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A timber truck fully loaded with logs drives over a very simple wooden bridge in a forest.
© Thünen-Institut
A timber truck fully loaded with logs drives over a very simple wooden bridge in a forest.
Institute of

WF Forestry

Project

Sustainable Buffer Zone Management of Forests in Ghana

Lead Institute WF Institute of Forestry

Improvement of the life bases in rural Ghana by Sustainable Buffer Zone Management

More than 13 million hectares of tropical forests are destroyed every year. In Ghana we analyse approaches for a sustainable utilization of remaining natural forests. We deliberately involve the local population on one hand for the protection of the forests, on the other hand to provide sources of income for the people.

Background and Objective

Since the UN Conference on Environment and Development held in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 the international community of states is seeking for appropriate policy instruments for forest protection worldwide. This results in a need for advice of policy makers which we want to achieve on a scientific basis.

Approach

We elaborate and test adjusted land-use concepts for a buffer zone between agricultural land with prevailing shifting cultivation practice and forests. By the mean of the buffer zones the forests shall be protected from invading fires.

Data and Methods

For our analyses we assessed the socio-economic context of the local population. Thus we learn about the interests of the farmers and we can consider their interest adequately in the buffer zone concept. We want to convince farmers to produce their staple crops in combination with high yielding fruit trees and to avoid slash and burn. A key role is played by seriously dedicated farmers who act as multipliers for the extension of the practice.

Results

The new concept has been adopted by a great number of farmers which is still increasing. We were successful to establish an agroforestry system with genetically improved fruit trees in combination with staple crops which completely avoids fire and in this way protects trees in the buffer zone and neighboring forests. The fruit trees produce valuable products even in a young age which are sold and so contribute to household income. In other parts of the buffer zone we could organize wild collections of a fruit which is used for cosmetic production. After we succeeded in improving the process techniques the product became marketable. Also by this means new income sources could be generated. 

Further results:

Numerous publications, Diploma thesis, Master thesis.

Thünen-Contact

PD Dr. Sven Günter

Telephone
+49 40 739 62 333
sven.guenter@thuenen.de
WF Institute of Forestry

Alumni

Involved external Thünen-Partners

  • Universität Hamburg
    (Hamburg, Deutschland)
  • Dupaul Wood Treatment
    (Takoradi, Ghana)
  • Stiftung Walderhaltung in Afrika
    (Hamburg, Deutschland)

Duration

1.2005 - 9.2013

More Information

Project status: finished

List of Publications

  1. 0

    Schröder J-M (2015) The integrated management of buffer zones contributes to the survival of tropical forests in Ghana. In: Assessing the relevance of countries and their capacities for reporting forests under UNFCCC post 2020 : [paper for] XIV World Forestry Congress, Durban, South Africa, 7-11 September 2015. p 8

  2. 1

    Schröder J-M (2014) Case study - Ghana: Buffer zones contribute to the survival of tropical forests. In: Approaches for the improvement of the economic sustainability of natural forest management in the tropics – including REDD+ mechanism. Berlin: Rhombos-Verl, pp 217-222

    https://literatur.thuenen.de/digbib_extern/dn054645.pdf

  3. 2

    Poppenborg P, Schröder J-M, Appuhn M (2012) Evaluating the economic potential of tree-based land uses to alleviate rural poverty in the Ashanti region, Ghana. Forests Trees Livelihoods 21(3):207-220, DOI:10.1080/14728028.2012.732823

  4. 3

    Schröder J-M, Oke DO, Onyekwelu JC, Yirdaw E (2010) Secondary forests in West Africa: a challenge and opportunity for management. IUFRO World Ser 25:335-353

  5. 4

    Poppenborg P, Ackermann I, Appuhn M, Schröder J-M (2008) Evaluating the economics of an improved Taungya System with Teak in the Ashanti region in Ghana. In: Asch F, Becker M (eds) Competition for resources in a changing world : new drive for rural development ; Tropentag 2008. [October 7 - 9, 2008, University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart. Göttingen: Cuvillier

  6. 5

    Struwe J, Ackermann I, Glauner R, Schröder J-M (2006) Improving the livelihood of the rural population in the Ashanti region in Ghana through the implementation of an improved Taungya system with Teak and Albizia. In: Prosperity and poverty in a globalised world - challenges for agricultural research : book of abstracts ; University of Bonn, October, 11 - 13, 2006 / Tropentag 2006. Bonn: Univ, p 224

  7. 6

    Schröder J-M, Appuhn M, Glauner R, Ackermann I (2004) Improving the livelihood of the rural population in the Ashanti region in Ghana through the production of Grasscutter (Thryonomys swinderianus) meat. In: Tielkes E, Hülsebusch C (eds) Tropentag 2005 : The Global Food & Product Chain - Dynamics, Innovations, Conflicts, Strategies ; book of abstracts ; University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, October 11-13, 2005. Hohenheim: Univ, Tropenzentrum, p 508

  8. 7

    Ackermann I, Appuhn M, Glauner R, Schröder J-M (2004) Protection of timber resources by the introduction of income generating measures - an approach in Ghana. In: Tielkes E, Hülsebusch C (eds) Tropentag 2005 : The Global Food & Product Chain - Dynamics, Innovations, Conflicts, Strategies ; book of abstracts ; University of Hohenheim, Stuttgart, October 11-13, 2005. Hohenheim: Univ, Tropenzentrum, p 360

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