TITLE:
Forest Fringe Communities Participation in Forest Reserve Sustainability in Ghana
AUTHORS:
Charles Adusei, Jasper Yao Dunyah
KEYWORDS:
Forest Reserves, Sustainability, Forest Fringe Communities, Ghana
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Forestry,
Vol.6 No.2,
February
24,
2016
ABSTRACT: The paper investigated the forest fringe community’s participation in
forest reserve sustainability in Ghana using Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana as a
case study. The key issues examined are the forest reserve management
strategies, stakeholder’s participation and livelihood activities of forest
fringe communities. Two stage sampling technique was used to sample forty-two
respondents for the study. A structured questionnaire in an interview form was
used to solicit information from the respondents. Descriptive statistics was
used to analyse the data. The results of the study indicate that there is a
management plan for the forest reserve but Forest Services Division (FSD) does
not follow its prescriptions strictly, the involvement of Forest Fringe
Communities (FFCs) by FSD in the management of the forest reserve was
insignificant and evidence of FSD not establishing income generating activity
for FFCs livelihood sustenance. It is therefore recommended that community members should be
empowered to play the role of co-managers of the forest reserve and there should be regular visit and
interaction between FSD and the FFCs.