of the authority of the chiefs has been eroded. The lowest in the hierarchvof authority in an Ak-an society is the Abusua Panyinr, or family head.

Today the chief s main role in the community is ritual. All community land is vested in thechief on behalf of his people. The chief directly administers stool land and the eldersdirectly administer family land which are lands that each family began working when thetribe or sub-tribe first settled. He is expected to administer justice, see to the well being ofhis people spiritually and physically. In order to ensure the well being of his people, hisduty is to maintain close communications with ancestors to ensure that he does not incurtheir wrath upon his people. He is also to invoke their blessings and protection upon hispeople.

In the Akan community control is maintained through tribal taboos and laws which usuallyhave spiritual sanctions attached. Penalties for offenses, depending upon their seriousness,could be the slaughter of a sheep or the provision of alcohol for pacification rites.

5.4.7 Livelihood

The pnmary source of income for rural communities is agriculture. Agriculture basedincome comprises 71.7%/ of the rural income in the savamnn region and 58.6% of theincome in the high forest region. Non-farm self employment is a significant source ofincome and in the rural communities of the coastal region it comprises 46% of the totalrural income, leading agriculture related income in this region. All rural communities haveeconomies connected to forest and wildlife resources. The reliance on these resources isdescribed in Section 5.4.1 1.

5.4.8 Health and Education

Average life expectancy is 54 years for women and 50 for men. Average nutrition levels asmeasured by per capita calorie intake have fallen from 1,950 in the 1960s to 1,759 in1988. In a 1988/89 survey, 34.0%/ of rual children have been found to be malnourished.The national figure for the same period was 11.8%. Infant mortality is around 90/ and is14.5% for those under five years of age. Of the country's 251 hospitals only 57 are foundin rural areas2o and only 3% of rural households live in communities with access to adoctor.

The country has a literacy rate of approximately 54% and primary school enrollment isapproximately 50.6%. Of those above the age of 15, 32% are able to read, 30%/0 able towrite, and 41% able to carry out calculations. Eighty-seven per cent of all ruralcommunities have primry schools and 64% have schools offering junior secondary andtechnical levels. The majority of schools in the rural areas are public.

G cIovamet of GMana 1995.

50

In a survey for 1988/89, only 57.2% of those 15 years and older in the coastal area hadever attended school. For the rural forest area and the rural savanna area the rates for thesame age group (15 years and older) were 63.6% and 29.7% respectively2 '

5.4.9 Services

Treated water or water from boreholes is available to only 23% of households in ruralareas. The remaining communities depend on wells without pumps and natural sourcesincluding springs, rivers, lakes and rainwater. 82% of all rural communities are withoutelectricity. Although 82% of all rural communities are accessible by road, only 54% haveaccess to public transport. Thus, access to medical centers, markets and other servicesnormally available in urban centers is impaired. Access to public transport is a 1-20 milewalk for 18% of all rural people2.

5.4.10 Rights to Resources

Land usually belongs to a division of paramountcy within an ethnic group. It is eitherdivided into stool lands and family lands, or clan lands depending on the social structure ofthe people. Rights are normally for land use and not for the sale of land. Security of tenureof land- is based on the continual worling of the land in addition to the rendering of allnecessary customary services to the stool or family that owns the land.

All lands in Forest Reserves are vested in the President in trust for the stools. ThePresident has the right -to execute any deed or do any act as trustee". However, anyrevenue derived from land and these vested rights must be placed into a Stool Landaccount "for the benefit of people in the areas in which particular lands are situated" (Act123 17,20). Thus the beneficiary rights remain with the traditional owners.23

Outside reserves the rights to timber and trees are also vested in the Government, in trustfor the owners. In 1994 the Forestry Department was given responsibity for the controlof off-reserve felling of trees. Timber concessions are used to grant timber harvestingrights both on and off reserves. Currently there is a total of 810 concessions of which 282are on-reserve24.

21

2 Goveniment of Ghmaa 1993.

2 Rosentha1 S. 1997.24ForestrY Com=ission (imdnted)

51

5.4.11 Relationship with Natural Resource Base25

NTFPs

In addition to the estimnated 130,000 jobs that the forest provides through timberextraction and associated activities and the secondary and tertiary industries, the forestbase provides a number of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) that supplement ruralfamily incomes. These are essential for the day to day lives of communities. Forestsco,.Lribute to all aspects of rural life in southem Ghana. They provide food (including fishfronm forest rivers), fodder, fuel, medicines, building materials, materials for varioushousehold items, as well as a number of intangible benefits including cultural sy mbols,-iral artifacts, and locales. In addition to the gathering of NTFPs for personal use, manyouseholds gather, trade and process forest products to supplement their income. In some

cases these activities form the main source of livelihood. In the Kumasi market alone, 700people are involved in the forest product trade on a full time basis. The NTFPs trade iswidespread and very robust, including an export trade where cola nut is the main andsignificant income earner. Locally, in the Kumasi market in a three month period (April,May, June) a total of 15,604 animals were available for trade with the most commonspecies being grasscutter, duiker and warthog. This volume represents only a smallfraction of the total amount of bushmeat captured and sold in the Kunasi area and theindication from hunters is that there is as much bushmeat caught outside of the forest asthere is within the forest. However, there is the general opinion from elders and huntersthat hunting success is diminishing as a result of increased land clearances, increasedhunting pressure and umproved hunting equipment as well as an increase in bush fires.

. Fuelwood and Charcoal

Of the 26.5 million m 3 of roundwood production in Ghana in 1995, only about 1.2 millionm3 was timber denved from the high forest; 20.7 million n3 was fuelwood, of which 4.5million ln3 was converted to charcoal. This latter figure represents a yield of about430,000 tons of charcoal. Other figures indicate considerably higher annual charcoalproduction and consumption. Most of the charcoal is made from savanna wood, thepreferred raw material for charcoal. Rural households use fuelwood that is collected astheir main source of cooking fuel. The urban consumption of charcoal can be viewed as anopportunity since it provides revenues for those of the savanna. As well, if the savannawoodlands are sustainably managed, the burning of wood fuels would be carbon-neutral,emission being balanced by sequestratior Villages in the savanna zone which have accessto natural woodlands can increase cash earnings, not only by selling fuelwood andcharcoal, but also by makdng and selling fuel-demanding products such as pottery andbeer, activities that can be carried out during the agricultural off-season.

Fmwrey D qrnnL (=mdated)

52

26Other Minor Forest Products

MXinor' forest products include other uses of wildlife, medicinal plants, edible plants. dyes.canes, leaves for wrapping food, resins and gums, chewsticks, honey, thatching for roofs.etc. The following information provides an indication of the value of these products:

.In 1985, close to 21,000 wild animnals were exported alive, worth US$344,032The most important trade animal was the gray parrot, 9,500 of which were sold in1985. The second most important group were monkeys used for medical research..Almnost I 00°/o of the rural population and about 60% of the urban population usetraditional medicines, many of which are forest-derived. Some forest plants areexported..At least 300 forest trees in Ghana produce edible fruit. The forest also producesconsiderable quantities of mushrooms, honey and palm wine. It is assumed thatthese additions to the diet are more important for the lower-income groups.

5.4.12 People's Views and Values of the Forest2'

In the past the forest was highly valued as a source of food reserves during times of foodsecurity, war and other emergency. In recent times people rely on the marketplace forfoodstuffs when there is a scarcity, but some people have indicated that this is so due tothe scarcity of food stuffs in the forest. Only a few people have recognized the mostimportant value of the forest as a source for timber. Forests are most highly valued forNTFPs for subsistence trade, for the protection of the local environment, and in a fewvillages as sacred sites. The most highly prized products are bushmeat and pestlesfollowed by canes and building materials. With regard to the local environment, ruralpeople value the forest as a windbreak, and in maintaining water resources, encouragingrain, maintaining soil fertility, for reguating tenperture and for helping to maintain astable climate. Forests are also valued as land banks known to protect, improve andrestore soil fertility. In Ashanti villages many people associate forest cover with perennialstream flow and they attibute dry season low water supply with forest clearings. Forestsoutside of reserves are generally considered as farm land for future generations. Somepeople feel that degraded farm land should be reserved for forest establishment inexchange for land currently under reserve.

In communities most dependent upon forest reserves, people's fear and contempt forcurrent forest management is high.

26 Wrld Ban 1997.2 Falco=er, J. (undad)

53

5.4.13 Gender Concerns28

Rural women are responsible for producing 70%^/ of the national crop output. Thev play aleading role in post-harvest activities including storage, processing and marketing of allgrains and starchy foods. And yet, in the rural areas, they are rewarded ittle for theirefforts and significant contributions to the household and national welfare.

Women's value in society has been strongly based on their reproductive functions, andtheir ability to produce goods and services.

In rural areas the traditional power structure is still dominated by men and there are stillsituations where major community decisions and life occasions are only taken by acommittee of men. Development committees in the villages that initiate, plan andimplement development projects such as the provision of school buildings, clinics, andmarket places are dominated by men, primarily because the women are too busy carryngout household duties. As elsewhere in the country, women hold few positions of powerand authority. Cultural and institutional factors restrict women's access to productiveresources including land, credit, training facilities, technological inputs and extensionservices.

In both matilineai and patriLineal societies, traditional legal systems, religion andperception of female roles ensure that the allocation of resources favor male authonty andinterests. Some negative traditional practices including female circumcision, superstition,taboos and restrictions on pregnant and lactating mothers, worsen the terrible andvulnerable situation of the majority of women.

Many women are given the most onerous, time consnuming, labor intensive and poorlyrewarded chores, both inside and outside of the home. Frequent child-birth and thecarrying out of domestic chores come at the expense of other productive roles andparticipation in the wage economy for income generation. Hence, women rely exclusivelyon spousal support. Those without such support fice worsening poverty-strickenpositions. Hard work affects their health and health problems are compounded by agenerally poor diet. They are found to be more undemourished than men :36% of womenin the lean season are underweight compared to 23% for men; 190/% during the rest of theyear for women and 3% for men. Women are on the receiving end of family violence andthere is a higher percentage of iliterate women than men.

During visits by the EIA team to the field to collect basic social infonnation, the majorconcems identified by women who were interviewed in a selection of villages includedtheir status, inheritance issues, the fact that they had to work very long hours and that thework load was very heavy, and there was very little capital input to help ease their burden.

t1 Nauionai Council an Women in Developmnt 1994.

54

5.4.14 Issues

Field work conducted by the ELA team in a number of communities revealed a number ofissues, or perceived issues, identified by the residents of these commnunities. As peoplewere asked to discuss their major concerns with the field team, not all issues are directlyrelated to the forest base.

need for non-timber forest products

Most rural economies are at the subsistence level and rely on non-timber forest productsto supplement their income and to provide a variety of goods to meet their day to dayneeds. However, communities are denied access to forest reserves for collection purposes.As the non-reserve areas become increasingly depleted communities see the lack of accessto reserve areas as a serious problem.

. pressure for farmland

More than 50r/. of the communities visited and are adjacent to forest reserves would liketo have land from the reserves for fanning purposes. The original settler communities arenow too large to be sustained on the basis of the original land areas allotted. The need foradditional land is further emphasized by the fact that the current share croppingarrangement does not provide the cropper with sufficient crop return to support his family.

unemployment

Seventy-two per cent of the communities visited indicated that the unemployment of youthwas of major concern. Commurities adjacent to forest reserves would like to see timbercontractors hire local youth for their harvesting operations.

. public transport

Twenty-four per cent of communities visited have to walk approximately 2km or less toaccess public transport. The absence of regular transport in most rural communities makesit difficult for people to transport produce to market and generally to conduct any sort ofbusiness in an efficient manner.

poverty and food security

The rural communities of the northern part of the country are characterized largely bysubsistence economies based on agriculture. Food resources are scarce and many familiesdeplete their food stores well before the next harvest is available. Lack of food and generalmalnutrition results in disease and general poor health. Communities would like to seeactivities introduced that would provide themn with a means for generating income thatcould be used to supplement their food supplies and as well to improve their standard oflving.

SS5:

. depleted soils

Fortv per cent of the communities visited indicated that their soils were depleted and thattheir soils would no longer provide reasonable crop yields. This is a reason why thecommunities in the reserve areas wished to see the Taungya system reinstated.

. benefits from reserves

Sixty-two per cent of communities visited indicated that they receive no benefits from thereserves. Although communities have benefited from water supply, education and hospitalaccess projects, they felt that they were deserving of direct benefits as a result of theirproximty to the reserves. They wanted to have their youth employed by timbercontractors and some benefit from the royalties paid on timber extracted.

