Resource information
The overall aim of the present Forest and Wildlife Policy is the conservation and sustainable development of forest and wildlife resources for the maintenance of environmental stability and continuous flow of optimum benefits from the socio-cultural and economic goods and services that the forest environment provides to the present and future generations whilst fulfilling Ghana’s commitments under international agreements and conventions. Its specific objectives are as follows: 1) to manage and enhance the ecological integrity of Ghana’s forest, savannah, wetlands and other ecosystems for the preservation of vital soil and water resources, conservation of biological diversity, and enhancing carbon stocks for sustainable production of domestic and commercial produce; 2) to promote the rehabilitation and restoration of degraded landscapes through forest plantation development, enrichment planting, and community forestry informed by appropriate land-use practices to enhance environmental quality and sustain the supply of raw materials for domestic and industrial consumption and for environmental protection; 3) to promote the development of viable forest and wildlife based industries and livelihoods, particularly in the value added processing of forest and wildlife resources that satisfy domestic and international demand for competitively-priced quality products; 4) to promote and develop mechanisms for transparent governance, equity sharing and citizens’ participation in forest and wildliferesource management; 5) Promoting training, research and technology development that supports sustainable forest management.The guiding principles of the Policy therefore incorporate the following: 1) Maintaining the ecological integrity of the forest and savannah ecosystems; 2) Employing multi-sectoral approaches to planning and management of forest and wildlife resources; 3) Recognizing multi-stakeholder interests in forests and wildlife and forging a common vision to protect, manage and use the resources; 4) Encouraging collaborative resource management among communities, government and other stakeholders; 5) Ensuring the capture of the contribution of the forest and wildlife sector in national development thereby integrating forest and wildlife issues into national development policies and programmes; 6) Integrating traditional and scientific knowledge to promote sustainable forest management; 7) Increasing forest and tree cover through natural regeneration, afforestation and reforestation; 8) Promoting value addition of timber and non-timber forest resources; 9) Mainstreaming relevant international agreement and conventions into planning and management in the forestry sector; 10) Deepening decentralization of forest administrative functions; 11) Promoting public-private sector partnerships and investment in forestry sector; 12) Promoting capacity development for stakeholders in the forestry and wildlife sector; 13) Mainstreaming gender and vulnerability issues into forestry development planning and management; 14) Promoting transboundary, regional and international cooperation in forestry and wildlife management; 15) Promoting good governance in the forestry and wildlife sector; 16) Securing sustainable funding for the forestry and wildlife sector.Part 2.1.1 establishes that the National Forest Plantation Development Programme (NFPDP) aims at restoring Ghana’s lost vegetation, creating massive employment for the youth, increasing food production including agricultural productivity and reducing the pressure on natural forests, which is not capable of meeting the increasing demands to satisfy both domestic and export markets for wood.With a view to the implementation of this Policy the government will: 1) Institute an annual forestry forum where all stakeholders will meet to review actions and plan programmes; 2) Decentralize forestry governance system to local levels to ensure transparency, accountability and equity and to define the roles of Traditional Authorities, local government (District Assemblies), NGOs, Community Based Organizations (CBOs) inforest and wildlife management; 3) Enact specific legal provisions governing the establishment and management of Protected Areas; integrate forest law into Judicial and Law enforcement training programmes and clarify and consolidate forest related laws and regulations into Forest Law. The Government shall also develop forestry financial mechanisms towards the achievement of more secure, predictable funding sources for the sector.The text of the Policy consists of 6 Parts as follows: Preamble (1); Overview of Forest and Wildlife Sector (2); The Policy Framework (3); The Forest and Wildlife Policy Statement (4); Policy Strategies (5); Supporting the implementation of the Forest and Wildlife Policy Objectives and Programmes (6).
Implemented by: Forestry Development Master Plan 1996 – 2020. (1996)
