DOCSLIB.ORG

AFRICA's FIRST Was Conducted by Irene Manley

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
AFRICA's FIRST Was Conducted by Irene Manley CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL NONTIMBER FOREST PRODUCT 2 STUDY WILDLIFE SPECIALIST REPORTS: 3 BIRDS, SMALL MAMMALS, ELEPHANTS CLIPPINGS: 4 NEWS AND UPDATES 6 UPDATES Jerry Punguse. Chief Officer of the .Ghana Department of Wildlife. on the canopy walkway at Kakum National Park. II • N° 1 July Volwne , 1995 IfMOIIf ~'Nt;C documents activities in and around Kakum National Park, Ghana, associated with Conservation International's component of the US AID-funded Natural Resource Conservation and Historic Preservation Project. AFRICA'S FIRST was conducted by Irene Manley. Company showed its support for the Since its opening to the public on walkway by donating expedition CANOPY W ALKWAY April 22, the walkway has attracted clothing to the construction crew, and 5,880 tourists and generated over both British Airways and Continen­ Debra Sohm I7y $270 a week. It is estimated that at tal Airlines donated cargo space. he only canopy walkway on the the current level of fees and visitation The official opening on Earth Day T African continent was completed in the walkway will produce an annual was attended by Ministers of the Kakum National Park on March 4th of revenue of over $14,000. Ghanaian government, the US am­ this year. Designed for. use by both tour­ The walkway is the product of ex­ bassador, and the director of US AID/ ists and researchers, the 3 SO-meter bridge tensive collaboration between the Ghana., This event attracted substan­ connects seven treetops in the Kakum designer and the builders. Dr. mar tial media attention, including a Forest via. a system constructed of rope, Muul designed the walkway and chose Ghana Broadcasting Corporation ladders, wooden planks and'safety net­ the·site. The leaders of the construc­ story that was also aired as part oi ting. Bird watchers and entomologists tion team, J~hn Kelson and Tom CNN's World Report. C ..traversing the span have sighted species Ainsworth, took ~e plans for the that are difficult or rare to see at ground walkway and adapted them to Kakum. The chart on page 5 details the dra­ level. The first research on the walkway, They were as'sisted by Ghanaian car­ matic increase in visitors to Kahtm. focussing on dung beetles in the canopy, penters and climbers. The Patagonia NONTIMBER FOR 'ST P RODUCT STUDY by Brent Bailey ontimber Forest Produ .s and Conservation: An Ass sment from the Kakum Conservatic Area, Ghana was submitted to the ]SAID Ghana Mission in April. B sed on field work conducted during he first part of 1994, the study asse ses the j ~xtentand value of Nontimbe··Forest Products (NTFPs) through in rviews. ] with SOO households. Resu .s from the study will be used to sha e man­ ! agement practices in Kakum and en­ hance the park's village outre ch pro- grams. A team of 8 Ghanaians from uni­ side of the F rk. versities in Cape Coast and Legon worked with project director Brent Virtu all. all farmers complain of lating climate and rainfall. and its Bailey to develop questionnaires, 10- crop dama e by animals, but those importance as a source of drink~ng with small acreages are at greater .cate villages surrounding the 'park, wat~~, villagers feel the park pro­ and meet with village elders to obtain risk of fo od insufficiencies when vides them with benefits. Further­ permission to conduct surveys in their raided by animals. Compounding more, many hope that Kakum's de­ communities. During a two-month their frustr ;. tion of crop loss is a ban velopment as a tourist destination will period, the team worked from dawn on trapping animals on their farms, stimulate local. economies and bring to dark, often following foot path.. or hunt~ng vithin two kilometers of revenues to the local level. between villages, and at times fording the park boundary. The establishment The report concludes with a brief rain-swollen streams to reach remote of Kakum, and its ban on huntJng, section of recommendations based on. communities. appears to have benefitted previousl y respondents! concerns. Some are al­ Interviews yielded valuable infor­ overhunted wildlife populations. But ready being implemented by the park: mation about the composition of lo­ the wildlife rebound has spilled over staff and Conservation International. onto adjacent agricultural lands, and cal villages. Over SO percent of the Village-based rearing of grasscutters, heads of households are not from the creaJed difficulties for local residents. an abundant rodent highly prized for As the human population grows its meat, is being tested in two of the villages iii which they live, th01~gh and forested areas outside the reserve local villages. A tourism plan that mos~ come from the Central Region, where·Kakum is located. Attracted to decrease, Kakum increases in impor­ defines the involvement ofvillages in the Kakum area to farm cocoa, most tance as a source ofNTFPs including the tourism trade is under