edward d. wiafe and albert allotey department of environment and natural resources management,...
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ANALYSIS OF FOREST CANOPY CHANGE AFTER LOGGING IN A
RAINFOREST OF GHANA
Edward D. Wiafe and Albert AlloteyDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources Management,
Presbyterian University College, P. O. Box 393, Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana. [email protected]
2012 IUFRO-FORNESSA REGIONAL CONGRESS25-29TH JUNE 2012, NAIROBI
Contents
Background Study area Methods Results Conclusions
Introduction
The object of forest management has been observed to influence forest canopy dynamics
The Kakum Conservation Area, a
360km2 contiguous rainforest of Ghana suffered logging from 1936 to 1989
In 1990, the management was changed from timber production to conservation of biodiversity
Objectives
To evaluate the dynamics of canopy recovery of rain forest after logging
The specific objectives were: to investigate the effect of change of
object of management on forest canopy coverage
to evaluate the magnitude of forest canopy recovery after logging
Study area
Kakum Conservation Area
Kakum Conservation Area (KCA) It is a contiguous forest
that lies between longitude 1°51’W and
1°30’W and latitude 5°20’N and 5°40’N
210km2 Kakum National Park
150 km2 Assin Attandanso Resource Reserve
Kakum Conservation Area (KCA) Legally gazetted as a
national park and resource reserve respectively in 1991
Under the Wildlife Reserves Regulations L.I 710
As amended by L.I 1525 Under the administrative
jurisdiction of the Wildlife Division of the forestry commission
Kakum Conservation Area (KCA)
The area was initially placed under timber production by the Forestry Department until 1989
Before 1936 (Prior to timber exploitation) : the reserve was more or less a virgin
forest There was no evidence that farming
might have taken place in the reserve for any considerable length of time (Paijmans and Jack, 1960)
Kakum Conservation Area (KCA)
1936 -1950: Timber exploitation with mahogany (Khaya ivorensis) being the principal species logged
1950 -1989: Other timber species were included for exploitation
1990: The management was transferred to the Wildlife Division
Kakum Conservation Area (KCA) The conservation area has gone
through a long period of disturbances as a result of commercial hunting subsistence hunting gathering of non-wood forest products timber logging
About 52 communities are scattered around the conservation area
Timber exploitation map
1971-1996
1988-20931988-2093
1969-1994
1986-1996
1986-1996
Concession owners and Area of Occupation before KCA
Concessionaire Area (km²) Period of Lease Name of reserve
S.K. Owusu Timbers 36.06 1/11/1971-31/12/1996 Kakum
Pan Sawmills Ltd. 60.32 24/8/1959-23/8/2004 Kakum
Takoradi Veneer and
Lumber Co.
109.43 21/8/1988-20/9/2093 Kakum
Prime-wood Product Ltd 134. 62 1/7/1969-30/6/1994 Assin Attandanso
Gabrah Brothers Ent. Ltd 6.86 1/2/1986-31/1/1996 Assin Attandanso
R. T. Brisco/T. V. L. C 12.22 20/9/1948-19/9/1988 Assin Attandanso
Conservation period
Method Satellite images of Landsat Thematic
Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) for 1986 and 2002 to represent The vegetation structure for the logging
period and Conservation period respectively
These scenes were processed using IDRISI Kilimanjaro software
1986 : Timber operation periodTotal canopy coverage 295.84km2
80.55%
18.42% 1.03%
opened canopy area
closed canopy area
farm coverage area
2002: Conservation period Total canopy coverage: 302.92km2
58.44%
37.43% 4.13%
opened canopy area
closed canopy area
farm coverage area
Change in canopy coverage
opened canopy coverage
farm coverage area
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
exploitation period
conservation period
80.55
18.42
1.03
58.44
37.43
4.13
Conclusion
The reduction of opened canopy and increase in closed canopy area could be attributed to the change of selective timber logging to wildlife conservation area
The farming areas at the peripheries has increased probably because: many timber workers engaging in farming
activities the illegal farmers that were driven out of
the forest Immigration
Recommendations
Forest reserves, undergoing convalescence must be managed from the conservation approach
A large proportion of the plants and animals in tropical forests should be protected through the establishment of conservation areas
References
Paijmans, K., and Jack W. H. (1960). Greater Kakum forest reserves. A working plan presented to the Forestry Department, Ghana. Accra, Forestry Department.
Aknowledgement
I am grateful to the following organizations: IUFRO-SPDC FORNESSA Presbyterian University College, Ghana
Thank youAsante sana