Gatekeeping Access: Shea Land Formalization and the Distribution of Market-Based Conservation Benefits in Ghana’s CREMA

Abstract

Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) in Ghana combine conservation and development objectives and were introduced in the year 2000. In some cases, they have connected collectors of shea (Vitellaria paradoxa) nuts with certified organic world markets, which can be understood as a ‘market-based’ approach to conservation. This paper examines how the benefits of this approach are distributed and argues that shea land formalization is crucial to this process. It makes this argument by drawing on interviews within two communities bordering Mole National Park. One community accepted to engage with, and benefitted from this approach, while the other did not. The paper analyzes narratives from different actors involved regarding why and how the market-based approach was accepted or rejected. It shows that, contrary to the neoliberal principles that underlie market-based conservation, a utility maximization rationale did not predominantly influence the (non-)engagement with this conservation approach. Instead, it was the history of land relations between communities and the state that influenced the decisions of the communities. We highlight the role of traditional authorities and NGOs brokering this process and unpack who in the communities profited and who was left out from benefits from this market-based conservation initiative.

The prospects of community-based natural resource management in Ghana: A case study of Zukpiri community resource management area

“…This suggests that strict enforcement of rules and regulations coupled with hard fines are convincing means of protecting illegal exploitation of natural resources in local communities. The logistics and land tenure constraints uncovered in this study appear to be common among local communities that collaborate with state institutions to conserve natural resources ( Asare et al., 2013 ; Baruah, 2015 ; Baker et al., 2018 ; Gilli et al., 2020 ; Owusu-Ansah, 2020 ). Since the CREMA model emphasised collaboration between the responsible state institutions like the Forestry Commission and the local communities, state institutions must work in line with addressing the challenges facing the communities.…”

“…Local norms and customs greatly define the day-to-day forms of natural resources exploitation by the local people ( Roe et al., 2009 ). Also, the reliance on natural resources must be accompanied by defined governance and managerial roles for the local people and the governmental and non-governmental organizations ( Roe et al., 2009 ; Gilli et al., 2020 ; Jarvis et al., 2021 ).…”

“…Worldwide, forest landscapes contain the most important natural resources which provide essential services and products for human sustenance (Husseini et al, 2016;FAO, 2016b;Jiao et al, 2019;Mavhura and Mushure, 2019;Islam et al, 2019;Gilli et al, 2020;Kamwi et al, 2020). Forest and wildlife resources are crucial in supporting, maintaining and replenishing global ecosystems (FAO, 2014;2016b;Baskent, 2020).…”

“…The Community-based Natural Resource Management (CNRM) model is one of the decentralised natural resource management methods that give greater opportunity for local people to manage the natural resources under their lands ( Marfo, 2010 ; Baland and Das, 2010 ; Baruah, 2015 ; Baker et al., 2018 ; Gilli et al., 2020 ; Owusu-Ansah, 2020 ). It is generally recognized that natural resource areas that are managed by or together with local communities have lower levels of degradation of forest and wildlife resources ( Baruah, 2015 ; Husseini et al., 2016 ; Baker et al., 2018 ; Addison et al., 2019 ).…”

“…This suggests the need to explore the management strategies and livelihood prospects of the Zukpiri CREMA. CREMAs are sources of Non-Forest Timber Products (NTFPs) such as mushrooms, shea nuts, honey, medicinal products woodfuels including other edible fruits and wrapping leaves ( Asare et al., 2013 ; Abukari and Mwalyosi, 2018 ; Baker et al., 2018 ; Foli et al., 2018 ; Murray and Agyare, 2018 ; Gilli et al., 2020 ), and also help in maintaining ecological balance ( Foli et al., 2018 ; Murray and Agyare, 2018 ).…”