develop­ bushmeat. Raphia palm fron~s for ment. And creation of additional visi­ ".!lon-native" resident~ send money back to their homes, and hope one roof thatch, cane for basket weaving, tors facilities in key villages is being day to return to their villages of ori­ and others. Many of these products considered. gm. This transfer of investment prof­ could be sold to generate extra house­ . Ultimately, Kakum's success will its out of the Kakum area limits the hold income. But they also frequently rely on strategies that generate rev­ success of community-based invest­ are used or consumed by households, .enue for effective management, share ment in schools and other village de­ eliminating the need to purchase these benefits wjth local communities, and velopment. goods in markets. Seventy-eight per­ reduce pressures on park resources. Until its esta11lishment as a park, cent of households report that since The report advocates broad-based col­ Kakum was a forest reserve for over park establishment, they had begun laboration among development and to purchase goods which previously SO years. Outside the reserve, large natural resource agencies active in were available for "free" from the patches of forest were· gradually th~ Kakum vicinity to support biodi­ cleared, spurred by competition {or forest. Thus their cash needs have versity conservation and tourism, a land for cultivation of cocoa, oil palm, increased, while cash-earning oppor­ strong vittage-outreach program for citrus, and other cash crops. In 1994, tunities have decreased. the park, and adoption of a long­ Despite these difficulties. howev'er, farms around the park averaged ten range goal of fore~t growth for the acres in size; almost .a third worked many villagers see value in the park. region outside the boundaries of Citing the role of the forest in regu- Kakum. D 2 from 116 bird species have been made. 'n order to develop 1 planned .:rop , WILDLIFE This d~ta represents a core of record­ barrier. ings from which the final cuts for the Nchanji observed that many of the SPECIALIST Kakum sound track-will be 'chosen. crops are destroyed near maturity and The sound track will be produced by recommended a study on crop harvest R EPORTS the Library of Natural Sounds at and a storage program. Other recom­ Cornell University. and distributed mendations include further study of through the Ghana Wildlife Depart­ land tenure, the introduction of agro­ BIRD SURVEY W ORK ment an.d Conservation International. forestry techniques, and experimen­ David C. Mayer It should be available next year. Some tation with chemical deterrents cur­ of the bird recordings have already rently being useo elsewhere in Af­ In late Apri11994, I began an eight­ been used in the production of a song rica. C month bird survey to produce a check­ about the destruction of.rainforests list of the birds of Kakum National in Ghana. Anthony Nchanji is with the Wi/d­ Park and Assin Attandanso Resource . One of the key components of the life Conservation Society - Cameroon Reserve. training program is to build the ca­ Biodiversity Project. About 275 bird species have been pacity of junior staff to lead bird tour reported from Kakum (179 con­ groups in Kakum. Many of the junior staff already have a detaiied knowi­ firmed), with an additional 70 SMALL MAMMAL SURVEY "possibles." This brings the hypo­ edge of the local names, behavior, thetical list to a total of 345 species. and vocalizations of the fauna of W ORK The final bird lisnor Kakum will be Kakum. However, language remains Mari Oniland compiied into an annotated checklist a problem. Given the large time com- to be published as a supplement to , mitment for a comprehensive train- Professor Sam Yeboah completed Malimbus, the Journal of the West ing program in English, a different" a seven-month survey of small mam­ African Ornithological Society. This method W'as chosen. A key contain- - -mals and herpetofauna in December list will include a summary of the , ing the local Fanti or Twi name of of 1994. His report documents the status of aU birds recorded from , birds with a cross-reference to the capture of 178 individuals represent­ Kakum National Park and ' Assin English, French, and German names ing 16 species of small terrestrial Attandanso Resource Reserve, as well 'will be produced. These will be used mammals and sightings of small as sections on where to find birds and for training park staff and to help mammals, amphibia and reptiles. tips for birders. , tourists find names in their own lan- According to Dr. Yeboah's report, - Among the birds found in Kakum guages of birds identified by their the Obengkrom area is the richest in are two species that are vulnerable or guides.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download the Tour Information and Booking Form
    THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SOUND AND AUDIOVISUAL ARCHIVES (IASA) 49TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE. GHANA POST CONFERENCE TOUR PROGRAMME ONE DAY COUNTRY EXPERIENTIAL TOUR PROGRAMME OF THE CENTRAL REGION OF GHANA ACCRA – KAKUM - CAPE COAST – ELMINA – ACCRA FRIDAY, 5TH OCTOBER, 2018 PACKAGE (US$150) Air-conditioned bus transportation from Accra to Kakum - Elmina - Cape Coast – Accra Buffet Lunch + one soft drink at Elmina Beach Resort Cost of entrance fees to Kakum National Park and Cape Coast Castle Professional Tour Guide PROGRAMME DATE TIME ACTIVITY VENUE/REMARKS FRIDAY Departure Point: YIRI LODGE, OCTOBER Institute of African Studies, 5, 2018 7.00am Departure for Kakum University of Ghana, South Legon 10.00am – Tour of the Kakum National Park Bus goes straight to the Kakum 12.00noon National park from Accra. Tour to include tour of Exhibition Centre, Rain Forest and Canopy Walkway 12.00noon Departure for the Elmina Beach Resort 12.45 – 1.30pm Lunch at the Elmina Beach Resort Bus ride to go through the 1.45pm Departure for the Cape Coast Castle University of Cape Coast en-route to the Cape Coast Castle 2.00 – Tour of the Cape Coast Slave Dungeon UNESCO World Heritage 3.30pm and Castle Monument 3.30pm Departure for Accra 6.30pm Arrival in Accra and end of Tour Bus terminates at YIRI LODGE Please note that tour participants MUST NOT schedule flights departing the same day on October 5, 2018. There is the danger that participants may miss their flights because of outbound vehicular traffic from Cape Coast HERITAGE DEVELOPMENT (EVENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS AND PRACTITIONERS) P.O.
    [Show full text]
  • Touring Ghana
    Ghana Tour Guide Accra Located on the southern coast of Ghana, Accra is the nation’s capital and largest city with a population of 2 million. Born of multiple villages controlled by a single chief, today Accra it is a sprawling city, extending eastwards almost to the neighboring city of Tema, located 25 kilometers away. Accra is a friendly city that welcomes visitors and is a good introduction to the rest of the country for someone who has just arrived. Some interesting things to see in Accra are the National Museum, the intense and colorful Makola Market, the Independence Square, and the Centre for National Culture. There are also some beautiful sandy beaches around Accra, e.g. La Pleasure Beach (admission fee) east of the city, and Coco Beach (free access) further east. The Coast Along Ghana’s coast there is a chain of forts and castles, an extraordinary historical monument of Ghana’s slave trade history, unique in West Africa. The recommended ones to visit are Cape Coast Castle and its museum, and St. Georges’s Castle at Elmina. Both are Unesco World Heritage Sites. Cape Coast is also the starting point for trips to the Kakum National Park. Located 33 kilometers north of the city, it is one of Ghana’s major attractions. The park protects a mixture of true rainforest and semi-deciduous forest and is an important refuge for several endangered species, including forest elephants. The highlight of the park is the 350 meter rope and cable canopy walkway. It consists of several viewing platforms linked by narrow suspension bridges 30 meters above the forest floor, giving a bird’s-eye view of the forest.
    [Show full text]
  • Benefits and Challenges of Community-Based Ecotourism in Park-Fringe Communities: the Case of Mesomagor of Kakum National Park, Ghana
    Tourism Review International, Vol. 21, pp. 81–98 1544-2721/17 $60.00 + .00 Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3727/154427217X14866652018947 Copyright © 2017 Cognizant, LLC. E-ISSN 1943-4421 www.cognizantcommunication.com BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF COMMUNITY-BASED ECOTOURISM IN PARK-FRINGE COMMUNITIES: THE CASE OF MESOMAGOR OF KAKUM NATIONAL PARK, GHANA ISHMAEL MENSAH Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana Community-based ecotourism (CBE) is seen as a viable model for achieving conservation and improved livelihoods for park-fringe communities. In view of that, many communities in Ghana, including Mesomagor, have embraced the concept. Yet, most studies have employed quantitative methods and failed to examine the challenges of community participation in ecotourism development. Therefore, this study employed qualitative methods to analyze the benefits and challenges of CBE in the Mesomagor community of the Kakum National Park. This involved key informant interviews of 15 stakeholders using a semistructured interview guide. The results of the study show that though the community had made some modest economic gains, especially in infrastructural development, the project was confronted with a number of challenges including apathy towards participation, limited employment and revenue-sharing opportunities, lack of local capacity to manage the project, and destruction of farms by stray elephants from the park. Key words: Community-based ecotourism (CBE); Community; Revenue sharing; Kakum National Park (KNP); Ghana Introduction miners, hunters, and gatherers, the pursuit of their economic activities could eventually result in the Community-based ecotourism (CBE) projects have depletion of natural resources.
