Technische Universität Dresden Faculty of Environmental Sciences
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Technische Universität Dresden Faculty of Environmental Sciences An Analysis of how Access to Land and Institutions affect Urban Forests Development. A Case Study of Kumasi, Ghana Doctoral dissertation for obtaining the degree of Doctor rerum silvaticarum (Dr. rer. silv.) Submitted by Patrick Opoku Born on 22.03.1981 in Kumasi, Ghana M.Sc. Development Planning and Management (SPRING) Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Norbert Weber- Technische Universität Dresden, Germany Prof. Christian Pilegaard Hansen- University of Copenhagen, Denmark Reviewers: Prof. Dr. Norbert Weber- Technische Universität Dresden, Germany Prof. Dr. Jürgen Pretzsch- Technische Universität Dresden, Germany Prof. Vilis Brukas- Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden Dresden 09.10.2018 Declaration of conformity I hereby confirm that this copy conforms to the original dissertation on the topic: An Analysis of how Access to land and Institutions affect Urban Forestry Development. A Case Study of Kumasi, Ghana. Location, Date Doctoral Candidate’s Signature ii Note on the commencement of the doctoral procedure 1) I hereby assure that I have produced the present work without inadmissible help from third parties and without aids other than those stated; ideas taken directly or indirectly from external sources are identified as such. 2) When selecting and evaluating the material and also when producing the manuscript, I have received no support from other persons. 3) No further persons were involved in the intellectual production of the present work. In particular, I have not received help from a commercial doctoral adviser. No third parties have received monetary benefits from me, either directly or indirectly, for work relating to the content of the presented dissertation. 4) The work has not previously been presented in the same or a similar format to another examination body in Germany or abroad, nor has it been published. 5) I confirm that I acknowledge the doctoral regulations of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences of the Technische Universität Dresden Dresden, 09 October 2018 Patrick Opoku iii Dedication This thesis is dedicated to my parents Mr. Alfred Attah Okrah (the late) and Ms. Elizabeth Amoako for the sacrifices they made for my education. iv Acknowledgement “Wisdom is like a baobab tree; no one individual can embrace it”. This Ghanian proverb that exists in different forms in many African languages can be applied to the vast treasure of people who have contributed in diverse ways to make this study successful. Certainly this doctoral study would not have been successful without the extended help of others. First of all, I owe my deepest gratitude to the Almighty God for the gift of life and protection throughout the study. Financial support for the doctoral studies was made available through the kind gesture of the Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER). I am grateful to the Director Prof. Dr. Dr. Bernhard Müller and the Management Board for the scholarship offer. I am highly indebted to my first Supervisor, Prof. Dr. rer. silv. habil Norbert Weber, holder of the Chair of Forest Policy and Forest Resource Economics, Technische Universität (TU) Dresden for his patience, scientific commitment, guidance and sacrifices he made during the doctoral program. I have come across few professors with such capabilities for nuanced, critical thinking, and impressive, adaptable skills as Professor Weber displayed during my stay with him as a doctoral student and also as a fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Climate Protection Fellowship Program. He has always been a friendly supervisor and a regular participant of my doctoral committee meetings. The combination of his deep commitment for developing international students and intellectual rigor made it a pleasure to work with him. Secondly, my heartfelt gratitude goes to my second supervisor, Professor Christian Pilegaard Hansen of Copenhagen University, Denmark whose extensive research experience and constructive comments inspired and motivated me to work harder. He has been a valuable advisor on this project contributing thought-provoking and sophisticated questions and reflections on the thesis. His research experience and knowledge of the Ghanaian context was an asset to this dissertation. My appreciation also goes to Prof. Dr. habil. Peter Deegen and all the staff at the Chair of Forest Policy and Forest Resource Economics, TU Dresden especially; Ms. Diana Hofmann, Ms. Kristin Jäkel and Ms. Annelies Friederici for the support offered me during my stay at the chair as a Humboldt fellow. I wish to express my profound gratitude also to Dr. Paulina Schiappacasse, Dr. Sabine Scharfe and Sarah Carola Strugale whose assistance made me enjoy my stay at the Dresden Leibniz Graduate School (DLGS). In addition, I wish to thank Dr. Robert Schlicht of TU Dresden for his advisory role on the statistical analysis of the study. I also thank my colleagues at the DLGS v who have contributed in various ways to make my studies a success. Especially, Ms. Friederike Seifert who assisted me with the translation of the abstract from English to German. My heartfelt appreciation also goes to Ms. Antonie Gebbensleben for the support she provided to my family and me during this doctoral study. Finally, I am very grateful to my dear wife Mrs. Dorothy Opoku for her love and support and also I thank my children Britney Opoku Nhyirah and Liana Opoku Nhyirah for their sacrifices. Last but not least, I would like to express my appreciation to all the institutions and individuals that assisted me during my field research work in Ghana. Especially, I thank my field assistants; Mr. Peter Ampadu Daaduam, Joshua Twumasi Amponsah, Micheal Ochem, Ms. Gyimah Cecilia Akuley and Millicent Osei whose dedication was very vital in getting reliable data for the study. vi Table of Contents Dedication ........................................................................................................ iv Acknowledgement ............................................................................................ v Figures .............................................................................................................. x Abbreviations .................................................................................................. xiii ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................... 1 CHAPTER 1 ........................................................................................................ 7 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................. 7 1.1 Problem statement and justification .......................................................... 9 1.2 Research questions, objectives and hypotheses .................................. 14 1.3 Thesis structure ........................................................................................... 15 CHAPTER 2 ...................................................................................................... 17 THEORETICAL AND CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND ............................................. 17 2.0 Introduction .................................................................................................. 17 2.1 Urban forest and urban forestry ................................................................ 18 2.1.1 Definitions ...................................................................................................... 18 2.1.2 Public perceptions and attitudes toward urban forestry ......................... 21 2.2 Theory of access ......................................................................................... 24 2.3 Property rights ............................................................................................. 26 2.4 Institutions .................................................................................................... 37 2.4.1 Defining institutions ...................................................................................... 38 2.4.2 Formal and informal institutions ................................................................. 39 2.4.3 Analytical framework for institutional analysis ......................................... 40 2.5 Conceptual framework linking access and institutions to urban forestry ................................................................................................................ 43 2.6 Chapter conclusions ................................................................................... 45 CHAPTER 3 ...................................................................................................... 46 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY ........................................................ 46 3.0 Introduction .................................................................................................. 46 3.1 Ontology and epistemological positions of the study ........................... 46 3.1.1 Positivism/Objectivism ................................................................................. 47 3.1.2 Interpretivism/Constructivism ..................................................................... 48 3.1.3 Critical realism .............................................................................................. 49 3.2 Case study approach .................................................................................. 51 3.3 Case study area ..........................................................................................