Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010

Mercy A. A. Derkyi; Ton Dietz

doi:doi:10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13

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Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010

Mercy A. A. Derkyi, Ton Dietz

Published in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 3, Issue 4)

Received: 14 June 2014 Accepted: 24 June 2014 Published: 20 July 2014

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Abstract

The documented analysis of the forest offences revealed eight forest offence types with prevalent cases being chainsaw milling, illegal logging and illegal farming. Between 2005 and 2010, the district recorded 121 offences with more offences occurring in the on-reserve areas than in the off-reserve areas. The timber species, which was most exploited illegally is Triplochiton scleroxylon (wawa), a scarlet star-rated species, which is under imminent economic threat. Analyses of the official records revealed lapses in record keeping since there are no references to the outcomes of most offences, especially those relating to cases under investigation by the Police and Regional Forest Services Division. A call for capacity development of the frontline staff of the Forest Services Division at the District levels is paramount especially in detecting, collecting, entering and analyzing forest offences cases and outcomes as well as training in forest investigation and incident management. Furthermore, equipping the district offices with the requisite technological equipment like computers and accessories, software and real-time Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers will enhance effective monitoring and data management of forest resources especially when Ghana is committed in ensuring timber legality under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement.

Published in	Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13
Page(s)	224-232
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Forest Offences, Nkawie Forest District, Chainsaw Milling, Illegal Logging, Law Enforcement

References

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[4]	E. Larbi, J. Yankson, E.S. Annag, B.K. Acheampong and F.A. Koomson, Judicial attitude towards forest related offences in the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana. Unpublished LLB thesis, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana. 2011.
[5]	E. Nutakor, E. Marfo and P.O. Tutu, Socio-political constraints to the enforcement of forest laws: A case study of chainsaw operations in Ghana. Ghana J. Forestry 27: 24- 36, 2011.
[6]	K.A. Oduro, V.K. Agyeman andK. Gyan, Implementing timber legality assurance regime in Ghana: A review of stakeholders concerns and current institutional constraints Ghana J. Forestry 27(2):1-10, 2011.
[7]	L.C. Christy, C.E. DiLeva, J.M. Lindsay and P.T. Takoukam, Forest law and sustainable development: Addressing contemporary challenges through legal reform. Law, Justice and Development series. Washington, D.C.: World Bank, 1997, p.206.
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[9]	UNFF-United Nations General Assembly, Resolution adopted by the general assembly on Non-legally binding instrument on all types of forest. Sixty–second session agenda item 54, 2008.
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[11]	Ghana-EU VPA, Annual Report: Implementing the Ghana-EU Voluntary Partnership Agreement, 2011, p.19.
[12]	A. Bryman, Social Research Methods. Oxford University Press. 3rd edition, 2008, p.
[13]	W. D. Hawthorne and M. Abu-Juam, Forest protection in Ghana with particular reference to vegetation and species. Gland, Switzerland, and Cambridge, UK: IUCN, 1995, p.220.
[14]	NFSD Info-sheet on the Nkawie Forest Services Division, 2010 (unpublished).
[15]	Ghana Forestry Commission (undated) http://76.12.220.51/library.php?id=15 (accessed 6 October 2011)
[16]	E. Marfo, Chainsaw milling in Ghana: context, drivers and impacts. Wageningen, the Netherlands: Tropenbos International, 2010, p.80.
[17]	K.S. Amanor, Equity in forest benefit sharing and poverty reduction. In: K.S. Nketiah, J.A.S. Ameyaw and B. Owusu, eds, Equity in forest benefit sharing: Stakeholder Views, pp. 15-23, 2005. Tropenbos International–Ghana (2005). Workshop proceedings 3, October 29, 2004.Wageningen, the Netherlands: Tropenbos International.
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[21]	M.A.A Derkyi, Fighting over forest: interactive governance of conflicts over forest and tree resources in Ghana’s high forest zone. African Studies Collection; issue: 41, Leiden, 2012, p.319.

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APA Style

Mercy A. A. Derkyi, Ton Dietz. (2014). Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 3(4), 224-232. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13

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ACS Style

Mercy A. A. Derkyi; Ton Dietz. Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010. Agric. For. Fish. 2014, 3(4), 224-232. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13

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AMA Style

Mercy A. A. Derkyi, Ton Dietz. Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010. Agric For Fish. 2014;3(4):224-232. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13

