Albert Ahenkan

Non-timber forest products in Bardiya district of Nepal: indigenous use, trade and conservation.

Abstract This article scopes the status and potential of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) in community forests and the national forest of Bardiya district in western Nepal. The human ecological approach, participatory rural appraisal, focus group discussions and interviews were used to gather data and information for analysis. The results of the data analysis indicate that the area harbours a high diversity of potential NTFPs. Altogether, 101 species and their traditional uses were recorded. The NTFP species are clustered into first, second, third and fourth categories on the basis of their market value and resource availability. Despite a gradual but systematic socio-cultural transformation of the local communities, they still possess ample knowledge of plants and their uses. It is observed that the proper management of the NTFPs could play a vital role in the improvement of people’s livelihood on a sustainable basis.

The impacts of dams on local livelihoods: a study of the Bui Hydroelectric Project in Ghana

The construction of the Bui Dam was expected to boost socio-economic development in Ghana. This article examines the impacts of the project on the livelihoods of the local people. Data were collected using a mixed-research approach and a case-study design. The study finds that, while there have been significant improvements with respect to resettlement and compensation issues as compared to the earlier dam projects in Ghana, there are still some shortfalls. It is recommended that agriculture be improved by providing extension services and inputs to improve food security and the economic status of the local people.

Assessing Climate Change Impacts on Ecosystem Services and Livelihoods in Ghana: Case Study of Communities around Sui Forest Reserve

The link between climate change, ecosystem services and livelihood in developing countries has been well established. Tropical forest ecosystems are particularly of great importance to the livelihood of millions of people. Recent decades of escalating climate change impacts on ecological systems and livelihoods worldwide and the vulnerability of forest dependent communities raise concerns about the consequences of ecosystem changes for human well-being. Applying the human ecological approach, this paper examines climate change impacts on ecosystem services and livelihoods of the communities around the Sui River Forest Reserve (SRFR) in the Sefwi Wiawso District in the Western Region of Ghana, the main drivers of the change, the vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies being used by the communities. The results of the study indicate that climate change impacts are decreasing the capability of the SRFR ecosystem to provide essential services to the communities. The principal livelihood sources affected by the climate change impacts are agriculture, forest resources and water resources. To minimize the impacts of climate change, the communities around the reserve have adopted various adaptation and coping strategies to improve agriculture, biodiversity conservation, and water resources management. The paper also suggests strategies that will enable policy-makers to effectively improve ecosystem services and climate change mitigation and adaptation in Ghana.

Non-timber Forest Products (NTFPs): Clearing the Confusion in Semantics

Abstract Though a significant volume of information has been documented on the importance and potential of NTFPs’ utilisation and its impacts on poverty reduction, livelihoods improvement and environmental sustainability, a lot of confusion is still associated with NTFPs semantics and terminologies. NTFPs have proved to be difficult to clearly define because of the blurred boundaries between timber and non-timber products and the underlying difficulty in defining a forest. The overabundance of terminologies relating to a single term having a range of interpretations, and none of which is universally recognised is at the heart of the NTFPs semantic confusion. Consequently, the meaning of “NTFPs” has generated a lot of controversy. In other words, there is no universally accepted operational definition of NTFPs. Various definitions proposed in literature tend to expound on specific species, aspects and products according to different authors’ focal interests. The increasing realisation of the importance of all forest resources makes the dichotomisation of forest resources into “timber” and “non-timber” overly simplistic. The lack of a common definition, terminologies as well as the multiplicity of interest, constitutes a real hindrance to research on and development of NTFPs. Through an extensive and critical review of literature and consultations with experts, this paper examines the semantics and the difficulties in defining NTFPs, the ensuing confusion and the consequences for research, and development and promotion of these products.

Assessing the Impact of Forest Policies and Strategies on Promoting the Development of Non-Timber Forest Products in Ghana

Abstract Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) farming is emerging globally as an important tool for establishing sustainable forest communities and supporting forest-based livelihoods. NTFPs are of great importance to millions of people whose livelihoods largely depend on them. Increasingly, forest policies of many countries are being revised to reflect the potential of NTFPs in achieving rural development and poverty alleviation. In Ghana, various forest policies have been formulated and implemented for developing a national forest estate and timber industry. However, most of the forest policies have failed to address the role of NTFPs in achieving poverty reduction in the country. Forest policies continue to remain a major hurdle to the growth and development of NTFP in Ghana.Through an exhaustive literature review, interviews conducted on various forest development stakeholders, forestry experts and forest dependent communities, this paper uses sustainability frameworks to critically evaluate Ghana’s forestry policies and their impacts on NTFPs utilisation and management in Ghana. The 1994 Forest and Wildlife Policy (FWP-94) and its implementation process from 1995 to 2008 were analyzed with regard to the development of NTFPs and a number of challenges facing this sub-sector identified. The results revealed that the lack of definite policy on NTFPs has impacted negatively on their promotion and development in the country. Until recently, most of the policy initiatives were aimed at forest conservation and timber production; the livelihood opportunities of NTFPs for local communities were ignored. The paper also urges government of Ghana to effectively place development and promotion of NTFPs farming as core element of the country’s forestry policy-making process and national development agenda.

