The Ghanaian Timber Environment |
| Pressures
and Responsibilities
|
The
tropical forested zone of Ghana has to meet many
demands. Ghanaians in the more southern parts of
Ghana and in its urban areas remain heavily dependent
on natural forest for fruit, green food, meat, building
materials, raw material for household goods, timber,
fuelwood, charcoal and water.
The significant annual increases in population put
more pressure on the land and on natural resources,
whether it be areas for more farming or incursions
for more forest products. On top of this is the need to maintain or improve
earnings from the export of wood products based on
sustainable harvesting and management.
Responsibilities lie not only with the Ministry of
Science & Environment and the
Ministry of Lands & Forestry but with District
Assemblies, local chiefs and communities, and with
those elements
of industry and trade connected with natural resources.
Ghana has its own network of NGOs (non governmental
organisations) concerned about various aspects of
environmental conservation and having international
links with environmental groups around the world.
The Ghana Forestry Commission has the special responsibility
for evolving approaches to forests which will preserve
their values. There are two departments within the
Forestry Commission which are totally committed to
this task: the Forest Services Division and the Wildlife
Division.
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