MINISTRY OF LANDS & NATURAL RESOURCES
NATIONAL FOREST PLANTATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
2015 ANNUAL REPORT FOREST SERVICES DIVISION - FORESTRY COMMISSION NOVEMBER, 2016
Cover Photo: Members of the Forestry Commission Board inspecting the Form Ghana Ltd. tree nursery at Akomadan in the Offinso Forest District, Ashanti Region.
i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The implementation of the National Forest Plantation Development Programme (NFPDP) chalked 13 years in 2015 in pursuit of its goal of "developing a sustainable resource base that will satisfy the future demand for industrial timber and enhance environmental quality, thereby relieving the pressure on the natural forest and increasing the forest cover". The key activities undertaken under the NFPDP during the 2015 forest plantation year (April, 2015 - March, 2016) are detailed in this report.
The main field interventions under the NFPDP in 2015 were the establishment of 5,494.74ha of forest plantations under three (3) components of the NFPDP, together with collection of 2,627kg of Teak seeds; and maintenance operations in 11 Teak Seed Orchards/Seed Production Areas. The plantation establishment comprises 15ha Model plantation in the Bibiani Forest District, 32ha trial African Rosewood (Pterocarpus erinaceus) plantations in 8 selected Forest Districts across various vegetation zones, 76ha model Kihuhwi Provenance Teak plantation in the Nkawie Forest District, 148ha by the FC-Industry Plantation Fund in the Dormaa Forest District and 3,906ha of plantations by 45 private commercial developers on-reserve nationwide. Commercial developers establishing plantations under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the Forestry Commission contributed 3,279ha (84%) of the area planted by private commercial developers on-reserve in 2015.
Additional activities included the retrieval (from 25 non-performing commercial developers) and allocation of 7,115ha (84 compartments) of degraded land within forest reserves to the private sector for plantation development. In addition, two (2) new Public Private Partnership (PPP) Land Leases and Benefit Sharing Agreements were signed covering an area of 18,244ha. PPP models for maintenance of young plantations were developed and received FC Board approval for implementation.
The total area established under the NFPDP as at the end of the 2015 plantation season was 185,526.55ha. Under the off-reserve component, African Plantations for Sustainable Development (APSD) established 1,316ha of Eucalyptus plantations in 2015 with an estimated cumulative area of 7,000ha planted to date.
Maintenance operations were undertaken in approximately 27,026ha of established plantations (weeding and pruning activities) within the 2002 to 2014 coupes by private commercial developers on and off-reserve. Due to lack of funds, maintenance operations were not undertaken in the FC established plantations. Forest plantation establishment and maintenance operations produced approximately 15,842 direct jobs within the year.
A total of 193,396 Teak trees with a standing volume of 34,066.452m3 were allocated for removal by logging companies. The trees were allocated within the 2002 - 2004 coupes of the Modified Taungya System (MTS) stands and 2004 coupe of the Government Plantations Development Project (GPDP/HIPC) stands, valued at approximately GH¢6.0 Million (GH¢176.25/m3; 17.5% VAT & NHIL inclusive). An amount of GH¢468,471.36 was paid in 2015 to MTS beneficiaries (Farmer Groups, Landowners and local communities).
An amount of GH¢598,331.91 was paid as ground rent by private plantation developers (including PPPs) in 2015 to the respective Forest Reserve landowners through the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL).
ii Twenty-four (24) MTS Benefit Sharing Agreements were signed in 2015 with 51 awaiting signature.
Field verification and mapping of the reported achievement of plantations established under the MTS and Community Forestry Management Project (CFMP) commenced in March, 2016 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2016.
An estimated 10,126 Metric Tonnes (MT) of food crops were produced within the 2013 - 2015 plantation coupes (3,756.91ha) compared to 28,919.88MT within the 2012 - 2014 plantation coupes (9,475ha) produced during the 2014 planting year. The major crops produced during the year were Plantain – 6,006MT, Cereals (maize, millet and rice) – 1,147MT, Tubers (Cocoyam, Cassava and Yam) – 2,551MT, Legumes (Beans, Cowpea, Groundnut and Sorghum) - 20MT and Vegetables (Tomato, Pepper, Garden Eggs) – 401MT.
