1. Edward D. Wiafe and Albert Allotey
ANALYSIS OF FOREST CANOPY CHANGE AFTER LOGGING IN A RAINFOREST OF GHANA
Edward D. Wiafe and Albert Allotey
Department of Environment and Natural Resources Management,
Presbyterian University College, Ghana,
P. O. Box 393, Akropong-Akuapem, Ghana.
2012 IUFRO-FORNESSA REGIONAL CONGRESS
25-29TH JUNE 2012, NAIROBI

2. Contents
Background
Study area
Methods
Results
Conclusions

3. Introduction
The object of forest management has been observed to influence forest canopy dynamics
The Kakum Conservation Area, a 360km2 contiguous rainforest of Ghana suffered logging from 1936 to 1989
In 1990, the management was changed from timber production to conservation of biodiversity

4. Introduction
The dynamics of the canopy coverage of a rain forest in Ghana was evaluated
The objectives were:
to investigate the effect of change of object of management on forest canopy coverage.
to evaluate the magnitude of forest canopy recovery after logging

5. Study area
Kakum Conservation Area

6. Kakum Conservation Area (KCA)
It is a contiguous forest that lies between
longitude 1°51’W and 1°30’W and
latitude 5°20’N and 5°40’N
210km2 Kakum National Park
150 km2 Assin Attandanso Resource Reserve

7. Kakum Conservation Area (KCA)
Legally gazetted as a national park and resource reserve respectively in 1991
Under the Wildlife Reserves Regulations L.I 710
As amended by L.I 1525
Under the administrative jurisdiction of the Wildlife Division of the forestry commission

8. Kakum Conservation Area (KCA)
The area was initially placed under timber production by the Forestry Department until 1989
Before 1936 (Prior to timber exploitation) :
the reserve was more or less a virgin forest
There was no evidence that farming might have taken place in the reserve for any considerable length of time (Paijmans and Jack, 1960)

9. Kakum Conservation Area (KCA)
: Timber exploitation with mahogany (Khaya ivorensis) being the principal species logged
: Other timber species were included for exploitation
1990: The management was transferred to the Wildlife Division

10. Kakum Conservation Area (KCA)
The conservation area has gone through a long period of disturbances as a result of
commercial hunting
subsistence hunting
gathering of non-wood forest products
timber logging
About 52 communities are scattered around the conservation area

11. Timber exploitation map

12. Conservation period

13. Method
Satellite images of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) for 1986 and 2000 to represent
The vegetation structure for the logging period and
Conservation period respectively were used
These scenes were processed using IDRISI Kilimanjaro software

14. 1986 : Timber operation period Total canopy coverage 295.84km2

15. 2002: Conservation period Total canopy coverage: 302.92km2

16. Change in canopy coverage
Opened forest reduced in 22.11%
Closed forest increased in 19.01%
Farm areas increased in 3.10%

17. Conclusion
The reduction of opened canopy and increase in closed canopy area could be attributed to the change of selective timber logging to wildlife conservation area
The farming areas at the peripheries has increased probably due to many timber workers engaging in farming activities

18. Recommendations
Forest reserves, undergoing convalescence must be managed from the conservation approach
A large proportion of the plants and animals in tropical forests should be protected through the establishment of conservation areas

19. References
Paijmans, K., and Jack W. H. (1960). Greater Kakum forest reserves. A working plan presented to the Forestry Department, Ghana. Accra, Forestry Department.

20. Aknowledgement I am grateful to the following organizations:
International Union of Forest Research Organization-Special Program for Developing Countries (IUFRO-SPDC)for sponsoring my participation in the congress
IUFRO –FORNESSA
Presbyterian University College, Ghana

21. Thank you