1. DR. KWAKYE AMEYAW, OPERATIONS MANAGER-FSD
FORESTRY COMMISSION STANDARDS AND CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE LOGGING IN GHANA
PRESENTED BY
DR. KWAKYE AMEYAW, OPERATIONS MANAGER-FSD TO
FORESTRY COMMISSION STAFF MEMBERS OF THE RAPID RESPONSE UNIT AT THE SHAI HILLS RESOURCE RESERVE ON September 12, 2012

2. 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 LEGAL PERSPECTIVES OF TIMBER RESOURCE ALLOCATION IN GHANA
The enactment of the new Timber Resources Management Act of 1997 (Act 547) by the Ministry of lands and Natural Resources in (1997) has replaced the concession system with a process of competitive bidding under the Timber Utilization Contracts.
The law sets guidelines for the identification of the Timber Utilization Contract (T.U.C) areas, endorsement of Timber Contract Advertisement and allocation to prospective applicants.

3. 1.2 PROSPECTS OF THE TIMBER UTILIZATION CONTRACT CONCEPT FOR ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE FOREST HARVESTING IN GHANA
The timber Utilization Contract system holds a lot of promise for Sustainable Forest Harvesting in Ghana.
This is because the system ensures that, logging operations conform with prescribed environmental and resource conservation standards. These are seen in the areas of
Minimisation of logging residue through TIF capture and prescribe stump heights.
Minimisation of residual tree damage during logging by insisting on directional felling
Contribution towards the socio-economic development of communities in operational areas through the Social Responsibility Agreement (SRA) concept

4. a) Pre-felling inspection with stakeholders
Commitment to afforestation to mitigate the possible, adverse environmental impact of their operations
Protection of rivers, stream and biodiversity in general
In addition, there are prospects for sustaining the timber resources outside forest reserves because the Forest Services Division has published operational manuals that deal with:
a) Pre-felling inspection with stakeholders
b) Issuance of felling permit, post-felling inspection.
c) Tree information collection
d) Issuance of conveyance certificate for logs in transit

5. These are expected to affect logging in the following ways:
a) Reduction of illegal and speculative logging.
b) Provision of opportunity to participate in the planning of felling operations on farms and receipt of commensurate compensations for damage to crops.
c) Removal of old disincentives to farmers in respect of tending of traditional economic species on their farms and the fear of indiscriminate destruction of their farms during logging.

6. 1.3 REGULATORY MECHANISMS
A four stage regulatory process enables the Forestry Commission to monitor felling from stump to mill. The process involves:
a) pre-felling inspection by Forestry staff in
addition to representative of all the relevant
stakeholders.
b) Issuance of felling permit by Forestry Commission,
c) Post-felling inspection and tree volume
issuance and calculation of conveyance certificate.

7. 1.4 TECHNICAL PROCEDURE FOR TIMBER RESOURCES ALLOCATION
Once a Timber Utilization Contract has been awarded to a concessionaire, there is a laid down technical procedure to be followed to enable the concessionaire gain access to the Forest Reserve to commence exploitation.

8. 1.5 STOCK SURVEYS
A stock survey is usually undertaken before permission is granted to a concessionaire to exploit the annual logging areas of a TUC in forest reserves.
The main purpose of the stock survey is to establish the current stocking of the exploitable trees as well as those of the replacement crop.
It is also to provide information on the location of the exploitable trees so as to ensure the proper layout of roads and skid trails
The most important use of the stock survey data is to produce stock maps, calculate the volume of the exploitable trees and mark out the selected trees in the field.

9. e. Stock maps are prepared showing the species, diameter size class and position of all trees above 50cm diameter at breast height (DBH).
f. Trees are numbered in the field on the map.
Key features of the landscape such as rivers are also shown from the stock of map.
Trees to be felled are currently allocated according to an interim yield formula based on minimum diameter limits, site and general distribution of trees and species.

10. Once the approved yield is released to the TUC holder, and felling commences the Range Supervisors are mandated to conduct post-felling inspection and tree volume calculation after which conveyance certificates are issued to justify the transportation of the logs.

11. 1.6 CONTROL AND MONITORING OF LOGGING OPERATIONS
These are guided by the prescription in the Ghana logging manual which is the legally recognised reference material to guide logging operation in Ghana
a) Constant monitoring is a required standard for sustainable logging practice.
b) This is to ensure early detection of deviations in practices and negative effects of implementation of prescriptions for quick corrective measures.
c) Essentially, control and monitoring cover activities relating to the planning and implementation phases of logging.

12. Logging practice in Ghana requires six monthly audits for property mark renewal and immediately following the completion of logging. In any on-reserve compartment, an inspection is required in order to provide a basis for the issuance of a logging compartment closure completion certificate.

13. 1.7 TYPES OF FIELD ASSESSMENT There are two types of field assessments namely:
Timber Harvesting Assessment
Penalties
1. Timber Harvesting assessments
These consist of four assessments which are:
a) Monitoring of timber harvested in current felling areas so as
to ensure that operations adhered to quantities and species of
trees approved for felling. Matters of concern are:
i maintenance of full records of all operations.
ii and timber extracted, compliance with regulations
regarding to non-return to felling areas by contractors
after initial
iii completion of harvesting.
iv adherence to schedule of harvesting with no felling areas
being entered prior to the defined start date

14. 2. Penalties This has to do with the corrective actions that have to be taken when harvesting operations are carried out in violation of the provisions of the logging manual. In such an event, the operation may be suspended until such a time that, corrective measures are completed and that adequate precautions have been taken.