The period under review witnessed a high incidence and extent of wildfires across the country during the dry season. The severe Harmattan coupled with the relatively low rainfall amounts contributed significantly to the phenomenon. Wildfire reports at the end of March, 2016 indicated that 10,015ha of plantations within the 2002 - 2015 coupes were affected by fire during the 2015/2016 fire season (November, 2015 – March, 2016) compared to 5,025ha in the 2010 - 2014 coupes affected by fire last year, an increase of 99.3% over the previous year.
In the pursuit of a reliable and adequate source of funding for plantation establishment and maintenance, the Forestry Commission initiated the payment of conveyance fees for transportation of charcoal in December 2015. The proceeds from the conveyance fees would be used for the development and maintenance of forest plantations (fuelwood and timber plantations) and the production and distribution of free seedlings to farmers and woodlot developers to ensure sustainable production of wood fuel.
Three (3) external stakeholder consultative workshops were held in Tamale, Kumasi and Koforidua for the northern, middle and southern zones respectively to solicit inputs on the draft Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy (2016 – 2040). They were attended by representatives of Traditional Authorities, Legislature, Academia, Commercial Plantation Developers, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Forest Fringe Community Opinion Leaders and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). It is expected that the document would be validated and launched by the end of 2016.
iii 1.0 INTRODUCTION
The Government of Ghana in September 2001 launched the National Forest Plantation Development Programme (NFPDP) which has been implemented to date by the Forestry Commission under nine (9) components, based on specific funding sources and implementation strategies.
The goal of the NFPDP is to develop a sustainable resource base that will satisfy the future demand for industrial timber and enhance environmental quality, thereby relieving pressure on the natural forest and increasing forest cover.
The five (5) specific objectives of the NFPDP are: to restore the forest cover of degraded forest lands; to reduce the wood supply deficit situation in the country; to generate employment as a means to reduce rural poverty; to improve environmental quality and provide an opportunity for the country to tap the emerging benefits from the climate change market for carbon sequestration; and to enhance production of food crops thereby contributing to food security in the country.
During the 2015 forest plantation year (April, 2015 – March, 2016), a total area of 5,494.74ha was established bringing the cumulative total area established to date under the NFPDP to 185,526.55ha as detailed in Table 1 below:
Table 1: NFPDP components and achievements from 2002 to 2015 (ha) FSD PRIVATE EXPANDED FC-INDUSTRY LARGE- ††† PLANT- TOTAL GPDP DEVELOPERS PLANTATION PLANTATIONS SCALE † ATIONS PLANTED YEAR MTS / (HIPC) ON-RESERVE PROGRAMME FUND PRIVATE CFMP†† OFF-RESERVE AREA ON-RESERVE OFF- PLANTATION RESERVE 2002 17,341.00 1,609.00** 18,950.00 * 2003 17,541.00 1,609.00** 19,150.00 * 2004 16,090.00 5,509.84 1,609.00** 23,208.84 * 2005 10,241.00 3,341.93 1,609.00** 15,191.93 * 2006 11,699.00 2,708.50 1,609.00** 16,016.50 * 2007 11,442.00 2,947.82 1,609.00** 78.50 16,077.32 * 2008 3,041.00* 1,806.67 5,373.80*§ 160.00 10,381.47 2009 6,720.30* 902.84 2,586.90*§ 140.00 10,350.04 2010 2,512.79*§ 4,636.911 9,438.311 106.82 16,628.45 2011 3,240.38*§ 4,029.861 2,657.071 270.77 10,230.86 2012 2,613.03*§ 3,651.741 2,169.001 95.30 8,562.67 2013 2,399.31*§ 2,857.61 180.74 1,563.00 7,000.66 2014 3,674.51* 487.56 4,121.00 8,283.07 2015 3,906.94* 123.002 148.80 1,316.00 5,494.74 TOTAL 94,115.30 17,217.6 35,961.66 3,359.11 12,318.51 14,264.38 1,289.99 7,000.00 185,526.55 *Reported figures, yet to be 0ve rified by technical audit **Achievement of Private Developers for the period 2002-2007 has been estimated based on total establishment collated at the end of 2007, averaged over the period, due to lack of proper documentation on yearly achievements. 1Figures reviewed in 2013 following a joint verification of the effective area planted by the Service Companies and the Forest Services Division 215ha Model Plantation under the FIP ELCIR+ Project, 76ha Kihuwhi teak plantation in the Nkawie District, 32ha Rosewood Trial Plantations §Records on area planted by private plantation developers for the period 2008 – 2013 have been reviewed in accordance with updated records received in 2015. †Modified Taungya System. ††Community Forestry Management Programme. †††Government Plantation Development Project. 1 2.0 DESCRIPTION OF NFPDP COMPONENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS
Nine (9) components have been implemented to date and a brief description of the components and their achievements are provided below. An area of 4,178ha was established in 2015 under 3 components of the NFPDP. These components comprise the Private Commercial Developers on-reserve (including 3 PPPs) - 3,906ha; FC-Industry Plantations - 148ha; 108ha of Model Plantations established comprising 76ha of Kihuwhi Teak provenance plantation in Nkawie Forest District and 32ha (4ha each) of Rosewood Trial Plantations in the Sunyani, Kintampo, Nkawie, Offinso, Bole, Buipe, Tamale and Yendi Forest Districts. 15ha of plantations were also established in the Bibiani Forest District under the ELCIR+ Project of the Forest Investment Program (FIP).
2.1 The Forest Investment Programme (FIP)
The Forest Investment Programme (FIP) is a funded programme under the Strategic Climate Fund (SCF).The FIP seeks to finance country specific efforts to address the underlying causes of deforestation and forest degradation and pilot REDD+ field interventions. Ghana is among eight (8) pilot countries selected in 2010 to implement the FIP.
The FIP comprises 3 Projects: Enhancing Forest and Agroforest Landscapes (ENFAL/Project 1); Engaging Local Communities in REDD+ (ELCIR+/Project 2) and provision of concessionary loans to the private sector for businesses related to REDD+ (Project 3).
Project 1 (Enhancing Forest and Agroforest Landscapes/ENFAL Project) is being implemented through the World Bank with a total funding of 30million US Dollars. The interventions in this project are targeted towards enhancing carbon stocks in the natural forests, especially within the forest reserves. Project 2 (Engaging Local Communities in REDD+/ELCIR+ Project) is being implemented through AfDB with a total funding of 15million US Dollars. The interventions in this project are targeted towards communities to reduce the pressure on the natural forest. Project 3 is going to be implemented through the IFC with a total funding of 10million US Dollars. Project 3 essentially will provide concessionary loans to the private sector for businesses related to REDD+.
Broadly, the ENFAL Project is being implemented on-reserve and within an ecological corridor in the Western Region; while the ELCIR+ is being mainly implemented in off-reserve sites in the Brong Ahafo and Western Regions
Activities to be undertaken under the FIP ENFAL Project (Project 1) include Enrichment Planting within forest reserves which are poorly stocked with economic species, establishment of Model Plantations in degraded forest reserves, establishment of Model Nurseries, boundary planting of Forest Reserves and Admitted Farms, incorporation of trees in admitted farms, incorporation of trees in the Ecological Corridor, procurement of vehicles and field equipment, rehabilitation of Nsoatre on- reserve Sacred Grove, seed collection from Plus trees, implementation of a seed genetic improvement programme, and identification of lands on and off-reserve for commercial plantation development
Under the FIP ELCIR+ Project (Project 2), activities to be undertaken include the establishment of small and medium scale plantations off-reserve, woodlots, provision of efficient charcoal kilns, planting of trees on farms (cocoa and food crop farms), off-reserve Sacred Grove rehabilitation, 2 establishment of Model plantations, establishment of Seed Orchards, Fire squad formation and training, vehicle procurement and Tree Planters group formation.
The ELCIR+ Project was launched in 2014, while the ENFAL Project was launched in 2015.
Although establishment of plantations and other field interventions were expected to commence in 2016, 15ha of Model plantations was established in the Bibiani Forest District under the FIP ELCIR+ Project in 2015.
2.2 The Modified Taungya System (MTS) 2002 – 2009
The MTS involved the establishment of forest plantations by the Forest Services Division (FSD) in partnership with farmers in forest fringe communities.