. tree planting

Although communities generally supported the idea of afforestation and reforestation,their enthusiasm is hampered by the lack of seedlings, and in the northern areas, the lack ofsupport for protecting recent plantings from livestock. As well, the lack of sufficient waterfor community nurseries is a deterrent to tree establishment.

The main issues brought forth during the public presentation in Kumasi centred aroundloss of jobs in the industry and solutions to these losses including training and financialsupport for various activities including wildlife rearing and forest nurseries.

6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

6.1 Importat Environmental Components

Important Environmental Components (IECs) are those components of the environmentthat have been considered worthy of attention and protection. They have been identified(Table 6.1) and provide the basis for the identification and analysis of impacts. In theanalysis of impacts to follow, some EECs have been combined and some have been leftout, the latter as a result of analysis indicating no relevant benefit or impact

6.2 Benefits and Impacts

6.2.1 General

The overall purpose of the project is to alleviate poverty. This will occur relatively early inthe project in the savanma area where a comprehensive resource management componentwill be implemented. However, a program of sustainable resource management in the highforest area will contribute only in the long term, with initial forest industry job lossesoccurring as a result of reducing harvests to the level of the allowable cut. A major benefit

56

to be realized by the project will be the retention of a stable, permanent and slowlyexpanding workforce in the forest industry under a sustainable forest managementprogram. 'ithout this sustainable approach all jobs in the industry would ultimately belost.

Sustainable resource management provides many long lasting benefits to both ruralcommunities and the country as a whole. A resource that is managed on a sustainable basiswill contribute to a stable national economy and this in turn will provide social andpolitical stability. These advantages are felt even more at the community level, particularlywhere the rural population has an economic stake in the management of the resource base.

Benefits, or positive impacts of the project, and the negative impacts are discussed in thefollowing section under each of the EECs. A subjective significance rating of each benefitis provided (very high, high, moderate, low, or none) as well as a rating for each impactbased on the various criteria as previously described in Section 3.

An overall impact rating for each EEC is given. This is derived through consideration ofboth the negative impact and the benefits. In some cases the negative impact (beforernitigation) will outweigh the benefits to be gained. A MODERATE negative impact couldbe lowered to an overall negative impact of LOW as a result of a benefit to be gained. In

Table 6.1: IECs

M. -ml~I.~

. ... ........ ~ ~ . ..'-.

mnegate theneativ mat l vrl i empcraingsuuare beasetuo bfr itgto'

. te. ...y....'.,.

.. ~~~~........ ... .. ..

.. .. ... .. -. ... .

Also, a positive overal impact does not remove the negative impact and, it would stiDrequire rmitigative action.

57

6.2.2 Summary of Benefits and Impacts

Of the 27 IECs identified and examined, the project would have both impacts on, andbenefits for, 17 of them. The project would provide benefits only for the remaining 10IECs. Impacts by level are summarized in Table 6.2. This table also summarizes theresidual impacts by level of significance. Table 6.3 indicates by level of significance thenumber of cumulative impacts that would be expected.

Table 6.2: Summary of Project Impacts on IECs (by level ofsignificance)

LOW 4 9 2MEDIUM 8 2 5

HIGH 3 1 3VERY IGH 2 0 0

Total 17 12 10

Table 6.3: Summary of Cumulative Impacts by Levels of Significance

VERY IGH | 0not applicable I

Total 17 J

Table 6.4 provides a summary of overall significantratin for IECs, prior to mitipaion.

As indicated above, the NRMP is highly environmentally supportive and many of theimpacts on various IECs will be mitigated through vaTious programs and components ofthe project. Of the 17 EECs that will be negatively affected by the project, impacts on 7 ofthem will be mitigated through planned project activities, an additional three will bemitigated through a combination of planned project actvities with additional non-project

58

actions. Impacts on four EECs will be mitigated through the application of 'best practiceguidelines', and the remaining three impacts will be mitigated through new additionalactivities.

Table 6.4: Overall Ratings for IECs (Impacts l-l vs Benefits l+1) (excludingIECs with only benefits)

LOW 3 3MEDIUM 5 0HIGH 5 1VERY HIGH 0 0Total _17

6.3 Impact Analysis

6.3.1 General

Many of the impacts described below are currently occurring under present forestharvesting practices.

A number of impacts occur in one location within a reserve in any one year - but over theyears, the reserve will receive a number of these impacts - and country-wide manyreserves will receive these same impacts. This is cumulative but for purposes of identifyngthe impact, all reserves are dealt with as one, and the cumulative aspect, in this case, isignored.

6.3.2 Description of Impacts and Benefits

. Physical Environment

CLIMA TE

Impacts:

During the harvesting of individual trees, or groups of trees, canopy openings will occur.Cover removal will bring about temprature increases and possible wind speed increaseswithin the forest. These changes could affect the establishment, growth and survival ofsome speces. Forest floor exposure to sunlight could cause the introduction of unwantedpioneer species and competition with desirable species. Increased temperatures couldaffect wildlife hatitat. However, with harvesting activitY reduced to meet allowable cutrequirements, microclimatic modifications will be fewer than that which presently occur.

59

Impact would occur in a general area (multiple sites), would be of moderate duration,would probably occur but only once during each cutting cycle, of low severity, and wouldbe reversible with time. Rating: LOW.

Mitigation: none

Benefits:

Forest cover regulates local climate, determines the microclimate within which variouslesser flora and the fauna communities of the forest exist. Regional climate, to someextent, is also detemiined by forest cover, particularly where large forest tracts exist.Precipitation, humidity and temperatures are all affected by the existence of largecontiguous tracts of forest cover. A sustainable forest management program will promotethe protection of large tracts of forest cover through a system of selective logging withinallowable cut limitations. A savanna management program will provide forest cover onappropriate sites that will promote improved local climatic conditions includingtemperature, wind and humidity.

At the local leveL small savanna plantations (e.g. windbreaks) and small farm plantingsprovide shelter (for both people and crops) from wind (particularly important during theharmattan) and high temperatures.

Globally, the maintenance of existing forest cover will allow Ghana to continue tocontnibute to the combat against the greenhouse effect by maintaining the tree cover thatremoves CO2 from the atmosphere. Expansion of total forest cover will increase thecountry's contribution to the prevention of global warming.

The benefit to micro- and local climates, and the contnbution to offsetting of globalwarming outweigh the low inpact on microclimate and, thus, the overall effect would bepositive.

Sustainable forest management will not include clear cutting of large areas of forest norwill the program include the establishment of huge (thousands of hectares) contiguousblocks of plantation. By pursuing a course of sustainable forest management, existngmacroclimatic conditions would not be effected.

Overall effect: (+) LOW

AIR QUALITY

Impacts:

Through improved udlization, a broader range of tree species would be harvested andprocessed. The use of additional species could result in new processes which could includethe use of a variety of chemicals that could contribute to air pollution.

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The impact would cover a general area, be permanent, would be of low severity, couldpossibly occur many times, and would possibly be reversible. Rating: MODERATE

Mitigation would include the careful planning and development of wood processes that donot include toxic chemicals, or their by-products, that could be released to theatmosphere. If such toxic chemicals are used in wood processing, air pollution controlmechanisms would be required.

Benefits:

With mill downsizing as a result of reduced raw material supply, and through improvedefficiency of the wood processing industry, fewer mill and processing plant residues willbe bumed, thus reducing the impact on air quality. Extension activities to control theburning of crop residues will improve air quality during the seasons when burningnormally occurs.

Overall effect: (-) LOW

HYDROLOGY

Impacts:

Road development and skidding trails promote rapid runoff of rainfall which prevents fullrecharge of groundwater resources and causes reduction of surface water flows.

The impact would cover a general area, would be temporasy, of moderate severity, wouldprobably occur frequently in any one reserve, but would be reversible. Rating:MODERATE.

Mitigation: Best practice guidelines (logging manual) to be followed.

The establishment of a plantation in the savanna could contribute to the drawdown of thewater table which could result in hardship for local farmers. This could lead to reducedcrop production and lost incomes. It could also affect village weU water supplies.

The impact would cover a general area, would be pernanent, of low severity, wouldpossibly occur, only once, and would not be reversible. Rating: MODERATE

Mitigation would include holistic resource management to ensure that plantations that mayhave an effect on the water table are not established m areas where the water table iscritical for other uses (current or future) such as agriculture (irrigation) and for domesticand municipal requirements. Mitigation would also include the use of species that do nothave high water requirements. These mitigation measures will be part of the projectdesign.

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Benefits:

Forest management practices that reduce harvests to the level of the allowable cut andplantations established on degraded sites will provide good land cover which in turn willreduce runoff and improve groundwater recharge. Surface waters will be better regulated,particularly where reforestation is carried out in heavily degraded areas. Comprehensiveresource management in the savanna areas, including range management and theestablishment of plantations, will promote reduced runoff, recharged groundwaterresources and improved regulated surface water flow.

Overall effect: (+) MODERATE

WATER QUALITY

Impacts:

During the building of access roads, bare soils, are vulnerable to erosion and runoff intowaterways, affecting water quality. Soils on skidding tracks become bare and vulnerable toerosion during rainy periods, particularly where tracks are located in steep terrain. Waterquality of forest streams and rivers could be affected.

Harvesting operations include the use of slddding vehicles, bulldozers for road- ding,and chainsaws. This equipment requires dieseL gasoline and lubricant oils. ImAproperstorage and handling of these materials, and the handling and disposal of waste products(e.g. used oils) can lead to groundwater and surface water contamination.

The impact would cover a general area, would be for a medium term, of moderateseverity, probably occur many times, and is possibly reversible. Rating: MODERATE

-- Mtigation would include following best practice guidelines (logging manual), includingconstruction guidelines to minimize soil erosion during road construction. Guidelineswould also include stipulation that forest access roads would only be constructed duringthe dry seasons. Where practical, road embankments would be vegetated. Skidding trailswould not be located on steep terrain. Regulations fbr the proper storage and handling ofpetro-chenJicals would be provided. Waste oils would be stored and removed from the siteto proper permanent storage/recycling facilities.

Through improved utilization, a broader range of tree species would be harvested andprocessed. Additional and new processes could include the use of a variety of chemicalsthat could contribute to groundwater and surface water cotamination.

The impact would be local permanent, of moderate severity, could possibly occur andfrequently, and would possibly be reversible. Rating: MODERATE

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Mitigation would include the careful planning and development of wood processes that donot include toxic chemicals that could be released into soiL groundwater and surface watersvstems. If such toxic chemicals are used in additional wood processing, controlmechanisms and proper disposal of waste products would be used.

Benefits:

Plantation establishmnent and comprehensive savanna land management, including rangemanagement, will lead to improved surface water quality.

Overall effect: (-): LOW

SOLES

Impacts:

Removal of the forest canopy dunng harvesting would allow direct impact of rain on theforest floor which in turn could cause soil erosion. Skidding of logs increases soilcompaction which in tum decreases the ability of vegetation to recover and increases theperiod of time that soils are exposed.

Impact would cover a general area, be of moderate duration, of moderate severity, wouldbe continuous, would probably be reversible and would probably occur. Rating:MODERATE

Mitigation would include following best practice guidelines with the careful siting ofharvesting operations to avoid steep slopes and places where runoff could present aserious problem. Best practice guidelines would also include restrictions on the size ofharvesting machines in order to reduce the degree of soil disturbance.

Benefits

Soil fertility will be improved with the use of leguminous species in plantations,particularly where small plantations may be established in savanna and transition zoneareas. Effective forest management in off-reserve areas and comprehensive landmanagement in the savanna areas will reduce soil erosion. Site specific management in thereserves will reduce soil erosion.

Oveall impact: (-): LOW

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. Biological Environment

FLORA

Impacts:

Industry improvements and diversification will result in a demand for additional species.Species that have been traditionally ignored would now be harvested. Although this wouldreduce the pressure from species that are currently in high demand, harvesting pressurewould now be placed on these additional species. Additional species of the overall floralcomposition of the forest would be removed and other lesser floral species (trees andotherwise) associated with these new harvestable species could be affected.

The impact would be regional, of moderate duration, of moderate severity, occur manytimes, and would possibly be reversible. Rating: MODERATE

Mitigation would involve sound sustainable forest management (a project objective). Forexample, an adequate number of seed trees required for natural regeneration would bemaintained, and other conditons required for regeneration would be provided.Biodiversity protection (a project objective) would address the impact to include theexclusion of any scarlet stars from the list of new species to be harvested. Plantationsunder the regeneration component would include these additional species to be harvested.