Is sustainable development achievable in Ghana? An analysis of Ghana’s development policy achievements and challenges

Since the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment in 1972 and the subsequent publication of the Brundtland report in 1987, Ghana has embarked upon the path of sustainable development (SD) through the development and implementation of policies deemed necessary to safeguard the environment and promote socio-economic development. Despite this commitment, the country is still characterised by poor environmental and human health, poverty, poor sanitation, low access to potable drinking water, energy, and high population growth. This paper uses sustainability frameworks to investigate the achievability of SD in Ghana. The key policies related to SD issues such as the environment, poverty reduction, health, water and sanitation, energy and population growth are analysed and the main achievements and challenges identified. The paper asserts that SD of Ghana could be a passing fad if issues confronting the country’s sustainability are not addressed. The paper provides policy recommendations and strategies that will enable policy-makers to effectively tackle the SD challenges in the country.

Stakeholder participation in community development projects: an analysis of the quadripartite model of the International Centre for Enterprise and Sustainable Development (ICED) in Ghana

The increasing importance of stakeholders in project design, implementation, and evaluation requires mechanisms to ensure their effective participation to enhance project success. As a national non-governmental organisation (NGO) engaged in the design and implementation of community development projects, International Centre for Enterprise and Sustainable Development (ICED) adopts a quadripartite project participation model (QPPM) that facilitates the participation of project stakeholders. This article analyzes the model and its implication for managing community development projects in Ghana. The article adopts an action research strategy relying on the experiential knowledge of the authors in the application of the model. The results of the analysis indicate that although stakeholder participation in community development projects can be very challenging, the application of the model reduces the tensions that often characterize stakeholder participation. The model helps to spread project responsibilities, obligations, and rights equitably amongst project stakeholders.

Too weak to lead: motivation, agenda setting and constraints of local government to implement decentralized climate change adaptation policy in Ghana

Local governments in developing countries are christened as proadaptation agents. However, global research effort has virtually ignored inherent adaptation policy implementation nuances in developing countries, ostensibly assuming that narratives from existing policy implementation literature could fill the void. Drawing on qualitative data from six LGs from Ghana, this paper examines the motivation, agenda setting processes and teething challenges constricting the implementation of decentralized climate change adaptation governance in Ghana. Though adherents of decentralization argue that local governments are more likely to conceive and implement proadaptation-related interventions, evidence from Ghana provides fascinating lessons. This paper shows that local governments’ ability to mainstream adaptation-related actions into local governance is constricted by taxonomy of local political economy issues and the “science-heaviness” of climate change. It concludes that local government are unlikely to be a fulcrum of adaptation governance as touted if reasonable efforts are not made at strengthening and broadening its resource basket.

Local economic development in Ghana: From the ‘lost decades’ to a policy ‘maturing’ stage

ABSTRACT Analysis and studies of local economic development (LED) tend to be under the rubric of case studies to the neglect of their historical context and the role of international development agencies. This article attempts to fill this gap by focusing on the experiences of Ghana. Adopting a systematic review of the policy documents and existing literature, it was found that, despite its significance, LED was not the priority of the governments of pre and post immediate independence era. In the fourth republic of Ghana, LED gained prominence in the various policy documents but this appears to be rhetoric and camouflage because they have not seen real implementation. However, international development agencies have played a significant role in initiating, funding and implementing specific LED activities in the various districts in Ghana. Overall, LED in Ghana has crawled from the ‘lost decades’ to a policy ‘maturing stage’.

Diffusion of Climate Change Adaptation Policies Among Local Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa: Conceptual Review

Many studies have confirmed the diffusion of climate change adaptation mainstreaming related policies and innovations across local governments (LGs). However, it is not clear under what conditions these policies get transferred, implemented or subsequently abandoned, especially in developing countries where LGs’ capacity to mainstream adaptation barely exist. Based on retrospective literature analysis, this article adduces theoretical and empirical evidence to analyze the factors likely to influence the mainstreaming of adaptation into local governance in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The outcome of the article is expected to help policy practitioners and academics to comprehend the preconditions that enhance or frustrate the adoption of adaptation policy innovations across LGs in SSA where adaptation remains critical developmental concerns. The preponderance of literature suggests that multiple factors, including those, outside the control of LGs affect their capacity and urgency to adopt adaptation policies. The chapter concludes that it is worthwhile to adopt multiple diffusion perfectives that reflect the complex web of factors conspicuously affecting the transfer of climate policy innovations at the micro level to explain the adoption of adaptation policies. The chapter argues that, by doing so, one is able to portray the nature of climate change policy diffusion in local governance in a more sophisticated, comprehensive and logical manner. The chapter therefore makes useful contributions to the emerging field of climate policy and provides useful lessons for practitioners on the factors that influence the adoption of adaptation policies.