15. 1.8 Logging practice inspection
This is done to ensure that logging standards are strictly adhered to. Matters of concern to the Forest Services Division in off-reserve situations include
i. conformity of logging with environmental quality
ii. minimisation to crop damage, adherence to the annual plan.
Environmental Assessment is based on the timber operational specification and 5-year T.U.C plan

16. 1.9 SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AGREEMENT This is an activity facilitated by FSD to ensure that both land owners and timber companies abide by t he deeds of an agreement that will lead to healthy working relationships. The Social Responsibility Agreement involves the provision of some amenities to the communities in whose area timber exploitation is being carried out by timber companies. However, the provision of these amenities is done in consultation with members of the communities.

17. 2.0 LOGGING IN OFF RESERVE AREAS
The off-reserve timber resource is not secure. There is therefore the need to carefully plan to achieve as near a sustainable cut as possible. Using the off-reserve pre-felling inspection results as basis, the Forest Services Division prepares the yield, which set the total number of trees to be felled in an a permit area. This was previously based on the quota system. Once the yield has been released,
The Regional and District Monitoring Teams have a joint responsibility to ensure that no fellings are done outside the approved yield. In place of the quota system, trees that are being destroyed through farming and chain sawing activities are being salvaged on the basis of salvage permits that are approved by the Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission.

18. 2.1 CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE LOGGING IN GHANA
Persistent wild fires leading to high Tree mortality rate and general forest degradation in fire prone areas
Illegal mining activities
Illegal logging operation in Ghana
Illegal farming leading to destruction of vulnerable timber
Over capacity of the industry triggering engagement of the machines in illegitimate timber operations which has culminated in an alarming rate of deforestation
An overall Dwindling Forest Resource Base

19. Inadequate funds/logistics for the effective monitoring of logging operations
Increased population and corresponding increasing pressure on forest
Violations of prescribed logging rules and regulations resulting in widespread logging infractions.
Apparently uncontrolled production of chain sawn Lumber
Tree depletion mostly outside Forest Reserves through slash and burn method of land cultivation.

20. 2.2 ILLEGAL LOGGING
It is defined as any unauthorized Timber Harvesting Operation that contravenes the relevant laws/rules and regulations governing logging in the country

21. 2.3 MODUS OPERANDI OF ILLEGAL LOGGERS IN GHANA
This is being examined from three perspectives namely:
On -Reserve area
Off -Reserve area
Both on and off Reserve areas

22. Felling outside the yield in compartment approved for harvesting.
2.4 ON RESERVE
Felling outside the yield in compartment approved for harvesting.
Straying into adjacent compartments which have neither been stock surveyed nor approved for harvesting.
Felling according to their preference for the tree species and deliberately recycling stock numbers as a cover up of their misdeeds.

23. Felling without a felling permit/approved yield.
2.5 OFF- RESERVE
Felling without a felling permit/approved yield.
Failure to carry out physical demarcation of the site to guard against possible straying.
straying into adjacent unencumbered but unapproved areas.
Felling of undersized tress without recourse to forestry.
Felling outside approved yield
Felling in adjacent or near by permit areas which belong to other Timber right holders.

24. 2.6 BOTH ON AND OFF RESERVE AREAS
operating over the week ends without the acquisition of weekend permits.
operating without a renewed property mark.
operating with a fake property mark .
Refusal to mark stumps or logs.
Transporting logs without log measurement and conveyance certificate LMCCS.
Deliberately varying species codes to outwit the payment of commensurate stumpage fees
Recycling of used/expired LMCCS to convey illegally produced logs.

25. 2.7 MEASURES PUT IN PLACE BY THE FORESTRY COMMISSION TO CONTROL ILLEGAL LOGGING ACTIVITIES
Erection of check points at strategic locations across the country to track illegally produced logs.
Institutionalization of District, Regional and National timber Monitoring Operations.

26. Arrest and prosecution of persistent offenders.
Introduction of the VPA innovation to promote sustainable logging.
introduction of the rapid response units to augment the efforts being made to control the illegal logging menace.
The issuance of salvage permit to facilitate the utilization of vulnerable trees from off reserve areas which often serve as potential baits to attract illegal loggers.
Training of Forest and Wildlife Prosecutors to prosecute Forest and Wildlife related offences

27. 2.8 CONCLUSION
Ghana is a known signatory to the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) in addition to the modest achievements that have been made towards forest certification.
It therefore implies that, the expectations of the global community from Ghana in terms of sustainable forest management/logging is quite high.

28. 3. The fight against illegal logging needs to be continued with an unrelenting determination to justify the huge financial investments that the international community has been making to safeguard the integrity and security of our forest resources.
It must also be seen as a moral obligation for us as a sovereign nation to preserve our national heritage which has been bequeathed to us by the past generation so that we can also pass it on to posterity at least in the same condition in which we inherited it if not improved.
I am afraid, if we fail in this regard, posterity will not forgive us.