Plantation establishment in the transition zone and as part of the savanna managementprogram, could eliminate grassland and other species from the area being planted.

The impact would be over a general area, permat, of moderate severity, would likelyoccur once, and would probably not be reversible. Rating: MODERATE

Mitigation would include surveys to determne best non-conflicting sites for plantationestablishment. This would be part of the overan savanna management program.

Benefits:

The biodiversity component of the forest management and savanna management programswill ensure that important plant species, once surveyed and located, are provided with thenecessary protection.

Overall impact: (+) HIGH

FAUNA

Plantations are relatively simple ecosystems that will not provide the plant species mix andother conditions required for the provision of suitable habitat for a wide variety of wildlife

species. Species could disappear from the sites where plantations are established and totalspecies populations in the area would be reduced.

This impact would be regional in extent, permanent, highly severe, would probably occurseveral times, and would not likely be reversible. Rating: HIGH

Mitigation would include the minimal use of the plantation method of regeneratingcommercial species within forest reserves and the assurance that plantations are small insize in reserves where important faunal populations are large and complex. This mitigationis in conflict with mitigation for the loss of biodiversity where it is important to retain asmuch natural forest cover as is possible and rely more heavily on plantation wood forindustrial purposes.

Harvesting of individual trees and groups of trees reduces wildlife habitat and in somecases can eliminate corridors (e.g. primates using arboreal habitats). Reduction of habitatcould result in a reduction of population and species from a particular reserve.

This impact would be regionaL of a moderate term, of high severity, would occur manytimes uithin any one reserve, is reversible with time and would definitely occur. Rating:HIGH

Mitigation would include forest harvesting to be carried out only in those areas where it isknown that wildlife populations will not be unduly disturbed and where recovery ofpopulation numbers and composition will not be difficult. The biodiversity component ofthe forest management program will ensure that important areas (e.g. important primatespecies habitat) are excluded from harvestng..

Benefits:

A well implemented wildlife managemnent program will ensure that wildlife populationnumbers and composition are maintained and increased where the carrying capacityaDows.

The collaborative forestry and savanna management programs will include themanagement of wild}ife resources for the benefit of the communities. Commercialextraction and poaching will be more effectively controlled as a result of the communitybenefiting from resources and revenues. Wdldlife resources will be managed on asustainable basis.

Through the provision of taining, vehicles and equipment, policy related to the protectionof endangered fauna species and habitats will be imlemented.

The biodiversity and insitutional support components of the project will enmure that thebiodiversity action plan is implemented, thus providing support to the protection of thecountry's biodiversity.

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Overall effect: (+) HIGH

RARE AND ENDANGERED SPECIES AND HABITA TS

Impacts:

Community fiuelwood plantations and pasture land development under the savannamanagement program. could occur in areas of natural grassland containing rare andendangered species and habitats that would be eliminated. These species would bereplaced with an exotic (to the area) monoculture. Reforestation in reserves and in off-reserve areas could eliminate endangered species habitats through habitat modification.

Harvesting of individual trees and groups of trees reduces wildlife habitat, some of whichmay be rare and endangered. In some cases harvesting can eliminate corridors (e.g.primates using arboreal habitats). Reduction of habitat leads to reduction of populationand reduction of species, possibly those that are rare and endangered, from a particularreserve.

The impact could be internationaL permanent, very severe, could possibly occur manytimes, and would not likely be reversible. Rating: VERY HIGH

Mitigation would include the assurance that any plantations established in the savanna arenot sited in areas containing endangered species and endangered habitats. The savannamanagement program is holistic in nature and would take these concems into accountwhen designating various areas for program activities. Surveys conducted under thebiodiversity component of the forest maaement program, and implementation of thebiodiverst action plan through the project, will ensure that important habitats andpopulations of rare and endangered species are protected from timber harvesting andreserve (and off-reserve) reforestation acfivities. In both the reserve and off-reserve areas,mitigation would include the identification of critical areas of reserves and off-reserveareas where rare and endangered species/or habitats occur. Each reserve and off-reservearea would be assessed for these species and habitats prior to the finalization of harvestingplans. Where such features exist, these areas would be excluded from harvesting. Thesesteps will also be included in the biodiversity component of the forest managementprogram.

Benefits:

Reduction of harvesting in order to achieve annual allowable cut volumes will reduce thetotal reserve and off-reserve areas that will be disturbed. Both the wildlife managementcomponent and the biodiversity component of the forest management program willprovide surveys and programming acivities that will identify and protect rare andendangered species and habitats.

Oveall effect: (+) VERY HIGH

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BiODIERSITY

Impacts:

Plantations will be established either within high forest areas (reserves and off-reserveareas) or, in small blocks as fuelwood plantations in the savanna. Within the hieh forestareas plantations would occupy areas that formerly would have displayed complex forestcommunities. In the savanna areas plantations would occupy grasslands which, in theirnatural state, would display biodiversity unique to the savanna. Plantations can neverprovide the biodiversity that the natural high forest and savanna sites would originallydisplay since plantation forestry usually focuses on only a few species and species that areoften exotic. Plantation establishment promotes the reduction of biodiversity.

The impact would be country wide, permanent, very highly severe, would definitely occuronce, and would not likely be reversible. Rating: HIGH

Mitigation would include a greater reliance on convalescence (natural regeneration),enrichment, and where plantation establishment is necessary, local species should beconsidered. The biodiversity component of the forest managernent program would ensurethat important areas of biodiversity would not be lost to plantation establishment in thesavanna.

Harvesting of specific high value species only (without species utilization expansion)reduces species mix and modifies habitats. Biodiversity of species and habitats is reduced.

Increasing the number of species to be used by the industry could reduce speciesbiodiversity and habitat biodiversity.

Fire protection can have a positive or negative effect on biodiversity protection. Fireprotection for high forest -reserves will contribute towards biodiversity protection but incircumstances could prevent natural succession from occurring, thus limiting biodiversity.Fire used as a management tool could prevent systems (e.g. in the savanna woodland)from developing further stages of succession and thus prevent biodiversity development.

Mitigation, provided through the project forest management program, particularly thebiodiversity component, would include silvicultural prescriptions that would ensure theprotection of a minimal number of individual trees of each species. This in turn wouldensure natural regeneration of the species.

Benefits:

The project contains a biodiversity protection component which will contribute to theimnplementation of the biodiversity strategies and action plan. Implementation of this planwill ensure that the biodiversity of the country's forest and savanna regions is protected.As well, the comprehensive savanna management program will ensure that areas of

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important biodiversity are protected. It is likely that the program would only select themost highly degraded sites for fuelwood plantation establishment.

Overall effect: (+) HIGH

. Socio-economic Environment

TRADITIONAL RIGHTS

Impacts:

The establishment of plantations in the savanna could lead to the loss of conummon grazingareas from local communities as well as areas that are used for a variety of othertraditional uses.

Impact would be regional, over a prolonged period, highly severe, would probably occurseveral times, and would be reversible. Rating: MODERATE

Mitigation could include careful planning and implementation of a comprehensivepastoral-silvicultural system. This mitigative action will be part of the savannamanagement program.

Benefits:

Over the years local communities have lost their traditional rights to non-timber forestproducts as reserves have been closed to their access. The collaborative forestrycomponent would compensate for the loss of this traditional resource access. In addition,the savanna management program will provide, in selected locations, small plantations thatwill be accessible to local communities for fuedwood, building and other materials.

Overall effect: (+) HIGH

JOBS and POVERTY

Impacts:

An overall goal of forest management on a susmainable basis will result in a significantreduction in annual harvested timber. This in turn will reduce the workforce significantlyon harvesting operations as well as in the wood processing sector. However, in the longtern, a reduced number of jobs will be preserved. If the goal of sustainable forestmanagement is not pursued, the outcome would be the loss of most forest industry jobs bythe year 2020. This would result in a general increase in poverty since this prinaryindustry supports a number of secondaTy and tertary activities and a large number ofservice activities and jobs. Currentdy it is estimated that there are 130,000 direct jobs in the

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industry and these are supplemented with a large number in the tertiary industry andsupporting sectors.

Improved wood utilization through the use of offcuts and other waste material in themanufacturing process, would deny the use of these materials by other groups (e.g. coastalpeople who use wastes in the food processing industry). The loss of a supply of low cost(or free) materials could result in increased poverty,

The impact of downsizing the industry on jobs and poverty would be national, permanent,very highly severe, would occur continuously over time, would not be reversible andwould definitely occur. Rating: VERY HIGH

The rating of VERY HIGH is misleading since the impact is necessary to ensure that totaljob loss and the poverty associated with such job loss in the forest industry are avoided. Asignificant number of jobs will be lost in order to preserve the majority of the jobs in theindustry.

Mitigation for the jobs that will be lost and for the poverty that the resultingunemployment will cause will include the creation of new jobs in the wood processingindustry as a result of improved wood utilization, improvement of rural socio-economicconditions through the collaborative forestry, reforestation and savanna land managementprograms.

Benefits:

Implementation of a sustainable forest management program will ensure that those jobsremaining following the downsizing of the industry, will be secured to perpetuity. Thesavanna management program will provide the basis for some poverty alleviation, and thecollaborative forestry program will provide oppormnities for non-timber forest productscollection and sale that will further contribute to the alleviation of poverty. The wildlifemanagement program will include support of community conservation groups. A majortask of these groups will be to identify resource related income generating activities thatcan be initiated by various donor groups. As well, the conservation groups will provideguidance and advice to Tural communities for the establishment and rearing of captivewildlife species for food and revenue.

The establishment of plantations (reforestation component) in the savanna and in off-reserve areas, and individual trees on farms will provide increased availability of goods andincome for rural families and communities. Plantation establishment will create a numberof jobs, initially in the establishment and tending stages of plantation development andlater, in the harvesting and processing stages. Jobs in the local wood market will becreated as communities become involved in the collaborative forestry program.

Improved wood utilization will bring about new processes and less waste. Additional jobswill be created and the total number of jobs per unit of raw material volume should

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increase. Through effective resource management of national parks and wildlife reserves,including the development and maintenance of infrastructure, tourism potential will bedeveloped and jobs for rural people will be created.

Income generation schemes could be developed as an inducement to enter into thecollaborative forestry program.

Overall effect, in the sbort term: (-) HIGHOverall effect, in the long term: (+) HIGH

NON TIMBER FOREST PRODUCTS

Impacts:

Implementation of the biodiversity management plan will result in the removal of reserveand off-reserve areas from harvesting. Food stuffs, fuielwood, building materials andmedicinal plants would no longer be collected from areas brought under biodiversitymanagement.

The impact would be regional, permanent, highly severe, would definitely occur once, andwould not be reversible. Rating: HIGHI

Other project components including reforestation, collaborative foresty, and savannamanagement would mitigate the losses incurred as a result of biodiversity management andthe removal of certain areas from non-timber product harvesting. Areas to be placed underprotection would be assessed for their contribution to improving local (for personal use)socio-economic conditions. Compensation for community losses could also include theprovision of community infrastructure. Provision of community infiastructure will beprovided as part of an inducement for communities to participate in the collaborativeforestry programn

The savanna management program will include the protection of areas important for theproduction of NTFPs, including grasses for crafts and household items, as well asadditional areas to be established and managed for NTFP production. Fuelwoodplantations in the savanna would be established in areas not curently required for otherimportant community uses, and where possible, they would be established on degradedsites.

Benefits:

As indicated for mitigation above, the sava management, collaborative forestry andreforestation programs will provide opportueis for developing a number of NTFPsoutside of the reserve areas.

Overall effect: (+) MODERATE

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AESTHETICS

Impacts:

Timber harvesting results in open canopies, slash piles, high and unsightly tree stumps.damaged standing trees and damaged lesser vegetation. During harvesting, operationmachinery, mud, and noise all contribute to a loss of aesthetics relative to thoseexperienced in an undisturbed area. However, it is not likely that this loss of aestheticsaffects a large population and the effect would be temporary until the forest recovers.

The impact would be at site, for a medium term, of low severity, would possibly occur,many times, and would be reversible. Rating: LOW

The aesthetics of degraded sites will be improved through the project's plantationprogram. Aesthetics of harvesting sites will be improved with the practice of goodstandards.

Mitigation could also include the non-harvesting of areas that are important or potentiallyimportant to tourists and for local recreation and environmental education.

Benefits:

The level of harvesting will be reduced as a result of implementing the principle ofsustained yield management and thus reducing the amount of logging damage. The projectwill also provide funding for the implementation of national park and wildlife reservemanagIement plans. These will be developed in an aesthetically positive way in termns ofbuilding and other structure location and layout, design, building materials used (e.g. localmaterials), and color schemes.