    [Show full text]
  • Panthera Pardus) Range Countries
    Profiles for Leopard (Panthera pardus) Range Countries Supplemental Document 1 to Jacobson et al. 2016 Profiles for Leopard Range Countries TABLE OF CONTENTS African Leopard (Panthera pardus pardus)...................................................... 4 North Africa .................................................................................................. 5 West Africa ................................................................................................... 6 Central Africa ............................................................................................. 15 East Africa .................................................................................................. 20 Southern Africa ........................................................................................... 26 Arabian Leopard (P. p. nimr) ......................................................................... 36 Persian Leopard (P. p. saxicolor) ................................................................... 42 Indian Leopard (P. p. fusca) ........................................................................... 53 Sri Lankan Leopard (P. p. kotiya) ................................................................... 58 Indochinese Leopard (P. p. delacouri) .......................................................... 60 North Chinese Leopard (P. p. japonensis) ..................................................... 65 Amur Leopard (P. p. orientalis) ..................................................................... 67 Javan Leopard
    [Show full text]
  • Explore Nature, History, and Culture in Accra, Cape Coast, Kumasi and Akosombo
    Ghana Explore nature, history, and culture in Accra, Cape Coast, Kumasi and Akosombo Lawrence University Alumni Travel February 29 – March 12, 2020 1 HISTORY, NATURE, and CULTURE Ghana has the distinction of being the first African country to become an independent, sovereign state in the 20th century. Formerly known as the “Gold Coast”, Ghana led the world in cocoa production as part of the British Empire; now it has one of the fastest growing economies in all of Africa. Ghana is also a political leader and is perhaps the most stable, democratic country in Africa. Located in West Africa, Ghana is known for its rich cultural traditions and artistic endeavors. In this Alumni tour, our group will sample the best that Ghana has to offer: examining the political history of the country since independence, partaking in the vibrant arts, theatre, and dance scene in Accra, the capital city, exploring the legacy of slavery at the Cape Coast castle, and learning about traditional Ghanaian culture in Kumasi, the center of the Ashanti empire. Visitors to Ghana also quickly encounter its natural beauty -- sea coasts, sandy beaches, tropical rainforests, and mountain waterfalls. On this tour, you can take a treetop hike at the top of the rainforest, climb to the country’s highest peak, or stroll through a botanical paradise at your own speed. Our group will be limited to no more than 20, giving us an intimate look at the culture from the inside, aided by the numerous LU alums who live in the country. I look forward to you joining me in Ghana.
    [Show full text]
  • Community Attitudes Towards Protected Areas: Insights from Ghana
    Community attitudes towards protected areas: insights from Ghana S ELASE D EWU and E IVIN R ØSKAFT Abstract Understanding community attitudes towards pro- demarcated for protection are usually surrounded by people tected areas is of great importance because these attitudes who are generally impoverished and whose livelihoods de- are inherently linked to the long-term existence and effect- pend on such areas (King, ). Restricting access to nat- iveness of protected areas. We assessed the factors that influ- ural resources can make it difficult for these people to ence community attitudes towards Mole and Digya meet their basic livelihood needs (Amoah & Wiafe, ; National Parks in Ghana. During June–August we con- Cobbinah et al., ). This does not inspire collaboration ducted interviews with randomly selected households, for conservation but instead breeds resentment and apathy using a semi-structured questionnaire. We found that atti- (King, ; Amoah & Wiafe, ). tudes towards the protected areas were positive, with Mole Not only does the establishment of protected areas pre- residents being more positive than Digya residents. Analyses clude people from resource acquisition, it can sometimes revealed that community attitudes were largely influenced bring untold hardships (Mfunda, ; Masud et al., by the perceived costs and benefits of the protected area, ). Local communities may be forced to bear significant household size, occupation, level of education, and aware- losses (e.g. raided crops, depredation of livestock, damage to ness of or participation in livelihood projects. The findings other property) associated with the management of these suggest that increasing the benefits from protected areas and areas (Kideghesho & Mtoni, ; Karanth & Nepal, ; minimizing the costs on fringe communities fosters positive Vedeld et al., ; Cobbinah, ).
