Trends and status of illegal timber logging in three forest districts of the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana

Abstract

The study was carried out in three Forest Districts of the Brong-Ahafo Region of Ghana, with the objective of finding out the occurrences of illegal timber logging. Data for the study include secondary data on illegal operations from the monthly offence report files and range report files of the Districts and data for the study covered the years 2001 to 2006. The year 2002 had the highest number of reported occurrence of illegal timber operations (24%). Most of the illegal timber logging took place off-reserve, with January being the month of most occurrences. An estimated minimum amount of GH¢29,348.02 was lost to the state through illegal logging. Triplochiton scleroxylon was the most exploited species representing 23% of tree species exploited by illegal loggers. Efforts at tackling illegal operations should be geared towards enforcing the laws, ensuring institutional stability and being vigilant in the month during which most of the illegal operations are likely to occur.

Keywords: Illegal logging, Triplochiton scleroxylon, on and off-reserve logging