Local Spatialized Knowledge of Threats to Forest Conservation in Ghana’s High Forest Zone

Abstract

Although deforestation rates are declining, protected forest areas remain under threat. While the importance of spatialized (‘mapped’) community knowledge for conservation planning is acknowledged in scientific literature, the integration of such knowledge in forest governance and conservation planning remains scarce, particularly in Ghana. This paper aims to make clear how participatory spatial knowledge tools and geographic information systems can be used to assess the threats to forest conservation in Ghana’s high forest zone. The results show that holders of spatial community-embedded knowledge not only sketch-mapped the location and spatial distribution of the threats to forest conservation in the forest reserves, but also provided information on the actors they perceived to be causing such threats. Such information is not available in forest inventories conducted by the responsible government agencies, but is needed to focus conservation strategies and make them more effective. Maps with the anticipated condition of the forest in 10 years’ time furthermore provided insights which can help governance actors to deal with the underlying drivers of forest degradation. This suggests that local spatialized knowledge needs to be integrated into the institutional arrangements for the governance of forested landscapes, and that such governance cannot be effective without the inclusion of local people’s knowledge. Due consideration is however to be given to the conditions that ensure that spatialized knowledge production and its use in landscape management decision-making occurs in an inclusive manner.

Using Participatory Spatial Tools to Unravel Community Perceptions of Land-Use Dynamics in a Mine-Expanding Landscape in Ghana

“…Second, participatory mapping helps landscape actors gain knowledge from the mapping process and the accompanying engagement and discussions with other landscape actors. This can have an empowering effect, as observed in a study by Somuah (2018). As such, it is a valuable tool for inclusive landscape governance, as it allows the involvement of community actors in problem definition and exploring solutions (see also Asubonteng et al 2021, this issue).…”

“…In this paper, we define contextually embedded knowledge as all forms of non-codified (generalized/scientific) knowledge, including tacit practicebased knowledge, technical expert knowledge from experience, and contextual cultural knowledge ('the way of doing things') (van Ewijk and Baud 2009). In doing so, we acknowledge that rural people are custodians of locally embedded knowledge about their environment and associated problems and capable of providing and suggesting possible solutions (see also Somuah et al 2021 andAsubonteng et al 2021, this issue). Mapping ('spatializing') and collectivizing such knowledge can be an important means to uncover people's perspectives of landscape change.…”

“…Mapping ('spatializing') and collectivizing such knowledge can be an important means to uncover people's perspectives of landscape change. As such, it creates a basis for awareness-raising, collective action, empowerment, and inclusive landscape governance that takes views of local inhabitants into account (Pfeffer et al 2013;Somuah 2018;Asubonteng et al 2021, this issue). Hence, this paper focuses on local spatial knowledge, which we define as place-based knowledge that people acquired through their long-standing relationship with the landscape where they live and work (McCall 2021).…”

“…Participatory mapping entails the visual representation on maps of all resources and socio-cultural and natural physical features that community members identify as part of their environment, backed by a story (IFAD 2009). However, certain features are sometimes deliberately left out to obscure their presence for outsiders (Somuah 2018;McCall 2021). Mapping potentially excites the interest of community members in pressing land issues, leading to inclusive decision-making (IFAD 2009;Sletto 2009).…”

Spatial Tools for Integrated and Inclusive Landscape Governance: Toward a New Research Agenda

“…Much of this literature can be positioned in the debate on integrated landscape approaches. However, a more critical scholarship warns that maps may be selective in their representations and obscure the complexities of land rights and power struggles over land use and resources (e.g., Sletto et al 2020;Best et al 2021;Movik et al 2021;Windey and Van Hecken 2021). This paper, therefore, highlights some critical notes regarding the application of participatory spatial tools.…”