ANALYSIS OF FOREST CANOPY CHANGE AFTER LOGGING IN A RAINFOREST OF GHANA

1. 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 ANALYSIS OF FOREST CANOPY CHANGE AFTER LOGGING IN A RAINFOREST OF GHANA

2. Contents • Background • Study area • Methods • Results • Conclusions

3. 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

4. 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

5. Study area • Kakum Conservation Area

6. 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 km2AssinAttandanso Resource Reserve

7. 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

8. 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)

9. Kakum Conservation Area (KCA) • 1936 -1950: Timber exploitation with mahogany (Khayaivorensis) being the principal species logged • 1950 -1989: Other timber species were included for exploitation • 1990: The management was transferred to the Wildlife Division

10. 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

11. Timber exploitation map 1986-1996 1969-1994 1988-2093 1988-2093 1986-1996 1971-1996

12. Concession owners and Area of Occupation before KCA

13. Conservation period

14. 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

15. 1986 : Timber operation periodTotal canopy coverage 295.84km2

16. 2002: Conservation periodTotal canopy coverage: 302.92km2

17. Change in canopy coverage

18. 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

19. 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

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

21. Aknowledgement • I am grateful to the following organizations: • IUFRO-SPDC • FORNESSA • Presbyterian University College, Ghana

22. Thank youAsantesana