The FSD provided technical direction, surveyed and demarcated degraded forest reserve lands and supplied pegs and seedlings while the farmers provided all the labour inputs in the form of site preparation, pegging, planting, tending and fire protection.
The farmers were permitted to cultivate their food crops which were inter-planted with the tree crops on the same piece of land. The farmers, in addition to the food crops they harvested, have a 40% share in the Standing Tree Value (STV) of the planted trees. The Government has a 40% share while the landowner and community will have a 15% and 5% share respectively. Twenty-four (24) MTS Benefit Sharing Agreements were signed in 2015 with 51 awaiting signature.
A total of 186,185 trees with a standing volume of 32,993.567m3 were allocated for removal by logging companies within the 2002 to 2004 coupes. An amount of GH¢468,471.36 was paid in 2015 to MTS beneficiaries (Farmer Groups, Landowners and local communities) from proceeds obtained from the removals. Details of payments made are indicated in Appendix 1.
2.3 Government Plantation Development Project (GPDP) 2004 – 2009
The Government Plantations Development Project (GPDP) utilized hired labour and contract supervisors to establish forest plantations. Plantation workers were hired and paid a monthly allowance to establish and maintain the plantations while plantation supervisors were engaged on contract basis to supervise and offer technical direction at the site level.
The FSD exercised general oversight and monitored field activities to ensure compliance with quality standards for plantation establishment. This strategy was funded through the Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) benefits. Under the scheme, plantations developed are owned by government and the respective landowners who are entitled to royalty payments.
The GPDP was implemented in degraded forest reserves within the High Forest Zone of Ghana. A total of 17,217.60ha was verified as established; however, maintenance was not carried out within the stands during the 2015 plantation year as expected due to the lack of funds. A total of 7,211 trees with a standing volume of 1,072.885m3 were allocated for removal by logging companies within the 2004 coupes.
3 2.4 Community Forestry Management Project (CFMP): 2005 – 2010
The Community Forestry Management Project (CFMP) was funded with a loan from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and adopted the MTS model for the establishment of forest plantations.
A total of 13,388ha was reported established within degraded forest reserves in the Brong Ahafo (Sunyani Forest District), Ashanti (Offinso Forest District) and Eastern Regions (Begoro and Akim Oda Forest Districts) at the end of the project in 2010.
2.5 Model Plantation component
In 2007 the Model Plantation component, a purely research based scheme was introduced to offer the FC plantation managers the opportunity to undertake mixed species trials and experiment with various planting designs and tree spacing. Tree spacing so far tried include 3m x 3m, 3m x 2m and 2.5m x 2.5m. Mixed exotic-indigenous species planting designs implemented include MS 3-12, MS 4-8, and MS 3-6-12.
378.5ha of model plantations was reported established within the High Forest and Transitional Zones of Ghana in degraded forest reserves between 2007 and 2009.
76ha of Kihuwhi Teak provenance was established in 2015 by the Nkawie Forest District together with 32ha of African Rose-wood Trial plantations in 8 Forest Districts making a total of 486.5ha of FC Model plantations. Rosewood species was chosen for trials due to the current high levels of exploitation in the transitional forest and savannah zones; and the need to explore the possibility of growing them in plantations.
2.6 Expanded Plantation Program (EPP) 2010 - 2012
The National Forest Plantation Development Programme (NFPDP) was expanded to include private lands located outside forest reserves under the Expanded Plantation Program (EPP). The EPP ensured that most of the Metropolitan/Municipal/District Assemblies without degraded forest reserves also benefited from the job opportunities being created through the NFPDP.
Under the Expanded Plantation Program, private companies were contracted to undertake the establishment and maintenance of plantations and the supply of seedlings. Messrs. Zoil Services Ltd. and Ecotech Services Ltd. undertook the establishment and maintenance whilst Messrs. African Foresters Brigade supplied the seedlings. The Forestry Commission played a monitoring and reporting role under this program.
A total of 26,582.89ha (12,318.51ha [46.3%] on-reserve and 14,264.38ha [53.6%] off-reserve) was jointly verified as planted over the three years of implementation.
