Edward D. Wiafe and Albert Allotey ANALYSIS OF FOREST CANOPY CHANGE AFTER LOGGING IN A RAINFOREST OF GHANA Edward D. Wiafe and Albert Allotey Department of Environment and Natural Resources Management, Presbyterian University College, P. O. Box 393, Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana. edward.wiafe@presbyuniversity.edu.gh 2012 IUFRO-FORNESSA REGIONAL CONGRESS 25-29TH 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 1986-1996 1969-1994 1988-2093 1988-2093 1986-1996 1971-1996

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 Takoradi Veneer and Lumber Co. 109.43 21/8/1988-20/9/2093 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 R. T. Brisco/T. V. L. C 12.22 20/9/1948-19/9/1988

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 period Total canopy coverage 295.84km2

2002: Conservation period Total canopy coverage: 302.92km2  

Change in canopy coverage Opened forest reduced in 22.11% Closed forest increased in 19.01% Farm areas increased in 3.10%

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 you Asante sana