Structural Adjustment Programme, Deforestation and Biodiversity Loss in Ghana

Abstract

Abstract. An empirical investigation is undertaken into the impact of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) on forest and biodiversity loss in Ghana between the period 1965-1995. In the first part of the analysis, a four-equation recursive model, consisting of forest loss, cocoa land, maize land and timber production equations, is employed to examine the impact of the SAP on forest loss. The first equation is a function of the last three, and the last three are functions of mainly prices. Piecewise linear and switching regression approaches are used to distinguish between the influence of the post from the pre-adjustment impacts. These results together with a specie-forest area relationship are used to investigate the impact of the SAP on biodiversity loss. The overall results indicate that cocoa land expansion and timber production, but not maize land expansion, are the significant causes of forest loss in Ghana. However, the impact on forest loss in the postadjustment period was reduced. The rate of biodiversity loss also reduced in the post-adjustment period. Changes in relative output and input prices due to the SAP may have played a significant role in the reduced impact of agricultural and timber related deforestation and biodiversity loss in the post-adjustment period.

An empirical analysis of forest transition and land-use change in developing countries

“…Other studies found evidence that other macroeconomic factors are correlated to deforestation. They encompass the role of real exchange rates (Arcand et al, 2008), agricultural activity (Barbier, 2004), access to capital, public policies (Benhin and Barbier, 2004;Combes-Motel et al, 2009), population (Cropper and Griffiths, 1994) or timber harvesting (Damette and Delacote, 2011). Heilmayr, (2014) investigates the impact of plantations on natural forests: plantation expansion is negatively correlated to natural forests dedicated to forest product extraction, and positively related to unharvested natural forests and the associated generation of ecosystem services.…”

Natural resource use conflict: gold mining in tropical rainforest in Ghana

“…For example, it is estimated that more than 75% of the protein in West Africa comes from bush meat (Asibey, 1974;Benhin and Barbier, 2004). The bush meat trade supports about 300,000 people in rural areas, out of which 270,000 are self-employed hunters.…”

“…In addition, 70% of Ghanaians depend only on traditional medicine for health care. Traditional medicines are derived from roughly 2000 plants (Zhang, 2001) which are also exported to Europe for the production of medicine (Benhin and Barbier, 2004). Furthermore, many forest products are used as raw materials in household and local production of baskets, furniture, roofing materials, musical instruments, jewelry, hunting tools, traditional drums, and other items.…”

“…In addition, forest elephants disperse seeds of important timber species and create tracks for white-breasted guinea fowls. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) database has noted ten timber species in Ghana to be of conservation concern (Benhin and Barbier, 2004). Unfortunately, these benefits are completely overlooked when concessions are granted to mining companies.…”

Ghana's high forests : trends, scenarios and pathways for future developments

“…Thus, the direct causes of deforestation and forest degradation are clearing of forests for food and cash crop farming, logging (both legal and illegal), fuelwood harvesting, infrastructure expansion, and wild fires. The underlying causes are a high international demand for timber, cocoa and minerals, poverty, corruption, the overcapacity of the forest industry, low forest fees, the low enforcement of forestry rules, population growth, urbanization and land and tree tenure issues (Appiah et al 2009, Benhin and Barbier 2004, Hansen et al 2009). …”