Ghana

Ghana Background Profile

Ghana’s diverse ecosystems are represented by protected areas systems, which include a southern High Forest Zone (HFZ) with wet and moist evergreen and semi-deciduous forests, and a drier northern savanna zone. National parks and other protected areas cover 5.7 percent of Ghana’s territory, and forest reserves cover 11.6 percent of the nation. 80% of Ghana’s intact tropical moist forest, covering an estimated 1.8 million hectares, lies within forest reserves. These reserves contain some of the richest biodiversity in Ghana, but are assigned for timber production. If managed effectively, these forests could maintain their biodiversity values including viable populations of large forest-dwelling species, such as elephants, bongos, and primates; some of which are rare, threatened or endangered.

HCV National Interpretation

A national HCVF toolkit has been developed for use by forest managers and natural resources management specialists. The toolkit was developed through a combination of a multi-stakeholder consultative process, organized by WWF West Africa Regional Programme Office and ProForest, and an interpretation of the six categories of HCVs in the Ghanaian context by a technical expert group.

The Toolkit provides practical guidance for forest managers to identify, assess and manage HCVs in their forest concessions, as well as valuable information sources to assist management decisions.

The Toolkit also complements international biodiversity initiatives, referring to the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan developed for Ghana (CBD), as part of a management prescription for each potential HCVF. It also integrates national protected areas systems and strategies including strategic plans for the management of Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas, Sacred Groves, Hill Sanctuaries and watershed reserves. Further, the toolkit incorporates practical strategies from NGO country initiatives, such as the implementation of Biodiversity Hotspot, Eco-region and IBA concepts in Ghana.

This national interpretation was completed in May 2006: “An Interpretation of Global HCVF Toolkit for use in Ghana”, May 2006, Prepared By: Tim Rayden, Ishmael Jesse-Dodoo, Andhers Lindhe and Abraham Baffoe (available from the link to National HCV Iterpretations in the Network's Resource centre)

For further information, contact Abraham Baffoe at WWF-WARPO.

Examples of National High Conservation Values

HCV1: The national interpretation considered the following protected area designations as HCVF: National Parks, Resource Reserves, Global Protection Reserves, Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas, Hill Sanctuaries, Provenance Protection Areas, and Wildlife Sanctuaries.

A number of mammal and bird species are classified as being on the IUCN list of threatened fauna, including a number of primate species, antelope, and several globally threatened bird species.

HCV2: The Ghana workshop adopted the approach, consistent with several other HCV interpretation processes, that 50 000 hectares may be used as a shorthand ‘generic’ size threshold in the absence of more detailed information. As a result, areas representing this specific HCV were not considered to be present.

HCV4: Examples of HCV4 are provided by forest on steep slopes, hill sanctuaries and areas protecting heading waters e.g. Afram Headwaters FR.

How has the HCV concept been used?

Use in forest certification and forest management: Ghana’s national forest certification standards are being currently reviewed to include HCV requirements
Use in planning conversion to both forest plantations and agriculture: Not yet, although this is being discussed among conservation practitioners and the national forest certification working group.
Use in landscape planning at a larger (district or regional level): Not yet, although this is being discussed among conservation practitioners and the national forest certification working group
Any use for ecosystems other than forests: No

Future plans, directions and challenges

There are plans to field test the national toolkit as part of HCVF identification and assessment capacity programme. The field test will involve timber companies (who are members of the GFTN) as well as identified local practitioners. This is expected to take place in third quarter of 2007.

Ghana Briefing last modified 27 March 2007: prepared by Ishmael Jesse-Dodoo