    [Show full text]
  • Kakum Natioanl Park & Assin Attadanso Resource Reserve
    Kakum Natioanl Park & Assin Attadanso Resource Reserve Kakum and the Assin Attandanso reserves constitute a twin National Park and Resource Reserve. It was gazetted in 1991 and covers an area of about 350 km2 of the moist evergreen forest zone. The emergent trees are exceptionally high with some reaching 65 meters. The reserve has a varied wildlife with some 40 species of larger mammals, including elerpahnats, bongo, red riverhog, seven primates and four squirrels. Bird life is also varied. About 200 species are known to occur in the reserve and include 5 hornbil species, frazer-eagle owl, African grey and Senegal parrots. To date, over 400 species butterflies have been recorded. The Kakum National Park is about the most developed and subscribed eco-tourism site among the wildlife conservation areas. Nini Suhien National Park & Ankasa Resource Reserve Nini Suhien National Park and Ankasa Resources Reserve are twin Wildlife Protected Areas that are located in the wet evergreen forest area of the Western Region of Ghana. These areas are so rich in biodiversity that about 300 species of plants have been recorded in a single hectare. The areas are largely unexplored but 43 mammal species including the bongo, forest elephant, 10 primate species including the endangered Dina monkey and the West African chimpanzee have been recorded. Bird fauna is also rich. The reserves offer very good example of the west evergreen forest to the prospective tourist. The Mole national This park was established in 1958 and re-designated a National Park in 1971. It covers an area of 4,840 km2of undulating terrain with steep scarps.
    [Show full text]
  • UNESCO-Hoo Statement Sod-Cutting Ceremony
    Goodwill Message by Mr. Abdourahamane Diallo, Representative of UNESCO to Ghana, at the Sod-Cutting Ceremony of the Pan African Heritage World Museum Date: May 5, 2021 Venue: Pomadze Hills, 2 km from Winneba Junction toward Cape Coast Time: 10:30 AM ______________________________________________________________ Protocol Your Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana Hon. Dr. Mohammed Awal, Minister of Tourism Art & Culture, Hon. Kojo Yankah, Executive Chairman, PAHW, Ehunabobrim Nana Prah Agyensaim VI, Omanhene of Assin Owirenkyi Traditional Area, Hon. Justina Assan, Central Regional Minister, Prof. Kofi Asare Opoku, Chairman Advisory Board, PAHW Ms. Brenda Joyce, Executive Council Member, PAHW, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great honour and privilege for me to attend this sod-cutting ceremony of the Pan African Heritage World Museum, and I would like to begin by extending my heart-felt congratulations to Hon. Kojo Yankah and all others involved for pioneering this historical moment. I would also like to recognize that the presence of Your Excellency, Mr. President, demonstrates the great importance Your Excellency attaches to this monumental heritage museum project as well as Ghana’s firm position at the forefront of the Pan-Africanist agenda. 1 As African Union is celebrating this year the theme, “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for building the Africa we want”, this ceremony is of particular importance as we celebrate also today African World heritage Day celebrated every May 5th. Museums are more than places where objects are exhibited and conserved. Along with the dramatic rise in cultural tourism in recent decades, the number of museums around the world has increased from 22,000 in 1975 to 95,000 today- Africa region hosts less than 1000 museums.
    [Show full text]
  • Pachyderm 44.Indd
    Probable extinction of the western black rhino An elephant survey in Digya National Park, Ghana, and implications for conservation and management Bright B. Kumordzi1, William Oduro1, Samuel K. Oppong1, Emmanuel Danquah1, Adrian Lister2, Moses K. Sam3 1 Department of Wildlife and Range Management, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana; email: [email protected] 2 Natural History Museum, London, UK 3 Wildlife Division, Central and Western Regional Office, Takoradi, Ghana Abstract Information on elephant ranges and numbers is vital for their effective conservation and management. This is especially true in West Africa where elephant populations are small and scattered. Digya National Park in Ghana is home to some of the least studied elephant populations in Africa. A dung count of the Digya elephant population was conducted to determine the density and distribution of elephants in the park using a systematic segmented track line design. The mean density of dung-piles was 323 dung-piles per sq km and mean dung survival time was estimated to be 44 days (SD = 2.0 days). An estimated 341±53 (95% confidence interval) elephants with density of 0.41 elephants/km2 were obtained in the study. This makes the Digya elephant popu- lation the second largest in Ghana. Elephants occurred mainly in the south-western forested part of the park. This may be related to local abundance of wild fruits and/or conflict with squatters in other parts of the park. The possibility of the estimate being higher has been discussed. This current baseline information augments the Regional Elephant Database and should facilitate strategic planning and management programmes.