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@article{10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13,
  author = {Mercy A. A. Derkyi and Ton Dietz},
  title = {Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010},
  journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {224-232},
  doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20140304.13},
  abstract = {The documented analysis of the forest offences revealed eight forest offence types with prevalent cases being chainsaw milling, illegal logging and illegal farming. Between 2005 and 2010, the district recorded 121 offences with more offences occurring in the on-reserve areas than in the off-reserve areas. The timber species, which was most exploited illegally is Triplochiton scleroxylon (wawa), a scarlet star-rated species, which is under imminent economic threat. Analyses of the official records revealed lapses in record keeping since there are no references to the outcomes of most offences, especially those relating to cases under investigation by the Police and Regional Forest Services Division. A call for capacity development of the frontline staff of the Forest Services Division at the District levels is paramount especially in detecting, collecting, entering and analyzing forest offences cases and outcomes as well as training in forest investigation and incident management. Furthermore, equipping the district offices with the requisite technological equipment like computers and accessories, software and real-time Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers will enhance effective monitoring and data management of forest resources especially when Ghana is committed in ensuring timber legality under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010
AU  - Mercy A. A. Derkyi
AU  - Ton Dietz
Y1  - 2014/07/20
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JO  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
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EP  - 232
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AB  - The documented analysis of the forest offences revealed eight forest offence types with prevalent cases being chainsaw milling, illegal logging and illegal farming. Between 2005 and 2010, the district recorded 121 offences with more offences occurring in the on-reserve areas than in the off-reserve areas. The timber species, which was most exploited illegally is Triplochiton scleroxylon (wawa), a scarlet star-rated species, which is under imminent economic threat. Analyses of the official records revealed lapses in record keeping since there are no references to the outcomes of most offences, especially those relating to cases under investigation by the Police and Regional Forest Services Division. A call for capacity development of the frontline staff of the Forest Services Division at the District levels is paramount especially in detecting, collecting, entering and analyzing forest offences cases and outcomes as well as training in forest investigation and incident management. Furthermore, equipping the district offices with the requisite technological equipment like computers and accessories, software and real-time Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers will enhance effective monitoring and data management of forest resources especially when Ghana is committed in ensuring timber legality under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement.
VL  - 3
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Author Information

Mercy A. A. Derkyi

Department of Forest Science, School of Natural Resources, University of Energy and Natural Resources, P.O. Box 214 Sunyani, Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana
Ton Dietz

African Studies Centre, PO Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, The Netherlands

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Mercy A. A. Derkyi, Ton Dietz. (2014). Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, 3(4), 224-232. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13

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ACS Style

Mercy A. A. Derkyi; Ton Dietz. Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010. Agric. For. Fish. 2014, 3(4), 224-232. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13

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AMA Style

Mercy A. A. Derkyi, Ton Dietz. Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010. Agric For Fish. 2014;3(4):224-232. doi: 10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13,
  author = {Mercy A. A. Derkyi and Ton Dietz},
  title = {Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010},
  journal = {Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {224-232},
  doi = {10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aff.20140304.13},
  abstract = {The documented analysis of the forest offences revealed eight forest offence types with prevalent cases being chainsaw milling, illegal logging and illegal farming. Between 2005 and 2010, the district recorded 121 offences with more offences occurring in the on-reserve areas than in the off-reserve areas. The timber species, which was most exploited illegally is Triplochiton scleroxylon (wawa), a scarlet star-rated species, which is under imminent economic threat. Analyses of the official records revealed lapses in record keeping since there are no references to the outcomes of most offences, especially those relating to cases under investigation by the Police and Regional Forest Services Division. A call for capacity development of the frontline staff of the Forest Services Division at the District levels is paramount especially in detecting, collecting, entering and analyzing forest offences cases and outcomes as well as training in forest investigation and incident management. Furthermore, equipping the district offices with the requisite technological equipment like computers and accessories, software and real-time Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers will enhance effective monitoring and data management of forest resources especially when Ghana is committed in ensuring timber legality under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement.},
 year = {2014}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Forest Offence Types, Trends and Lapses: Case Study of the Nkawie Forest District of Ghana from 2005-2010
AU  - Mercy A. A. Derkyi
AU  - Ton Dietz
Y1  - 2014/07/20
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13
T2  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
JF  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
JO  - Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
SP  - 224
EP  - 232
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5648
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aff.20140304.13
AB  - The documented analysis of the forest offences revealed eight forest offence types with prevalent cases being chainsaw milling, illegal logging and illegal farming. Between 2005 and 2010, the district recorded 121 offences with more offences occurring in the on-reserve areas than in the off-reserve areas. The timber species, which was most exploited illegally is Triplochiton scleroxylon (wawa), a scarlet star-rated species, which is under imminent economic threat. Analyses of the official records revealed lapses in record keeping since there are no references to the outcomes of most offences, especially those relating to cases under investigation by the Police and Regional Forest Services Division. A call for capacity development of the frontline staff of the Forest Services Division at the District levels is paramount especially in detecting, collecting, entering and analyzing forest offences cases and outcomes as well as training in forest investigation and incident management. Furthermore, equipping the district offices with the requisite technological equipment like computers and accessories, software and real-time Global Positioning System (GPS) trackers will enhance effective monitoring and data management of forest resources especially when Ghana is committed in ensuring timber legality under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement.
VL  - 3
IS  - 4
ER  -

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