Overall effect: (+) LOW

MIGRATION

Loss of forest related jobs in both harvesting and the processing industry will encourageout-migration to areas where jobs exist or where it is perceived that jobs exist. This couldput pressure on the services of such major urban centers as Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi.Urban social problems with additional unemployed families would increase.

The impact would be regional, medium term, of low severity, possibly occur, once, andwould probably be reversible. Rating: LOW

Alternative job opportunities in the community areas that will be most affected by forestindustry downsizing could be developed. Training programs could be introduced thatwould provide forest and mill workers with skills that would allow them to obtain senii-skilled or skdlled jobs in their communities or elsewhere in the general area.

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Benefits:

The collaborative forestrv and plantation programs will provide income opportunities andcontribute to the alleviation of poverty. Improved socio-economic conditions willencourage rural people to remain in communities, thus minirizing the degree of migrationto the urban centers.

Overall effect: (-) LOW

LAND USE

Land use in the savanna and off-reserve areas will change as a result of the savannamanagement and plantation establishment programs, respectively. Depending on how landresources in these areas are currently being used, the changes could be negative in termsof affecting people's livelihoods and the socio-economic conditions of people and theirconmnunities.

The impact on land use could be moderate in area, prolonged, of low severity, possiblyoccur, once, and would probably by reversible. Rating: LOW.

Mitigation is built into the project through careful planning, preceded by relevant surveys.This would be particularly true in the savanna where a comprehensive savannamanagement program will be implemented. Sites that play an important role both sociallyand economically in community affairs would not be modified. Land use changes would befor purposes of improving degraded sites and improving socio-economic conditions of thecommities in the area.

Benefits:

The savanna management program will promote good land use which will likely includesome land use changes to better serve the socio-economic needs of the communities andto improve site condition and productivity. Improved extension activities as these relate tocollaborative forestry practices and on-farm tree establishment, will promote good landuse practices. The savanna management program will include soil and water conservationactivities. Reforestation in both on- and off-reserve areas will remove areasfrom natural forest conditions and thus, reduce biodiversity, but in doing so, it will removelong term harvesting pressure from exsting natura forest areas.

Overall effect: (I) MODERATE

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GEN'DER ISSUES

The biodiversity component will exclude access to certain areas. This could require thatwomen from communities adjacent to these areas travel fiirther afield to collect firewoodand other forest materials essential for their subsistence.

The collaborative forestry component and the savanna plantation program of thereforestation component may result in additional tasks for rural women to perform, thus

increasing their work burden.

The impacts on women could be widespread, permanent, moderately severe, possiblyoccur, many times, and would probably be reversible. Rating: MODERATE

Mitigation could include, based on an assessment of women's roles through a publicconsultative process, identification of activities that would ensure that the burden forwomen, as a result of the project, is not increased. Enhancement could include thelessening of women's burden, the provision of economic opportunities for women, anincreased role of women in decision making in terms of species to establish, areas to bereforested, etc. and the provision of training for women.

Benefits:

The collaborative forestry program will provide, as an inducement for communities toparticipate, community infrastructure facilities that will benefit women (e.g. village watersupply, health center). The savama management program and the reforestation programwill include the establishment of small comU muity fuelwood plantations dose to thecommunities that will use them. These facilities and services will reduce the distances thatwomen will be required to travel for fuelwood, water and health services.

Overall effect: (+) MODERATE

FUELWOOD

Impacts:

A reduction in harvesfing levels, improved wood utiization and biodiversity protectionwithin reserves and off-reserves will reduce the amount of fuelwood available to localcommunities. Traditionally local communities have collected waste wood following aharvesting operation. The current level of the use of waste wood is not known and it ispossible that waste wood available following reductions in harvesting intensity andimproved ufilization may still meet local demand. However, if local requirements are notmet, the effect of reduced fuelwood availability would include increased cost to localfamilies for the purchase of fuielwood and an additional burden on women to searchfurther afield to meet their fuel needs.

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If reduced fuelwood supplies present a hardship to local communities, the impact will beregionaL prolonged, moderately severe, definitely occur once, and would probabil bereversible. Rating. MODERATE

Mitigation would include implementation of the collaborative forestry program, fuelwoodplantations establishment in the savanna (savanna management program), on-farm treeestablishment, and a program of introducing and making available to rural people efficientwood burning stoves.

Benefits:

The collaborative forestry program, the reforestation program and the savannamanagement program will all contribute to an increased supply of readily availablefuelwood.

Overall effect: (+) MODERATE

6.3.2 Other Benefits

FORESTPROTECTION

Improvements in fire detection, prevention and suppression will reduce the loss of valuabletimber and imnature stands as well as valuable ecosystems, providing a host of non-timberforest products. Biodiversity will be protected. Institutional support to the ministry willallow more effective policing of regulations including illegal operators in both the forestryand mining sectors. Policing of operational regulations within forest reserves will alsocontribute to effective resource conservation, particularly where mining activities occur.

Benefit: HIGH

TREE TEN-URE

Trees on farms, unless planted by the farmer or tenant, are owned by the government orthe communities. Previously, to remove the tree a ^utsider only required penrission fromthe gover-nment. The policy towards tree tent will be implemented through theinstitutional support component of the project. It - include the requirement of the landowner to provide permission for the removal of th, by another party. The project,through public education, extension and the coll& i ve program, will ensure that theland owner is aware of the policy.

Benefit: MODERATE

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FOREST PRODUCTION and a SUSTAJVABLE ECONOMY

Through all components of the project, forest productions both timber and non-timber,will increase in the long term and production will be sustainable. Eventually, productionwill be increased as plantations mature. Sustainable production will ensure permanent jobsand incomes for those in the industry, as well as steady foreign earnings from exports.With the increasing popularity of importing countries insisting on imports being certifiedas 'sustainable forest origin', Ghana will be in a position to establish favorable long termtimber export relations.

Benefit: HIGH

ASSETS

Community assets will increase through the savanna management program and thecollaborative forestry program. Individual assets will increase through on-farm treeestablishment. Such assets will contribute to conmunity stability and individual householdstability as they provide a variety of products (food, fuelwood, building materials,medicines and fodder) a steady source of income, and in the case of the savanna plantationprogram, jobs.

Effective management of wildlife resources within reserves and national parks will ensurethat populations are maintained at carrying capacity levels. Under such managementwildlife will be less of a threat to communities and farn lands adjacent to the reserves andparks. Assets such as trees, kraals, dams and stored crops will be better protected fromwildlife damage.

Skills leaning through the project's various programs (e.g. savanna plantationestablishment, soil and water conservation) is an asset that will allow rural people togenerate income.

Benefit: MODERATE

INFR4STRUC71TRE

The Timber Rights Bill will be implemented through the project. The bill includes a soialresponsibility contract between the communities and timber contractors to provideinfrastructure to communities. As well, communities will be provided with infiastructureto encourage communities to participate in the collaborative progam.

Benefit: MODERATE

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EDLUCA TION AND TRIA7NG

Through the institutional strengthening component, forestrv and wildlife staff memberswill receive training that will allow them to effectively carry out the project's sustainable

management objectives.

Participants in the collaborative forestry scheme will be given training and will be madeenvironmentally aware to better appreciate the need for sustainable resource management.In some instances, those who have been given training to maintain nurseries will possessskills that can be used elsewhere. Plantation establishment in the savanna and on farms,and community plantation establishment, will be combined with an effective extensionprogram that will train the farmer, and the community, in the establishment and tending ofthe plantations and the harvesting and marketing of products from the plantation.

With a reduction in wood supply, the industry will be requirecd to become more efficientin processing the supply with which it is provided. Training opportunities will be extendedto the industry to ensure that a high level of wood utilization efficiency is achieved.

Benefit: MODERATE

RELIGIOUS, CULTURA1L and ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEA4TURES

Where archaeological features are found in parks and game reserves these will beprotected and their interpretation and display will be enhanced to contribute to tourismdevelopment and the protection of local culture. Anv such features within forest reservesand off-reserve areas will be recognizca and pvit'a: i from harvesting damage. Physicaland biological features (e.g. sacred groves,! i-.- tE zignized and protected.

Benefit: LOW

PUBLICHEALTH

With the provision of rural jobs and an income, rural poverty in the long term will bealleviated. As families move out of poverty they are able to direct more of their income toadequate amounts of nutntious foods (preventative medicine) and to medicines (curative

medicine), thus improving family health.

The collaborative forestry, plantation and savanna management programs will contributeto the establishment, maintenance and harvesting of medicinal plants on a sustainablebasis.

One of the responsibilities of the TUC is to provide public health faciities. These will beprovided as an inducement to communities to enter into the collaborative forestryprogram.

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Benefit: MODERATE

OCCUPATIONAL HEAL TH AND SAFETY

The problem of health and safety in the work place, particularly on harvesting operationsand in mill and other processing operations, prevails. Although the project will contributeto the occurrence of fewer accidents and health problems through the downsizing of theindustry, the conditions leading to health and safety problems will remain. Workers in theforest on harvesting sites as well as mill workers, often work in unsafe conditions andwithout the benefit of safety equipment. Workers in the industry do not use hard hats,safety footwear, ear protection, or other specialized safety clothing or equipment.Environmental enhancement could include incentives and enforcement of relevantregulations to reduce health and safety risks.

Sawdust recovery for production of sawdust briquettes will reduce the amount of sawdustin the air, thus reducing the risk of respiratory problems amongst mill employees.

Benefit: HIGH

RECREATION

Management plan implementation of wildlife reserves and national parks within closeProximity of urban areas will provide recreational opportunities, particularly to a growingmiddle class that is becoming increasingly aware of its environment.

Benefit: LOW

6.4 Cumulative Effects

Of the 17 EECs upon which the project could have an impact, the project will have acumulative effect on 12 of them. Table 6.5 provides an analysis of the cumulative effectsof the project. The ratings on effects are given for each EEC for 'before mitigation'conditions.

Table 6.5: Cumulative Effects

Climate n/a_Air quality nia __ a_Hydrology Low Groundwater recharge and river flow regulation

significantly affected by agricutural practices and_________________ ~ urbanization. Contribution by project is small.

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Water quality Low | Water quality is affected bv agricultural practicesindustrial processes, urbanization, wastemanagement and hydro-electric schemes. Projectcontributes insienificantly to overall water qualitydegradation.

Soils Low Soil compaction and erosion is mainly caused bylarge scale farming and inappropriate farmingtechniques. Erosion is also caused by inappropriateconstruction (e.g. roads, buildings) techniques.Contribution by the project is small.

Flora Low Flora is lost primarily through agriculturalexpansion, mining and urbanization. The project willcontribute to these losses in a minor way.

Fauna Low Loss of habitat through agricultural expansion andurbanization as well as illegal felling in off-reserveareas, as well as illegal hunting, are the primarycauses of loss of wildlife resources. Sustainableforest management will contribute only slightly tothis overall loss.

Rare and endangered High As above, the contribution to the overall loss of rarespecies and habitats and endangered species is low, compared to losses

as a result of illegal capture, and loss of habitat.However, any loss, even through the project, isviewed as a significant contnbution to the overallloss.

Biodiversity Moderate Off-reserve removal of forest vegetation for mining,agricultural expansion, urbanization are the majorcontributors to biodiversity loss. However,harvesting activities do make a moderatecontribution.

Traditional rights NIAJobs and poverty High It is assumed that as the country's economy

expands, job opportunities increase. It is unlikelythat there are other sectors contributing to overalljob loss in the short term equivalent to those thatwiUl be lost as a resuk ofthe downsizing oftheforest industy

NTFP n/a _Aesthetics Low Contribution to poor aesthetics is insignificant

relative to the contribution through ill planneddevelopment, particularly in urban areas.

Migration Moderate In general, rural people migrate to urban areas forjobs. The downsizing of the forest industry should

:______________ ________ contnbute significantly to this migration.

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Land use Low Land use changes as a result of the project will beinsignificant, relative to changes taking placeconstantly throughout the countrv as a result ofurbanization and agriculture.

Gender issues Low The role of women in society is constantly in change- some of it favorable and some not so. It isexpected that the contribution to any negative effectwill be low.