The effective area planted was jointly verified by the Forestry Commission and the Service Companies. 18,987.55ha (71.5%) had survival percentage of 31% and above and were handed over to the Forestry Commission. 49% of the area handed over were within forest reserves while the remaining area (50.21%) handed over were in off-reserve areas.
7,595.34ha (37.65% on-reserve and 62.35% off-reserve) of the areas planted by the Service Companies had survival percentage of 30% and below, and therefore classified as failed. In accordance with the Management Service Contract between the FC and the Service Companies, the later were required to rehabilitate these failed areas at their own cost. 4 Financial Bonds covering the cost of the rehabilitation have been deposited with the Forestry Commission by the two Service Companies.
No rehabilitation of failed areas was undertaken by the two Service Companies in 2015.
2.7 FC-Timber Industry Plantation Development Fund Plantations
The Forestry Commission – Timber Industry Plantation Development Fund Committee (FC-Timber Industry Fund Committee) tasked the Forestry Research Institute of Ghana (FORIG) to establish Best Practice forest plantations of fast growing indigenous and exotic commercial timber species with funding from the FC-Timber Industry Fund.
FORIG has accordingly been establishing forest plantations on behalf of the FC-Timber Industry Fund Committee since 2010. These plantations have so far been established in the Eastern and Ashanti Regions, within selected degraded forest reserves.
148.8ha was established in 2015 in the Brong Ahafo Region, with 1,290ha planted to date. During the period under review, an additional 830ha was allocated by the FC to the FC-Timber Industry Forest Plantation Fund in the Pamu Brekum Forest Reserve for commercial plantation development.
2.8 Private Commercial Plantation Developers On-Reserve
Fig. 1: Operations Manager (Plantations) inspecting logs produced from a thinning exercise undertaken by Form Ghana Ltd.
The Private Commercial Plantation Developers On-reserve component involves the release of degraded forest reserve lands by the FC to private entities after vetting and endorsing their reforestation/business plans; and signing of Land Lease/Benefit Sharing Agreements (LL/BSAs). The operations of these private developers are then monitored through periodic field visits by the FSD to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the approved reforestation plans. The private investor earns 90% of the total proceeds from the plantation while the FC, Landowner and Community earn 2%, 6% and 2% respectively. The investor additionally pays ground rent of the
5 Ghana Cedi equivalent of $2/ha/year throughout the life of the investment.
6,735ha of degraded forest reserve lands (49 compartments) was allocated to 16 private commercial developers in 2015. This brings the total number of private developers that have been granted permits to undertake commercial plantation development within degraded forest reserves to 336 with a total allocated area of 145,726 ha in 54 forest reserves.
627ha was planted by 45 commercial developers on-reserve in 2015. This brings the total area reported developed by commercial plantation developers within forest reserves to 35,961.66ha. This figure is yet to be verified through a technical audit. Details of commercial forest plantation developers within degraded forest reserves can be found in Appendix 2.
Eighty-four (84) compartments with a corresponding area of 7,115ha were retrieved from 25 non- performing plantation developers in 2015. The exercise to retrieve compartments from non- performing plantation developers will be pursued in earnest in 2016.
An amount of Gh¢573,438.67 was collected by the FC as ground rent in 2015 and disbursed to the respective Forest Reserve landowners through the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL).
2.8.1 Commercial Forest Plantations under Public Private Partnership (PPP)
Fig. 2: Nursery staff of EcoPlanet Bamboo LLC raising bamboo seedlings in their nursery at Nkansaso in the Juaso Forest District, Ashanti Region.
6 Fig. 3: Assemblyman for Nkansaso (L) and Co-Founder of EcoPlanet Bamboo LLC. (R), inspecting a 3-month old bamboo stand in the company’s plantation in North Bandai Hills Forest Reserve, Juaso Forest District, Ashanti Region.
