Conservation or deforestation: Households attitudinal analysis of forest resources for sustainable development of the Tain (II) Forest Reserve, Ghana

Abstract

Forest conservation has recently become a global necessity, capturing considerable attention from scholars and policymakers. However, rampant deforestation remains a significant catalyst for the recent exacerbated climatic repercussions in forest regions. This study examined the perspectives regarding forest conservation and assessed their relationship with household income conditions in Ghana. Primary data were gleaned from two hundred fifty households within five communities around Ghana's Tain (II) forest reserve using a participatory rural assessment approach and interviews with structured questionnaires. The survey considered (i) socio-demographic drivers, (ii) basic family information, and (iii) forest conservation characteristics as hypothetical incentives to promote forest conservation and poverty alleviation. The findings revealed varied perspectives on conservational attitudes in the forest fringe communities. Marital status, education, employment, home size, and other factors influenced opinions in forest conversations. The study suggested the need for tailored ecological compensation and agroforestry practices to reduce deforestation in the Tain (II) Forest reserve area.