Fuelwood n/a

6.5 Residual Impacts

Residual impacts are those impacts that can be expected to persist once all mitigation hasbeen carried out. With the assumption that alD mitigation, as indicated in the impactstatements, and as detailed in the management plan, will be implemented, Table 6.6describes the residual impacts to be expected and these are the impacts that have to betaken into consideration when determining if the project should proceed in its presentform, if it should be modified, or if it should proceed at all. An examination of the residualimpacts- clearly portrays a project that is enviromnentally benign, and in fact, willcontribute significantly to the country's overall environmental health. A total of eightLOW residual impacts and one each in the moderate and high categories will result fromthe project. However, these residuals have to be considered in context to the manybenefits, as indicated in Section 6.2.2. With perhaps the exception of the one high residualimpact (loss of jobs - but only in the short to medium term) the benefits provided by theProject far outweigh the residual impacts. In fact, a case could be made that the projectbenefits outweigh the impacts before mitigation occurs!

Table 6.6: Residual Impacts

.climate ;none Low: small openings willoccur, temporarily butcontinuously, throughoutthe reserves

.air quality .industrial processes and Noneemission controls

.hydrology .best practice guidelines and Low: some runoff fromproper siting of plantations skidding tracks and forest

__ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ___ access roads is inevitable.water quality .best practice guidelines Low: some stream

during harvesting, carefil sedimentation will occur asplanning, and proper a result of minimal erosion;handling, storage and None: from wooddisposal of toxic materials processing industry

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.soiis .best practice guidelines Low: small amount of soilerosion and minimalcompaction on harvesung

.______________________ _____________________ site.flora .sustainable forest Low: as long as there is

management and harvesting there will always_biodiversity protection be an impact on species

.fauna .sustainable forest Moderate: plantations willmanagement and limiting be established in order toplantation size protect remaining natural

forest - fauna habitat will bereduced, as will certainfaunal populations

-rare and endangered .sustainable forest Nonespecies management and

biodiversity protection.biodiversity .sustainable forest Low: with forestry

management and operations there will alwaysbiodiversity protection be some impact on

.__ __________________ ,biodiversity

-traditional rights .savanna management and Nonecollaborative forestryprograms -

jobs and poverty .sustainable forest High: in the short tomanagement; creation of medium term the job lossnew jobs in wood will be significant but in theprocessing; collaborative long term, under sustainableforestry and savanna forest management, amanagement programs smalle number of jobs will_____________ be secured

.NTFPs .reforestation, biodiversity Noneand collaborative forestryprograms

.aesthetics best practice guidelines Low: Harvesting operationareas wil always be of lowaesthetic value

.migration .collaborative forestry and Low: With the number ofsavanna management jobs to be lost throughprograms as well as training downsizing, there is boundin the wood processing to remain some migration toindustry for new processes the urban areas

so

.land use savanna management Noneprogram and carefulplanning re: land use anduser needs

.gender issues .careful planning of the Noneproject with women's needstaken into account

.fuelwood .savanna management and Nonereforestation programs

6.6 Environmental Enhancement

Often projects with residual impacts will include environmental enhancement measures asa way of compensating for permanently lost environmental values. However, the NRMcan be considered to be primarily an enviromnentally supportive project and many of itsactions are enhancing. A range of activities including the continuation of sustainable forestmanagement in reserves and the intent of the same for the off-reserve areas, to thecollaborative forestry and savanna management programs, and the biodiversity and wildlifemanagement components of the forest management component, all contribute to theenhancement of the environment.

7. ANALYSIS OF PROJECT ALTERNATIVES

7.1 Concept Analysis

The NRMP has evolved over a period of several months through discussions between theWorld Bank and the Ministry of Lands and Forestry. The project is not one that has beenselected from a number of alternative projects. However, dunng the development of theproject concept any one of the following five direcfions could have been taken.

. no project

. a continuation of the current FRMP project

. a World Bank type forest management project of the distant past which focused ontimber and not people. a project that did not include a comprehensive savanna component. the current project concept

Each altemative concept is briefly discussed in terms of the IECs that would be mostaffected.

7.2 Alternative 1: No Project

Without the institutional strengthening that the project will provide, it is questionable thatall of the regulations relevant to sustainable forest management would be addressed. Ifsustainable forest management is not fbllowed, a host of biophysical impacts would occur

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including the loss of species, habitats, and, consequently, biodiversity. Although industrjobs would be maintained, in the long term they would all be lost as the industry eventuallvexhausts the merchantible timber supply. Local communities would receive no long termbenefits that sustainable forest management would have to offer. Poverty would not bealleviated but instead would be aggravated.

7.3 Alternative 2: Continuation of Current FRMP

Although this project has been reasonably successful in achieving its objectives, it hasfocused mainly on institutional issues. Extension of this project would provide theadditional institutional strengthening that the MLF requires in order to ensure sustainableforest management, and thus, the benefits that NRMP will provide in this regard wouldalso be achieved by an FRMP extension. There was no specific biodiversity component inFRMP. As well, it did not address wood processing issues, particularly underutilization ofraw materials. Apart from the support for community nurseries and the establishment of apilot for locally based savanna woodland management, it did not contain a substantialconmunity forestry component. To continue the existing FRMP rather than adopting thecurrent concept, would not lead to any specific inputs towards biodiversity protection, orprotection of forest resources through a collaborative approach. Local communities wouldnot be able to take advantage of socio-econoniic improvement that a collaborative forestrycomponent would provide. Without a comprehensive savanna management component,communities in the savanma would not be able to improve their overall socio-economicsituation.

7.4 Alternative 3: Historical Forestry Project

If a forest management project of the type that had been designed and implemented 20years ago with WB support was considered, the impacts would have been significant. Theproject probably would have been based on the concept of sustainable forest management,and would have included many of the elements of the currently conceptualized project interms of istitutional support and development, and support to the private woodprocessing sector. However, it probably would have also supported the replacement ofindigenous forests with fast growing plantations, would not have included a communitydevelopment component, and in fact, probably would have ignored local community issuesand needs as these relate to the forest resource. Biodiversity would have been significantlyreduced.

7.5 Alternative 4: Current Concept but Without Comprehensive SavannaManagement Component

This concept would experience most of the benefits and impacts that the current conceptwill have with the exception of those associated with the savanna management component.There would be no additional impacts, but without the component the net benefit that thecomprehensive savanna management component would have would be lost. The most

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important benefit to be lost would be the opportunity to have a significant positive effect

on poverty alleviation of the people of the savanna.

7.6 Alternative 5: Current Concept

The current concept provides an overall environmental benefit to Ghana and particularlyto the rural communities. However, this benefit will only be achieved through atremendous effort made by Government in the implementation of the project. The projectwill be complex, and institutionally chaUllenging to implement with a high degree ofefficiency and success. The public liaison mechanism to be designed and put into practicein order to succeed with the savanna management component and the collaborativeforestry component will be extremely challenging and risky, particularly in a climate ofsuspicion that local communities have for the FD. The capacity of the FD and otherrelevant agencies is questionable in terms of being able to successfully implement theproject as presently envisaged.

7.7 Summary and Conclusions

To do nothing (alternative 1) would be folly and irresponsible. Resources would continueto dwindle, industry jobs would eventually all be lost, poverty would worsen, andbiodiversity would be diminished.

To extend the current FRMP (alternative 2) would be to provide 'more of the same' andalthough implementation would be relatively easy since 'more of the same' wouldprobably be implemented at a more efficient level. However, the real problems of ruralcommunities relative to the natural resource base would not be addressed and povertywould not be significantly, if to any degree at aLl, reduced.

To follow the path of historical forestry projects (alternative 3) would be a regression.Although sustainable forest management would be practiced, other forest values would beignored and local communities which depend on forest resources would receive nobenefits from the project. Biodiversity, in all likelihood, would suffer appreciably.

Alternative 4 (the current concept without the savanna management component) wouldbe neglecting a very important sector of the country's natural resource base. Although allof the impacts and most of the benefits associated with the current concept (alternative 5)would be realized, the overall benefit would be less. The project would be relatively easyto implement under alternative 4, and therefore would have a greater chance for success.

Alternative 5, the current concept, is the most comprehensive of all of the alternativeconcepts but it is also the most complex and will be the most difficult to implementsuccessfibly. The concept focuses on a number and variety of serious issues including rualpoverty, resource degradation, biodiversity protection, and non-sustainable forestry. Theinsiutional challenges to address these problems effectively will be substantial.

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8. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN

8.1 Purpose and Intent

The environmental management plan is based on the results of the EIA. The purpose ofthe plan is to provide the blueprnt for clear and timely actions that will be required tomitigate and compensate for the impacts that have been identified through the ElA. Costsindicated here are only indicative as to what will be required to implement the necessaryactions that have to be taken. The environmental management plan has to be furtherdeveloped and the Govemment of Ghana will have to indicate its committment to theexpenditures necessary to ensure that mitigation is completed.

8.2 Description

Since the project will have few negative impacts and the project is itself generallyenvironmentally supportive, few actions in addition to the implementation of the projectwill be required. This management plan addresses the activities of the project that aremitigative towards the impacts described, best practice guidelines for mitigation, andadditional actions that should be considered in order to ensure that all inpacts areaddressed. In the following sections the various activities, in addition to project activities,required for mitigation are described. For each activity a description is provided for theacivity, inputs required and outputs expected, responsibility, costs and scheduling.Descriptions are provided for the impacts to be expected on 17 IECs.

8.3 Mitigative Measures

8.3.1 Impact on Air Quality

. Description

Since a broader range of tree species will be used in the wood processing industry,additional wood processes may be employed. These processes could include chemicalspotentially toxic either in their current form or in their altered form. Air quality could becompromised.

. Actions to be Taken

Industries contemplating new processes will be required to submit development plans tothe MLF for comment and approval. These plans will include the chemicals to be used inthe new processes and how they will be handled, used and disposed of Processes that maylead to air pollution will require emission control. Industries will be required to install theappropnate technology to ensure that emissions meet with country air quality standards.

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. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

Through the project, industries will be assisted in the identification of additional speciesand processes that can be used. Industries will be required to advise the MLF of any newprocesses to be adopted, including chemicals to be used and details of the processes.Industries will be required to install appropriate technology to control emissions that mayexceed air quality standards. MLF should assign a staff member to the responsibility ofapproving industry applications and for ensuring that monitoring (through the EPA) iscarried out and acted upon. New processes adapted by industry will not produce emissionsthat exceed the country's air quality standards.

. Expected Results

Air quality will meet national standards.

. Scheduling and Costs

At this stage it is not known which additional chemicals, if any, will be used in new woodprocessing activities. Studies will have to be conducted to determine appropriateprocessing technologies to be considered for the industry. Such studies will take intoaccount air quality requiremnents.

Without knowledge of processes and chemicals to be used, at this stage, costs ofmitigation can not be determined.

8.3.2 Impact on Hydrology

Description

Harvesting activities lead to soil compaction and rainfall runoff. As a result, groundwaterrecharge is reduced and flows of streams and rivers are increased. Without properselection of species and sites, plantations can cause groundwater drawdown that couldaffect adjacent land uses such as irrigated agriculture and the water supply for villages.

. Actions to be Taken

Best practice guidelines during harvesting operations will be followed. These will includethe use of relatively light machinery for harvesting, avoidance of locating skidding trails onsteep slopes, and appropriate road building methods, particularly in the area of streamncrossings.

During detailed planning for plantation establishment, consideration will be given togroundwater needs of adjacent land uses and built up areas. Water requirements and theeffect on groundwater levels will be considered when species for reforestation are beingselected.

8S

. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

Forest harvest planning will be carried out between the contractor and the FD, and the FDwill monitor harvesting operations to ensure that best practice guidelines are applied.Silviculture planning to determine site and species selection will be carried out by the FD.

Outputs will include minimal runoff from skidding trails and logging roads. As well,plantation establishment will not lower groundwater levels significantly.

. Expected Results

Groundwater recharge in forest areas will not be appreciably affected and stream sedimemloads and flow rates in forest streams and rivers will be mininal. Stable habitats foraquatic flora and fauna will be protected.

. Scheduling and Costs

Planning and the monitoring of the application of best practice guidelines will occurimmediately at project inception. No additional costs for mitigation will be required.

8.3.3 Impact on Water Quality

D Description

Water quality can be affected by the project from two sources. During harvestingoperations, runoff can add sediment loads to the surface water systen and can caryspilled fuels and waste lubricants into the surface and groundwater systems. Through theuse of a broader range of species, the wood processing industry could introduce newprocesses which could include the use of different chemicals that, if not comntned anddisposed of properly, could contaminate both groundwater and surface water systems.

. Actions to be Taken

Best practice guidelines will be applied during harvesing operations. Skidding will takeplace and roads wil be maintained and built in such ways as to enure msinimal damage totrail and road surfaces, and to mnimize runoff and erosion. Fuei, and lubricants will behandled in a safe manner and will be stored properly. Waste lubricants will be stored andcarried out of the area to be deposited (recycled where possible) in a safe site and manner.Operators could be required to use vegetable-based chainsaw lubricatmg oils, if these areavailable.

. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

The FD will ensure that best practice guidelines are applied on all harvesting operations,including road location, construction and maintenance. Concessionaires will ensure that

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these guidelines are followed. The FD will develop a set of guidelines for the safehandling, storage and disposal of fuels and lubricants at the harvesting sites and it willensure that these guidelines will be followed. The FD should investizate the possibility andfeasibility of importing and using vegetable based chainsaw lubricants. The woodprocessing industry will submit plans for new processes that utilize chemicals. Such planswill indicate how these chemicals will be utilized, stored and handled, and how wastes willbe disposal. The FD will monitor the use and handling of chemicals for new processes.

. Expected Results

Groundwater and surface water quality will not be appreciably affected in harvesting areasor at wood processing sites.

. Scheduling and Costs

The FD should provide sufficient funds to develop, at project inception, a set of guidelinesfor the handling and storage of fuels, lubricants and other chemicals used on harvestingoperations. These guidelines will be appended to the existing Logging Manual. The FDwill provide an enviroDmental monitoring team (see description in Section 8.5) that willensure that guidelines are followed. Monitoring could be carried out on a spot check basisanywhere in the country. The monitoring team would be responsible for all aspects ofenvironmental monitoring for forestry and the forest industry.

The wood processing industry would be required to finance the planning for newprocesses that would require the use of chemicals. Such plans would describe in detailhow chemicals would be used, handled and disposed. Monitoring would be caried out bythe FD.

8.3.4 Impact on Soils

. Description

Soil erosion and compaction which will lead to a loss of productivity base, streamsedimentation and runoff will result from poorly planned and implemented harvestingplans.

. Actions to be Taken

Best practice guidelines as described in the Logging Manual will be foliowed in order tominimize these impacts.

. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

The concessionaire will be responsible for ensuring that roads are located, constructed andmaintained as per guidelines. He will also ensure that only equipment of the correct type

57

and size is engaged in the harvesting operation, and that skidding trails are not located onsteep slopes or in areas vulnerable to erosion. The FD) will be responsible for theenvironmental monitoring of harvesting operations.

Outputs will include the proper construction of roads and siting of sk-idding trails, and theuse of appropriate skidd ng equipment. The FD will provide periodic monitoring reportsthat will receive follow up action where required.

. Expected Results

Soil erosion and soil compaction on harvesting sites will be kept to a minimum.

. Scheduling and Costs

Mitigative measures, including environmental monitoring, will begin at project inception.The FD will support an environmental monitoring unit and should provide sufficientfiunding for the preparation of an environmental monitoring guidebook. Concessionaireswi1 be responsible for the cost of appropriate machinery to be employed on the harvestingoperations.

8.3.5 Impact on Flora

* Description

Industry diversification will require new tree species. Additional species from the overallfloral composition of the forest will be removed and associated lesser forest species maybe affected. Plantation establishment in the transition zone and small fuelwood plantationsestablished in the savanna could eliminate grassland and transitional zone plant species.

. Actions to be Taken

The project will promote sustainable forest management practices including silviculturaltechniques to ensure that new species removed from the forest would be regenerated.Through sound forest management and biodiversity protection, the project will protect theimportant star species. Plantations to be established on degraded sites under the projectwould include the new marketable species, thus eventualy removing pressure from thedesired species in their natural habitat.

. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

No inputs additional to those required for implementing the project will be required.Sustainable forest management, including reforestation, will be the responsibility of theFD.

Outputs will include plantation development of the most commercially favorable species.

. Expected Results

Harvesting of additional species will be conducted in accordance to sustainable forestmanagement principles. Silvicultural techniques employed in forest manazement willensure that new species harvested will be able to regenerate naturally, and that associatedspecies will not be negatively affected.

. Scheduling and Costs

As per the project scheduling and budget.

8.3.6 Impact on Fauna; and Rare and Endangered Species and Habitats

. Description

The establishment of plantations provides relatively simple ecosystems that will notsupport the variety of species and population densities of wildlife that the natural forestwould support. Wildlife species now present on degraded sites could disappear with aconversion to plantations. Haesting of individual trees and groups of trees in the naturalhigh forest will reduce wildlife habitat. Of particular concern wil be the possibleelimination of corridors such as the forest canopy corridor used by some primates.Reduced habitat leads to reduced populations and species mix.

. Actions to be Taken

The project will ensure that plantation establishment will not occur in areas that areimportant wildlife habitat. Each potential site for plantation establishment will be carefullysurveyed to determine existing wildlife habitat and population values. Where natural forestareas are to be harvested, each area will be examined for wildlife habitat and populationspecies values. Forest management plans will be prepared, taking the protection of

important wildlife habitats into consideraion.

. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

As part of the project, important areas of biodiversity will be surveyed and demarcated assuch. These areas wil be removed from fiuture harvesting. The FD will be responsible forcarrying out the biodiversity survey and for ensurng that forest management plans willexclude important wildlife habitats from harvesting. The ED will also be responsible fordetermining areas for reforestation.

No additional costs or staffing already indicated in project inputs will be required. Outputswull include the exclusion of important wildlife habitats from harvesting and from areas tobe reforested.

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. Expected Results

Important wildlife habitats and populations will be protected.

. Scheduling and Costs

As per project scheduling and budget.

8.3.7 Impact on Biodiversity

. Description

The high forest and savanna regions contain their own unique mix of fauna and flora andtogether they contribute to a complex and unique national biodiversity. Conversion of highforest areas to plantations and management of the savanna resources which may alternatural grasslands, will reduce biodiversity. Forest plantations can never provide the samebiodiversity found under natural high forest conditions. Savanna grasslands converted tofuielwood plantations or to new grasses and crops for increased agricultural and livestockproduction, likewise will lead to a reduction in biodiversity.

A ctions to be Taken

The project, through its sustainable forest management approach and programs of savannamanagement and biodiversity protection, will ensure that areas of important biodiversityvalues are not violated. Surveys will be conducted to identify these important areas.

I lnputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

Project inputs will include biodiversity surveys and biodiversity protection to be conductedand implemented by the ElD and the WD.

Outputs wil include the exclusion of important biodiversity areas from harvesting,plantation development and agricultural related development.

. Expected Results

Biodiversity in the high forest and savanma regions of Ghana will be protected.

. Scheduling and Costs

As per project scheduling and budget..-

:0

8.3.8 Impacts on Traditional Rights

. Description

The establishment of fuelwood plantations in the savanna could lead to the loss ofcommon grazing areas to local communities. Areas removed from access through thebiodiversity protection program could affect traditional rights.

. Actions to be Taken

Actions to be taken are within the scope of the project and include careful planning for thelocation of plantations and the design and location of pastoral-silvicultural systems.

. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

No additional inputs to those already described in the project will be required. The FD andMoAF will take on the responsibilities of ensuring the protection of areas that includeopportunities for local communities to practice traditional rights.

Outputs will include the protection of traditional rights.

Expected Results

Communities will be satisfied with the DF and MoAF actions in the protection, andpossibly the enhancement, of their traditional rights activities.

S Scheduling and Costs

As per project scheduling and budget.

8.3.9 Impacts on Jobs and Poverty

. Description

The forest industry will be required to downsize as a result of achieving the goal ofsustainable forest management and reducing the annual harvest to within the limits of thesustainable allowable cut. Many jobs will be lost in the short and medium term. However,by meeting the goal of sustainable forest management, the jobs that are retained will beavailable to perpetuity, not withstanding further downsizing through mechanization andother actions to improve efficiency and productivity input/output ratios.

. Action to be Taken

The collaborative forestry program and the savanna management program will provideopportunities for improving rural socio-econoric conditions and thus will contribute

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substantially to the alleviation of poverty in these areas with opportunities for resourceproduct harvesting and improved productivity of farm and grazing lands. As well, projectsupport to the industry will identify downstream wood processing technologies that willprovide additional jobs, possibly to some who will be released from the existing mills asmill productivity is reduced.

In addition to project programs, additional training of those to be downsized should beprovided in order that these 'new jobless' will develop skills that can be used elsewhere.Inputs will require formal and 'on the job' training in areas where there is demand forsemi-skilled and skilled individuals. Inputs in the forn of grants to individuals to attendformal training sessions already available to the general public, or to place theseindividuals in apprenticeship programs, will be provided. Income generating opportunities(e.g. domessticating wildlife for sale, utilization of forest wastess, bee keeping) will beresearched.

A comprehensive training and work placement plan will be developed.

. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

MLF should provide adequate fimding for the preparation of a human resourcedevelopment plan that will include a survey of people who will lose their jobs as a result ofmeeting allowable cut volumes. It should also provide fimding towards implementation ofthe plan. Funds could be sought from the donor community. MLF could also provide astaff member to oversee the development of the training plan and the monitoring of itsimplementation. Outputs will include a human resources development plan (training)directed towards those who will be downsized from the forest industry. Output will alsoinclude training courses and apprenticeships being provided to a minimum of 25% of all ofthose who will lose their jobs as a result of industry downsizing.

Training will likely occur in existing training ceners and in programs already beingprovided. Implementation of the training plan would be monitored by an outside agency.

Funds for researching alternative income generating activities should be provided.

Expected Results

At least 25% of all of those who lose their jobs as a result of the project should beprovided with sutable traing to allow them to gai employment in other areas. At least75% of those who receive training should be gainfmlly employed within a year ofsuccessfully completing their training program.

. Scheduling and Costs

The training plan would be developed within the first year of the project andimplementation of the plan would be carried out during the life of the project.

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8.3.10 Impacts on Non Timber Forest Products

. Description

Implementation of the biodiversity management plan will result in the removal of reserveand off-reserve areas from harvesting. Foodstuffs, fuelwood, building materials andmedicinal plants would no longer be collected from areas designated for biodiversitymanagement.

. Actions to be Taken

Project components including fuelwood plantation establishment in the savanna areas andother savanna management activities, and the collaborative forestry program will provideNTFPs for local use, to compensate for losses as a result of biodiversity losses.Compensation for community losses, and as an incentive for communities to participate inthe collaborative forestry programn, will include the provision of community infrastructure.The savanna management program will include the protection and development of areas toproduce NTFPs.

Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

No additional inputs to those already being provided by the project will be required. TheFD and the MoAF will be responsible for managng the appropriate sections of the project.

Outputs will include the development of NTFPs for rural community use to compensatefor those NTFPs that will no longer be available as a result of various managementactivities.

. Expected Results

Local communities and families wil not be deprived of traditional NTFPs that areimportant to their local economies.

. Scheduling and Costs

As per project scheduiing and budget.

8.3.11 Impacts on Aesthetics

. Description

Timber harvesting results in open canopies, slash piles, high and unsightly tree stumps, anddamaged trees and lesser vegetation. During harvesting operation, machinery, mud andnoise all contribute to a reduction of aesthetic values.

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. Actions to be Taken

Degraded sites, following logging, will be replanted, as part of the project. Through thepractice of good standards, aesthetic values of harvesting sites will be retained to theextent possible. Trees will be felled with stumps close to the ground and in such a way asto not cause damage to other standing trees. Skidding trails will be located in a mannerthat will minimize damage to vegetation, particularly standing trees. Slash piles will bebroken down.

. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

The FD will be responsible for monitoring to ensure that good practices are applied. TheFD will also ensure that plantations are established on degraded sites. The concessionairewill be responsible for practicing good standards.

Outputs will include the retention of aesthetic values to the extent possible at a harvestingsite, and reforested degraded sites.

. Expected Results

Aesthetic values will be retained as much as possible on harvesting sites and degraded siteswill be improved with plantation establishment.

. Scheduling and Costs

As per project scheduling and budget.

83.12 Impacts on Migration

. Description

Downsizing of the forest industry will lead to a certain degree of migration as people driftto the cities and other urban areas in search of work. The MLF will provide sufficientfunding to those Government agencies that implement income generating progmms. Fundswill also be provided to encourage industries to locate in the rural areas in order toprovide jobs for local people.

. Actions to be Taken

A number of project programs and components (savanma management, colaborativeforestry component) will assist n minimizing migration. Additional activities should becarred out to further encourage people from migrating to the rural areas. These couldinclude the development of income generating activities, particularly the support andexpansion of cottage industries based on the forest resource. Training could also be

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provided so that those who do mizrate will have marketable skills. lncentives for small

industries to locate in rural areas should also be provided.

. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

Inputs required should include a cash contribution from MLF to cottage industry andother income generating programs to assist downsized forest industry workers to gainmeaningful local employment. An outside agency will monitor progress.

Outputs will include downsized forest industry workers retrained and employed inalternative jobs in the local area. Migration from the rural areas as a result of forestindustry downsizing should be reduced by 40%.

. Expected Results

Migration to urban areas will not be great, resulting in fewer than expected newunemployed people in the major cities. A stable social and political urban environment willbe maintained.

. Scheduling and Costs

An adequate contribution will be made to the appropriate government agencies. Theprogramming will begin as soon as the forest industry begins to downsize.

8.3.13 Impacts on Fuelwood

. Description

A reduction in harvesting levels, improved wood utilization and biodiversity protectionwithin reserves and off-reserve areas will reduce the amount of fielwood available to localcommunities. Traditionally local communities have collected waste wood followingharvesting operations.

. Actions to be Taken

The collaborative forestry component will provide the opportunity for local communitiesto share the NTFP resource of the reserve and off-reserve areas. Plantations in thetransition zone and fuelwood plantings as part of the savanna land management programwill also provide fuelwood supplies to local communities in proximity to these plantations.

. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

The FD has overall responsibility for the project. It will establish plataions, and in

conjunction with MoAF and local communities, will manage savanna resources, for

g5

amongst other products, the production of fuelwood. No additional inputs apart from

those identified in the project concept will be required.

Outputs wil include the provision of adequate fuelwood supphes for local communities.

E Expected Results

Economic conditions of local communities will be improved as they are provided with asource of fuelwood and a number of jobs associated with the establishment and tending ofplantations, and the harvesting and marketing of fuelwood. Women's burdens will bereduced with the availability of fuelwood in close proximity to their communities.

. Scheduling and Costs

As per project scheduling and budget.

8.3.14 Impact on Land Use

. Description

Land use in the savanna and off-reserve areas will change as a result of the savannamanagement program and the reforestation program, respectively.

. Actions to be Taken

Comprehensive resource planning will be part of detailed project design to ensure thatappropriate land use changes are made and that such changes will not disadvantage localcommunities or important ecological systems.

. Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

The FD will be responsible, in conjunction with local communities, for determining landuse changes to be made. Input involves comprehensive resource planning in a teamenvironment with other relevant ministries and departments (e.g. MoAF, WD). Outputswill include prudent land use.

. Expected Results

Land use changes will result in more effective utilization of the land base on a sustainablebasis. Where applicable, the land use will serve local communities more effectively.

Scheduling and Costs

As per project schedule and budget.

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8.3.15 Impact on Gender Issues

Description

The biodiversity component will exclude access to certain areas This could require thatwomen from communities adjacent to these areas travel further afield to collect firewoodand other forest materials essential for their rural subsistence livelihood. The savannamanagement program will include a number of resource management activities that couldaffect women in terms of additional tasks that they may be required to carry out. Thecollaborative forestry component and the reforestation programs may also affect the dailylives and schedules of women.

Actions to be Taken

Through the collaborative forestry component, the savanna management and thereforestation programs, potentially there will be a number of opportunities that will assistin easing the lives and daily schedules of women. In the detailed designing of each of theproject programs and components, the effects on women will be considered. The projectshould ensure that jobs provided through the project are equally distributed between menand women, where women desire such jobs. As well, any training activities that the projectprovides must be available to women and men equally.

Income generating activities through the collaborative forestry program and the savannamanagement program should be made available to both men and women equally. Decisionmalang regarding reforestation, savanna management and collaborative forestry activitieswill involve local participation and this participation will include, and indeed, seek out,women.

I Inputs, Outputs and Responsibilities

The FD will be responsible for implemening the project components and will ensure thatwomen will have the opportunity to provide input and take advantage of project benefitson an e:jual basis with men. In doing so, the FD should ensure that a gender issues.spec.iist is included as part of the detailed planning of the project. The environmentalmonitor uf the FD will monitor the impact that the project wifl have on women and other,generally considered, disadvantaged groups. No additional costs will be required to ensurethat women are provided with a share of the project benefits.

Outputs will include implemented project programs and components that have takenwomen's concerns into consideration.

. Expected Results

Women will share equally in community related project decision making and in projectbenefits. They will not be dadvantaged in any way by project activities and results.

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. Scheduling and Costs

Women's concerns will be incorporated at the beginning of the detailed project desinstage. Additional costs should include $10,000 to include a gender issues specialist dunrngdetailed design stage.

8.4 Indicative Mitigative Costs and Scheduling

..... ---.-- Itm BU t ScbednlitAir quality equipment n/a (private cost) Industrv pnor to

development

Hvdrologv n/a n/a (part of pojec) industuv and FD conunuousSoils - emionmental S 60.000 FD project incepuon

monitoring bandbookpreparation andmonitoring training .

Flora nma n/a (part of project) FD continuousFauna n/a /a (part of project) FD continuousBiodiversity n/a n/a (part of project) FD continuousJobs and HRD plan S 100,000 MLF project inceptionpoverty HRD plan S 600,000

implementationalternative incomegenerating research S 25.000

NTFPs n/a n/a (part of proiect) FD continuousTraditional n/a n/a (part of project) FD continuousrights . .

Aestheiics n/a n/a (part Of prje) FD continuousjMigration development of income S 150,000 MLF project inception

generating activities contnrbton toappropriatcagenaes

Fuelwood n/a n/a (part of project) FD continuousGender issues analysis of women's S 20,000 - LF project inception

issues

c osts _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

*Monitoring and the handbook are required for all miitigation activities and is onlyincluded here in 'soils' for convenience.

8.5 Training

The Forestry Departmnent will be responsible for implementing the environmentalmanagmentplan and for ensuring that other measures through project implementation

required for mitigation are carred out and that they achieve their objectve in this regard.In order to do so the ELJF will designate an individual to be responsi-ble for monitoring the

..~ ~~~~'

progress of the plan and the project as it relates to addressing the impacts. Currentlv theMLF does not have an individual trained in either environmental assessment ormonitoring. An individual in the Ministry should be designated the position ofenvironmental officer and be given the opportunity for short course training, possiblyabroad, in environmental management and environmental effects monitoring. Theenvironmental monitor will also oversee monitoring of harvesting sites through districtforestry field staff. Individuals in the field who will have responsibility for monitoringharvesting sites will receive in-house and on the job training from the environmentalmonitor and possibly from an external source.

8.6 Monitoring and Reporting

Environmental effects monitoring is necessary to ensure that predicted impacts areaddressed effectively and efficiently through the mitigative measures indicated. Three mainobjectives of monitoring are: i) to ensure that any additional impacts not identified in theEIA document are addressed appropriately; ii) to ensure that the mitigative actions areappropriate for addressing the impacts; and, iii) to feed infonnation back to managementin order that appropriate modifications can be made to either the operational activities orto the enviromTental management plan in terms of mitigative measures to be applied.

To ensure that environmental effects are mitigated effectively a monitoring section shouldbe established in the MLF. This section would consist of the monitoring officer describedin Section 8.4. The individual would be assisted on a part time basis by district fieldofficers who will have received basic monitoring training.

The monitor will carry out monitoring duties in accordance to a manual for monitoringthat would be prepared by MLF. The manual should be specific to the project and shouldclearly explain the procedures for effective field monitoring. Such a manual would containsections on baseline data requirements and how these should be identified, collected andused, identification of key indicators, monitoring schedule, measurement techniques,interpretation of results and presentation of findings, and the application of findings tomanagement decision making.

Monitoring should be carried out on an on-going basis and on harvesting sites it should bedone regulary through random sampling. Monthly monitonng reports would be providedto the management team for information, discussion and action.

An environmental management plan will only be effective if effective monitoring iscarried out and if the management team is prepared to act upon monitoring results andrecommendations. A series of penalties and enforcement mechanisms must be put in placeand must be enacted upon when the management plan is contravened. For exaunple, if aconcessionaire is skidding logs on steep slopes contray to the harvesting plan and this isreported through regular monitoring, management must penalize the concessionaireaccordingly.

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9. REFERENCES

9.1 Documents Prepared by EIA Team Members

Abu-Juam, Musah. 1997. Biodiversitv of Ghana: Descri2tion and Draft ImRacts.

Akoena, Sesi. 1997. Environmental Impact Assessment of the Natural ResourcesManagement Proiect. An Economics Profile.

Agyeman, Victor K. 1997. Environmental ImRact of the ProRosed Natural ResourcesManagement Project on Forest Management Areas

Ayeh, Ophelia. 1997. Social Impact Assessment of the Natural Resource ManagementProject.

Dua, Andrew Boateng. 1997. Environmental ImRact Assessment. Forest EcologvAssessment.

Sam, Moses K. ' 997 Wildlife Management and the Proposed Natural ResourceManagement Project.

Sasu. ppo-.. 1997. CommunitR Forestry and Collaborative Forest Management: TheCase of Ghana.

Tweneboah, Paul. 1997. Environmental Impact Assessment. Ghana Timber Industry.

9.2 Other References

Arnanor, Kojo. 1995. Mana2ina Trees in the Farininz System: The Perspectives ofFarmers

EIU. 1994. Ghana - Country Profile. Economic Intelligence Unit.

Environmental Protection Agency. 1996. Environmental Protection Agencv (At a Glance).Compiled by Dr. Peter C. Acquah.

Falconer, J. (no date). Non-Timber Forest Products in Southem Ghana. Prepared jointlyby ODA and the Forestry Department, Govermnment of Ghana.

Forestry Commission. 1995. Policy Recommendations for Sustainable Management of theForest Resource in Ghana. Ovsea Consultancy Service.

Forestry Department. 1996. Incentives for Sustainable Forest Management: A Stuy inGhana. Based on a joint study by lEDD and the Forestry Department, Government ofGhana.

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Forestry Department. (undated). Non-timber Forest Products in Southern Ghana.Prepared for Overseas Development Administration by Natural Resources Institute

Forestry Department. 1995. A Framework for Collaboration Outside Reserves. Paper No.2. A paper presented at the Potential for Collaboration in High Forest ManagementSymposium, November, 1995.

Forestry Department. 1995. Made in Ghana: Collaborative Forest Management. PlanningBranch. Prepared for XVII Session of the ITTC and XVI Session of the PermanentCommittee of the ITTO, Accra, Ghana, 10-18 May 1995.

Forestry Department. 1992. Logging Manual for Forest Management in Ghana.

Govermment of Ghana. 1996. Environmental Protection Agencv (At a Glance). Compiledby Peter Acquah.

Government of Ghana. 1995. Analysis of Demo=raphic Data. Volumes I and 2.

Government of Ghana. 1993. Rural Communities in Ghana. Report of a National RuralCommuniht Survey. Ghana Statistical Services.

GWD/rJCN. 1994. A Protection Area System Plan to Conserve Biodiverit in Ghana.Project 9786. Compiled by John Grainger.

Hawthorne, W.D. and Abu-Juam, Ni 1995. Forest Protection in Ghana: Wlth particularreference to vegetation and Rlant species. IUCN Conservation Program.

ISSER. 1993. The State of the Ghanaian Economy in 1992. Institute of Statistical, Socialand Economic Research, University of Ghana, Legon.

Jecfy and Company Ltd. 1997. Forest Administration Study Report. Volume 1. ForestResource Management Project.

Ministry of Lands and Forestry. 1995. Forestry Development Master Plan: 1996-2020.Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Division.

Ministry of Lands and Forestry. 1994. Forest and Wildlife Policy. 241 November,1994.

National Council on Women and Development. 1994. The Status of Women in Ghana(1985-1994)National Report for the Fourth World Conference on Women.

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Rosenthal, S. 1997. Toward Improved Forest Resource Manatement in GhanaConsideration for the Forestry DeRartmentfs Evolving Role. (working paper as part ofWorld Bank- May 1997 investigation mission to Ghana)

Savanna Woodland Management Working Group. 1997. Savanna Woodland ManagementProgramme.

Wildlife Department. 1997. Protected Areas Management and Wildlife ConservationProject. Draf* Inception Report.

World Bank. 1997. Project Information Document.

World Bank. 1997. Ghana Natural Resource Management Project. Preparation MissionMay 4-30. 1997. Aide Mernoire.

World Bank. 1997. Project Concept Document. Ghana Natural Resource ManagementProiect. June 2, 1997.

World Bank. 1988. Staff Appraisal ReRort. Ghana Forest Resource Manauement Proiect.