Fig. 4: Representatives of a fund agency conducting field due diligence within a one-year old bamboo plantation established by EcoPlanet Bamboo LLC in the North Bandai Hills Forest Reserve, Juaso Forest District, Ashanti Region
7 Two (2) companies, comprising Miro Forestry Company (Ghana) Ltd and Signum Ghana Ltd signed PPP agreements covering an area of 18,244ha in 2015. This brings to five (5), the PPP agreements so far signed between commercial developers and the Forestry Commission covering a total area of 37,390.36ha. Within the partnership, the private investor is entitled to 80% of the Standing Tree Value (STV) of the forest plantation and other benefits, with the Forestry Commission, Landowners and Forest fringe communities entitled to the remaining 20%. The investor also pays ground rent at the rate of the Ghana Cedi equivalent of $2/ha/yr to the landowner together with a landowner facilitation fee of $2/ha/yr for the customary services and conflict resolution role expected of the traditional authorities. The landowner facilitation fee is paid directly to the landowner. The FC undertakes survey and demarcation, fire education within fringe communities and supports in fire suppression/protection at its own cost as part of its contribution to the partnership.
Total area of PPP plantations developed in 2015 was 3,279.68ha with 6,038.68ha developed to date. A total amount of GH¢24,893.24 was paid in 2015 as annual ground rent to the landowners through the FC. An additional amount of US$68,100.72 (Ghana Cedi equivalent) was paid directly to landowners as Facilitation Fees.
A brief on the performance of the PPP investors follows below: i. FORM Ghana Ltd.
In May, 2013 the FC signed a Public Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with FORM Ghana to jointly undertake a commercial plantation of Teak and mixed indigenous species (Ofram, Mahogany, Albizia, Potrodom and Kola) covering 14,596ha within Tain II forest reserve in the Sunyani Forest District. As at the end of 2015 Form Ghana had established 4,249ha. ii. EcoPlanet Bamboo LLC
Fig. 5: Representatives of a fund agency conducting field due diligence within a one-year old bamboo plantation established by EcoPlanet Bamboo LLC in the North Bandai Hills Forest Reserve, Juaso Forest District, Ashanti Region 8 In November 2014, the FC signed a PPP agreement with the company for the development of a 2,818ha commercial bamboo plantation in the North Bandai Hills Forest Reserve, Juaso Forest District, Ashanti Region. EPBG will also grow Oxytenanthera abyssinica within areas set aside for conservation purposes and the regeneration of native species. This species is native to Ghana and is found growing wild in proximity to the North Bandai Forest Reserve.
In 2015, the company established 650ha of bamboo plantation. iii. Signum Ghana Ltd. In February 2015, the FC signed a PPP agreement with the company for the development of 16,453ha of commercial plantations in the Yerada Forest Reserve, Bole Forest District, Northern Region.
The company is yet to commence field operations. iv. Miro Forestry (Ghana) Ltd. In August 2015, the FC signed a PPP agreement with the company for the development of 1,791ha of commercial plantations (Teak and Eucalyptus) in the Boumfum Forest Reserve, Kumawu Forest District, Ashanti Region. The company planted 1,139.68ha in 2015 v. Platinum Plantations Ltd. In September 2015, the FC signed a PPP agreement with the company for the development of 1,210.36ha of commercial Rubber and Teak plantations in the Essen Epam Forest Reserve, Akim Oda Forest District, Eastern Region. The company is yet to commence plantation development.
2.9 Large-Scale Private Forest Plantations Off-Reserve
African Plantations for Sustainable Development (APSD) Ghana Limited is a privately owned company engaged in the establishment of fast-growing tree plantations for bio-energy production in the Atebubu Forest District of the Brong Ahafo Region.
APSD Ghana Limited has acquired an off-reserve concession with an estimated area of 86,000ha. In 2015, the company established 1,316ha of plantations. The company has so far established 7,000ha of Eucalyptus and Acacia plantations. APSD Ghana Ltd. aims to establish efficient electrical power production based on fast-growing Eucalyptus and Acacia plantations. The company plans to plant approximately 20,000ha of these trees species to feed two 30 MW power plants based on five to seven year tree rotations. Approximately 35% of the company’s estate has been set apart for biodiversity conservation and the company has been carrying out enrichment planting with indigenous timber species.