    [Show full text]
  • Ghana Birding Tour: 3 – 16 January 2020
    Ghana Birding Tour: 3 – 16 January 2020 Summary The tour covered most of the southern parts of Ghana, as well as some of the central and north-central habitats. During the tour the temperature ranged from 09ºC to 37ºC. We recorded 24 mammal species, almost 400 species of birds and 9 species of reptiles. The species mentioned in the daily summaries are only some of those seen. Daily Report Day 1: Friday 3 Jan 2020 - Arrival in Accra We all arrived at Kotoka International Airport on the outskirts of the capital city of Ghana, Accra, on different flights. The Gold Coast of West Africa was clearly visible as we came in to land and one could see where the former name for Ghana came from. After clearing the efficient immigration system and picking up our luggage we made our way to our hotel near the town of Tema, situated to the east of Accra. We needed to freshen up from some long flights and enjoyed a good first meal and a good night’s rest before our birding adventure of Ghana began. Day 2: Saturday 4 Jan 2020 - Shai Hills, Sakumono Lagoon Our morning began with the group meeting after arriving on different flights and enjoying breakfast together. We chatted about the day’s plan, caught up on personal news (as most of the group know each other) and soon our birding adventure began with us making our way to Shai Hills. The open grassland savannah of Shai Hills Reserve offers some great birding and a good introduction to birding in Ghana.
    [Show full text]
  • Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation Into the Cocoa Production Landscape In
    COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CREATION REPORT MAINSTREAMING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION INTO THE COCOA PRODUCTION LANDSCAPE IN SOUTHWEST GHANA PREPARED BY Conservation Alliance No. 36 Odum Street North Dzorwulu, Accra APRIL 2013 Community Education and Awareness Creation Report Executive Summary Environmental services are the benefits that people, society and the economy receive from nature. For example: water provision and purification, flood and storm control, carbon storage and climate regulation, food and materials provision and tourism. Many environmental concerns today, including biodiversity loss, climate change and water availability can be attributed to agriculture. Some agricultural activities that lead to these damages include introduction of invasive species, erosion and deforestation, runoff of pesticides, fertilizers and animal wastes. These interactions must be considered to enable sustainable use of resources like water, soil, biodiversity and fossil fuels. CA with funds from BACP designed a project that will assist farmers to mainstream biodiversity conservation into the cocoa cultivation landscape. As part of the project, a community education and awareness creation campaign was mounted in the area: To create awareness about biodiversity conservation in communities in the Bia Conservation Area. To sensitize the public on the causes and effects of climate change, adaptation and mitigation measures. A series of approaches including community meetings/ durbars/ public meetings, media campaigns, presentations and open discussions were used to reach the communities. In general it was realized that communities possess good knowledge about the environment and processes that occur in it. This knowledge in our opinion can be complimentary to scientific knowledge. The knowledge that these communities possess allows them to detect and react to changes that occur in their environment.
    [Show full text]
  • Estimating the Recreational Value of Kakum National Park in Ghana
    Munich Personal RePEc Archive Estimating the recreational value of Kakum National Park in Ghana Ankomah, Emmanuel and Adu, Kofi Osei Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast 14 September 2014 Online at https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/58580/ MPRA Paper No. 58580, posted 14 Sep 2014 23:37 UTC ESTIMATING THE RECREATIONAL VALUE OF KAKUM NATIONAL PARK IN GHANA. EMMANUEL ANKOMAH1 and KOFI OSEI ADU2 1Department of Economics Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana 2Department of Economics University of Cape Coast Cape Coast, Ghana E-mail: [email protected] or [email protected] Abstract National parks and Conservational area in general play major role in human life. They serve as habitats for animals and insects, protection of water bodies, carbon sequestration, recreational sites, source of income and source of revenue to government. Notwithstanding these benefits there are reports of the destruction and degradation of the natural ecosystem worldwide. This situation has led to serious environmental problems such as loss of biodiversity, global warming, climate change and its attendant effects. If forest reserves come with so many benefits as enumerated above, why then are they being degraded? This study sought to estimate the recreational value of Kakum national park in Ghana. To be able to give an estimate of the recreational value, an economic valuation technique called the Travel Cost method was applied. The travel cost method is a survey based method that uses the cost of travelling to a site to estimate the demand function for the site. The data used for the study was obtained from 300 visitors to the Kakum National Park from August 12 – 14, 2013.
    [Show full text]