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Appendix 1: Description of Ghana's Major Vegetation Types

1. Wet Evergreen Forest (WE)

The Wet evergreen ecotype can have over 200 species in 25rn sq. plots (Hawthorne andJuam Musah, 1993) and is the least disturbed forest type with endemic species. They areboth closed ana are rich in commercial timber and lesser-known economic tree species(LKS). Species diversity include the endemic Cola umbratilis and Monocyclanthus sps.The Neung Forest Reserves. Some members of the plant associations often referred to asTropilochiton - Celtis - Tarrietia and Piptadeniastrum - Lophira Associations are:

Triplochiton scieroxylon (Wawa, Obeche)Pericopsis elata (Kokrodua, Afrormossia)Celtis mildbraedi (Esa)Guibourtia ehie (Anokye-hyedua)Piptadeniasvum aficanum (Dahoma)Lophira alata (Ekki, Kaku)Khaya anthothecalK ivorensis (Mahogany)Nesogordonia papaverifera (Denta)Pycnanthus angolensis (Otie)Milicia excelaformerh Chlorophora ercelsa (Odum)Canarium schweifurthii (Camnanumn, Bediwonua)Daniella ogea (Shedua)Entandrophragma utile (Utile, Sipo)Entandrophragma angolense (Edinm)Turracanthus afncamns (Avodire)Mansoniaaltissima (Oprono, Mansonia)Nauclea d&derichii (Kusia)Heretiera utilis formerly Tczietia utilis (Nyankom)Lovoa trichilioides (Afiican Walnut)Terminalia superba (Ofram)Sterculia rhinopetala (Wawabima)Terminalia ivorensis (Emire)

This closed canopy forest covers only 65701kn sq. or 2.75% of the forest land.

2. Moist Evergreen Forest ((ME)

This ecotype has slightly less diverse association members than the wet evergreen forest.ME is heavily logged and has often open canopies. Biodiversity shows numerous plantspecies and genetic richness. Plant species include Dialium aubreville, Strombosiaglaucescens, Lophira alata, and Cola laterata. Due to richness the 17,770hn sq. area(7.45%/*) is fast being decimated.

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3. Upland evergreen forest (UE)

This forest ecotype is unique in its composition of pioneer and secondary species. Itcovers only 292 km sq. or 0.12% of the forest estate, the greater par of which is found inthe Atewa range. Many rare plants and animal species are found here. They include someof the floristic species of 'WE and MIE as well as the rare and endangered Hvmenocoleusmulainervis and Cyanthea manniana, a palm sized tree term and Trilepisiummadagascanense.

Other tree species such as Cedrela odorata and Ficus macrosperma Pienanthus angolensis(Otie, Carboard) Nesogordonia Papavenfera (Danta, Kotibe) Chlorophora regia (Odurr;African Oak). make the smaD are covered a treasured ecotype. Hall and Swaine (981)found the envirownent of the Upland evergreen forest, the habitat for several sunumits,swamps and thickets need a special 'protection strategy'.

4. Moist - Semi-deciduous Forest (MS)

Species diversity is MS is relaively lower than in WE. The height of mature economicspecies average 60m. Because of the wide amplitude of its area coverage two sub-ecotypes, the North-West and South -East vegetation formations have been identified. TheSoutheast ecotype representing 40%r/ of MS forest area of 32,8901ak sq. harbours elephantpopulations and has about 100 commercial timber species under exploitation. Forexample, Truplocuiton scelroxyon (Wawa) is endangered from over exploitation. Thesame applies to Celtis Mildbraedii (Esa).

5. Dry Semi-deciduous Forest (DS)

This ecotype is prone to fire but occupies 21,440km sq. (8.99%) of the forest estate, thesecond largest group. Convering a trasition zone between the north and east of MS,species diversity is relatvely low with 40-100 species in 25mm x 25mm sample plot. Twotypes corresponding two rainf peaks 1250mm and 1500mm characterise fire tenderplant species and drier fire zone. The Nsemre Forest Reserve with typical composition ofElaies Guineensis, Lannea Nigritana, Afzelia qfricana, Aubrevillea Playca formforest - islands with intruding savanna represented by some tall -grasses.

6. Southem Marginad Forest (SM)

A wedge shaped area from Takoradi to Akuse is classified as Coastal thicket grassland(Taylor, 1952). This forest ecotype is really species poor due to low and emrticprecipitation on shallow soils. The area of 2,60km2 (0.99%) extended as a narrow beltfrom Cape Coast to Akosombo.

There is heavy anthropological activity on the mostly small ftgments of forest on rockyhills. Tree species are caa isticaUly short-statned and include the endemic species(e.g. Sapawsu F.R.)

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Dalbergwa setnferaTurraea ghanensisTalbotiella gentiiAfzelia africanaAntaris toxicariaHymenostegia afteiiHildegardia bargeri and Dialium guineense,-which form monospecific stands.

7. Southeast Outlier Forest (SO)

This forest ecotype is characterised by several understoreys (strata) of plant associations.Occupying just 201an sq. (0.0083%), the ecotype is species rich.Millettia thmmingli (occupies the upper strata)Diospyros abyssinicaDrypetesparvifoliaGrewia egalocarpaCammiphora daizielil

Eugenia coronate and the dominant association Vefiveriafulhibarbis, Fimbristilis.ovata,and Andropogon canaliculams, occupy other positions in a highly structured speciesprofile. Schmitt and Adu-Nsiah (1993) conducted a survey and evaluted the biologicaldiversity which is reproduced elsewhere in this report.

Essentially the short-grass savanna Vetivena fulvibarbis and Brachiaria falcifera form aplant community on the Vertisols of the Plains around the Shai Hills. Although floristicallyvery uniform, the South-east outlier forest has other plant species for its rich fauna. Theinclude the trees Azadirachta (Neem) which is exotic,

i Adansonia dgitata (Baobab)* Combretumfiragras* Lonchocapus serwceus

and the herbs* Eriosema molle* Cassia mimosoides* Indigofera subulata* Polygala guinneensis and Parenaria, and Striga linearifolia.

Due to poor draingage of the Vertisols, water-logging alternate with seasonal drought.The short grass vegetation wnth shrubs/evergreen trees is an assemblage of highconservation value (Hall and Swaine, 1981).

8. Tall-grass Savanna (TDS)

Often referred to as Interior or Guinea savanna, is the largest vegetation single vegetationecotype in the countly. It covers 144,948 km2 and that is 60.77% of the forest estate.

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The vegetation made up of tal grasses interspersed with fire-tolerant trees such as:Butyros permum paradoxumAdansonia digiuata (Baobab)Acacia sps (for fuel wood)Parkia biglobosa (dawa dawa)X tellariaparadoxa (Shea butter)Tectona grandis (exotic Teak)Leucaena leucocephala (fodder)Magnifera indica (Orchard mango)

This is a transitional zone of tall-short Sudan-grass (Schmitt and Adu-Nsiah, 1993),dominated by Isoberlinia doka and Burkea fricana

Throughout the dense populated area between Navrongo and Gambaga, huge areas of thenorthern savanna have been converted to 'Parldand' and Game/Nature reserves due tohuman activities e.g. hunting, fuelwood and biodiversity (shea nuts, baobab, dawa dawaand medicinal plants) collection. Rose Innes (1977) described huge areas of theecosystem as farmed parkiand. After many decades of cultivation, protected trees emergeas donaint features in the park-like landscape. The vegetation stmcture then culminatesin a ground-layer dominated by low annual grasses with shrubs of high biodiversity value(herbs) and an upper storey of the afore-mentioned trees.

9. Short-grass Savanna (SGS)

This border ecotype is sometimes referred to as coastal savanna or gssland. its limiteddistribution over an area of 10,540km sq. (4.42%) and unique formations make it ripe forcurrent biodiversity protectve strategies.Again, Jenik and Hall(1976), and Schmitt and Adu-Nsiah (1993) report that the short-grass savanna is mainly determined by eisting soil types and rainl distnbution. Theentire south-east of the southern marginal and dry semi-deciduous forest zone ischaracterised by low eratic rainfal and soils different from those of the forests and guineasavanna (See section on Soils and Geology backed by Maps/Figure in AppendicesSection).

The gassland barbours floristically and physiog-nomically, a vegetation formaton applydescribed as Sudan-grass savanna. Characteristic grasses are:V-ertiveria fudvibarbis, Brachiarie falcifer. Sedges also form a major plant associationwith Fimbnstyla ovata and Fimbristyla pilosa dominant. A recent field study by Dua(1997) found Isoberlinia doka, Daniella olivieri, and Detarium microcarpum, reported astrees of the Guinea - savanna either completely absent Rare communities of the species arefound in northern Ho - Keta Plains, and also in the Kalakpa Game Production Reserve.

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10. Mangrove Forest (MA)

Mangrove forests which once covered much of Ghana's coastline todav represents onlyabout 1.670km sq. (0.7%) of known and surveyed wetlands. They are found himited to anarrow strip from Cote d'Ivoire to Cape Three Points in Ghana.

The present day declining mangrove ecosystem in Ghana (IUCN, 1992) have beendescribed in Biodiversity Review. The ecosystem is dominated by Lagunculariaracemosa and Rhyzophora racemosa Avicema mitida occurs on the landward edges. Theremainder and unaccounted for mangroves can be found dotted within estuarine andriverrne ecologcal niches (Dua, 1997) Within the wet and moist evergreen forests thereappear in plant communities of bamboo and Raphia palms. Mangroves are extensivelyused as fuelwood, building materials, and for charcoal production local entrepreneurs andfarmers were found in some southern ecologies constructing and harvesting Crabs andPrawns from pens in mangrove Swamps (Dua, 1997).

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Appendic 2: Scoing of Crittria for Indlidual IECs

:Imate 2 2 3 I, .-I -LOU'Airquaitv 2 4 3 1 3 2 !5-MODERATEHvdrolor 2 1 4 2 3 1 13 -MODERATE%wer 2 2 4 2 3 1 14- MODERATEqualF ._ soils 2 2 4 3 1 2 14 -MIODERATEFlora 1 2 2 4 3 2 3 16 -MODERATEFlon2 3 4 4 1 1 2 15 -MODERATEFamIal' 3 5 _ . X 4 2 3 2 19-HIGHFam 2' 3 2 6 3 2 3 19 - HIGHRam nd 4 4 6 3 3 1eniapred 21- XERY HIGH

BbdWverstt 3 4 6 2 1 3 19 -HIGHTradiona 3 3 S 2 1 2 16 -MODERATE

Jobsend 4 4 6 3 3 3 23 -VERY KIGIIpoyerh ______ _____________ ________

NTFP 2 4 _ 3 3 1S - HIGHAestbeftis 1 2 3 3 1 1 11 -LOWMirrat 3 2 3 1 1 11- LOWL1d me 2 3 3 1 1 1 11 -LOWGender 3 4 4 3 1 I 16 -MODERATE

Fueiwood 3 3 4 3 3 1 I5-MODERATE

Flora J: flo affdE4 bvyharsting opun_ios

Flora 2: floa affeced by planhm cablishamn

Fauna 1: faa afeted by havesjg opuatim

Fauna 2: fama afefaud by platimx _Ahxnm1

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MINISTRY OF LANDS AND FORESTRY.. ..... , ..x s A. ..

~~~~~~~~~. .. ..._.. .....

The Ministry of Lands and Forestry wishes to inform the general public,particularly the timber industry, District Assemblies, communities livingaround forest reserves and areas of reserve granted under timberharvesting leases that it intends carrying out a project to be known as theNatural Resources Management Project. The primary objective of thisproject is to establish the institutional and operational framework tomanage forest and wildlife resources effectively so as to maintain asustainable flow of economic and ecological benefits with increasedprivate sector and local community involvement.

In pursuance fo this objective, a public consultation on the EnvironmentalImpact Assessment (EIA) of the project will be held at 8.30 a.m. onTuesday, September 30, 1997, at the City Hotel, Kumasi.

All interested Ministries, Departments/Agencies, Donor Agencies, NGOs,,interest groups and other stakeholders are invited to participate in thepublic consultation so as to air their complaintslobjections (if any) andaddress issues of concem to them.

Meanwhile, the EIA document is available at Room 24 of the Ministry ofLands and Forestry (PPMED Office Extension), Ministries, Accra, andinterested persons may, prior to September 30, call between the hous of9.00 am. and 4.00 p.m. on any working day to obtain copies for study andcomments. All other enquiries may be directed to the Office of theTechnical Director, Telephone 665421 Ext 2031242 during the sametime for any attention required.

Members from the private industry, District Assemblies/forest fringecommunities, intemational donors, and environmental NGO's areparticularly encouraged to attend.

facsimile of announcement in Daily Graphic, Tuesday, Sept 18, 1997.