Edward D. Wiafe and Albert Allotey

Department of Environment and Natural Resources Management, Presbyterian University College, P. O. Box 393, Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana. [email protected]

2012 IUFRO-FORNESSA REGIONAL CONGRESS 25-29 TH JUNE 2012, NAIROBI

     Background Study area Methods Results Conclusions

 The object of forest management has been observed to influence forest canopy dynamics  The Kakum Conservation Area, a 360km 2 contiguous rainforest of Ghana suffered logging from 1936 to 1989  In 1990, the management was changed from timber production to conservation of biodiversity

 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



 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   210km 2 Kakum National Park 150 km 2 Assin Attandanso Resource Reserve

    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

 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)

   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

 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

1969-1994 1986-1996 1988-2093 1988-2093

Concessionaire S.K. Owusu Timbers Area (km²) 36.06

Pan Sawmills Ltd.

Takoradi Veneer and 60.32

109.43

Lumber Co.

Prime-wood Product Ltd 134. 62 Gabrah Brothers Ent. Ltd 6.86

R. T. Brisco/T. V. L. C 12.22

Period of Lease Name of reserve 1/11/1971-31/12/1996 Kakum 24/8/1959-23/8/2004 Kakum 21/8/1988-20/9/2093 Kakum 1/7/1969-30/6/1994 Assin Attandanso 1/2/1986-31/1/1996 Assin Attandanso 20/9/1948-19/9/1988 Assin Attandanso

 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

18.42% 1.03% opened canopy area closed canopy area farm coverage area 80.55%

37.43% 4.13% 58.44% opened canopy area closed canopy area farm coverage area

100 80 60 40 20 0

80,55 58,44 37,43

opened canopy coverage

18,42 4,13 1,03

closed canopy coverage farm coverage area conservation period exploitation period

  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

  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

 Paijmans, K., and Jack W. H. (1960). Greater Kakum forest reserves. A working plan presented to the Forestry Department, Ghana. Accra, Forestry Department.

 I am grateful to the following organizations:  IUFRO-SPDC  FORNESSA  Presbyterian University College, Ghana