Forest Regulatory Frameworks and Outcomes: An Assessment of Flegt and Timber Exploitation Activities in Ghana

Gordon Kofi Sarfo-Adu

doi:10.7176/jrdm/73-03

Abstract

The EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan in 2003 was aimed at addressing illegal logging and to check the trade of illegal timber products in global markets to ultimately control deforestation and forest loss. Ghana was among the first timber exporting countries to ratify the VPA in the year 2007. This study set out to examine how the ratification and enforcement of the VPA protocols has influenced forest governance and timber harvesting activities in Ghana. In other words, to what extent has the enforcement of FLEGT VPA protocols in Ghana contributed to forest governance and illegal timber trading activities in Ghana? The qualitative case study design was employed to gather data from purposively selected respondents. The study established that VPA implementation has reduced the incentives to engage in illegal logging because the control mechanisms put in place will easily detect illegality tendency of prosecution will be high and the tendency of not meeting international market standards are also high. It emerged the VPA helps check the rots in timber trade and exploitation through its multi-stage transparency and accountability systems which blows those covers with tendency to fuel illicit timber trading activities. The study proposes two clear measures which could help prevent, detect and deter people from such illegal timber trade. Keywords: Forest governance, timber exploitation; timber trade; illegal logging; FLEGT DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/73-03 Publication date: February 28 th 2021

Highlights

Forest resources have many uses and different stakeholders attach specific utility to these resources; some stakeholders put a demand on the resources for their socio-economic livelihoods
5.1 Conclusions and policy implications The paper has explored the implementation of the Voluntary Partnership Agreements (VPAs) and its implications on timber exploitation and trade
The study has established that VPA implementation is helping to control illegal logging in the forestry sector of Ghana

Summary

Introduction

Forest resources have many uses and different stakeholders attach specific utility to these resources; some stakeholders put a demand on the resources for their socio-economic livelihoods. The notion of forest governance entails all formal and informal structures as well as the processes, norms, principles for controlling and planning in the forest sector, their use and their preservation (Giessen & Buttoud, 2014). It includes the interactions between public and private actors as well as consequences of these interactions on forests (ibid). The notion of illegality in forest governance refers to cutting of forest trees by adopting procedures and activities that are inconsistent with the national laws (Smith, 2002). Illegality in forest governance which takes any of the three forms above mostly have negative ramifications on sustainability of species which has socio-economic and environmental consequences. The literature avers that the livelihoods of forest fringe communities are mostly negatively affected and destroyed in numerous ways (Solomon & et al, 2015) whilst it inadvertently has high cost due revenue losses to the state (Forest Governance Integrity Program, 2011; World Bank, 2002)

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Discussion

Conclusion