Anthropogenic and Institutional Determinants of Forest Resource Degradation in the Savanna Ecological Zone of Northern Ghana

Abstract

This study has been conducted to assess the major factors that impede the sustainable exploitation and conservation of forest resource in the savanna ecological zone of Ghana. Semi-structured interviews were used to elicit information from the officials and forest guards of the Forestry Commissions (FC) in three government administrative districts in Northern Ghana, while structured questionnaires were used to obtain data from a sample of respondents who were identified by the officials of the Forestry Commissions as being the main categories of people involved in forest resource exploitation in the study area, i.e., firewood harvesters, charcoal burners, plant therapists and farmers. The Results showed that poverty, insatiable demand for agricultural land, unsustainable method of exploiting forest resource, weak enforcement of institutional and policy framework within the forestry departments and agencies were the main factors affecting forest resource conservation in the area. Other factors included the lack of public awareness and knowledge of issues relating to forestry and forestry laws, failure of existing development˗oriented policies to address the issue of poverty, little coordination between the activities of the various institutions involved in forest resource conservation in the area. In addition, the lack of a sustainable energy policy and the inadequate promotion of intensive livestock production policy were seen to be other contributory factors militating against forest resource conservation in the region. Intervention strategies towards ensuring forest resource sustainable use and conservation in the region should therefore revolve around these factors.