3.0 MAINTENANCE OF TEAK SEED ORCHARDS/SEED PRODUCTION AREAS
The Forest Services Division in January 2014, designated five (5) selected Teak seed stands in the Jasikan and Sunyani Forest Districts as Seed Production Areas (SPAs) to complement the existing six (6) Seed Orchards (SOs) for the collection of Teak seeds with superior genetic qualities. The locations of the Teak SPAs/SOs are indicated in Tables 2 and 3 below;
9 Table 2: Teak Seed Orchards Region Forest District Forest Reserve Compt./Series Extent (ha)
Eastern Kade Ajenjua Bepo 20 4.06 Central Dunkwa Oppon Mansi 30 4.086 Brong Ahafo Goaso Bia Tano 8 8.07 Sunyani Tain II 242 3 Ashanti Nkawie Asenayo 123 3.38 Western Tarkwa Bonsa River 34 3.71 Sub total 26.306
Table 3: Teak Seed Production Areas Region Forest District Forest Reserve Compt./Series Extent (Ha) Apepesu River Pampawie 17.21 Volta Jasikan Kabo River Worawora 24.1 Odomi Teteman 3 297 19.12 Brong Ahafo Sunyani Tain II 301 16.68 Sub total 80.11 TOTAL 106.416
Funds were released to undertake stand maintenance and seed collection within the 11 Seed Orchards (SOs) and Seed Production Areas (SPAs). Activities undertaken include weeding, removal of debris from the stands, seed collection, dehusking and bagging of the teak seeds.
It was expected that an average of 70 kilos of seed would be collected per ha from the stands producing 7,449.12kg of Teak seeds however, only 2,627.7kg was collected due to poor fruiting of the trees nationwide. The quantities of seeds collected per stand were as indicated in Table 4 below:
Table 4: Summary of Teak Seeds collected in 2015 Region Forest Forest Status Compt./ Seeds Value of seeds District Reserve Series Collected collected (GH¢) (Kg) Tain II SPA 297/301 30 1,200 Brong Sunyani Ahafo Tain II International Seed 242 140 8400 Provenance Apepesu River SPA Pampawie 760.4 30,416 Volta Jasikan Kabo River SPA Worawora 176.2 7,048 Odomi River SPA Teteman 267.1 10,684 Eastern Kade Ajenjua Bepo SO (Kihuhwi) 20 - - Central Dunkwa Oppon Mansi SO (Kihuhwi) 30 80 4,800 Ashanti Nkawie Asenanyo SO (Kihuhwi) 123 339 20,340 Brong 8 815 48,900 Goaso Bia Tano SO (Kihuhwi) Ahafo Western Tarkwa Bonsa River SO (Kihuhwi) 34 20 1,200 TOTAL 2,627.7 132,988
10 4.0 MAINTENANCE OF FC PLANTATIONS
In 2015, a budget of approximately GH¢13 million was presented for the tending, survival survey, beating up and procurement of seedlings with respect to the maintenance of an estimated 21,665ha of 2010 – 2013 plantation coupes. This area comprised 18,148ha established between 2010 and 2012 by Messrs Zoil Services Ltd. and Ecotech Services Ltd. and handed over to the Forestry Commission; and 2,857ha established directly by the Forestry Commission in 2013.
Due to non-release of funds the maintenance activities could not be undertaken. GH¢1.7 million was released towards the end of the period and maintenance operations are expected to commence in May 2016 after confirmation of successful sites.
5.0 FIRE INCIDENCES IN THE 2015/2016 FIRE SEASON
Fig. 6: Cedrela plantation ravaged by fire in the Tano Offin Forest Reserve, Nkawie Forest District, Ashanti Region.
The key fire protection interventions undertaken to mitigate fire incidences in the 2015/2016 fire season were sensitization and awareness creation by Resource Management Support Centre (RMSC) and FSD field officers. Due to lack of funds, fire ride construction/maintenance was not undertaken, with limited fire patrols by Forest Guards.
At the end of March 2016, reports indicated that 10,015ha of forest plantations had been affected by fire compared to 5,025ha affected by fire in 2014/2015 fire season. The affected districts and coupes are detailed in Appendix 3. The regional summary is as detailed below in Table 6.
11 Table 6: Summary of areas of plantations affected by wildfires in the 2015/2016 fire season (2002 to 2015 coupes)
REGION AREA BURNT (HA) Ashanti 1,512.55 Brong Ahafo 1,093.21 Eastern 4,302.13 Greater Accra 35.00 Northern 2,254.83 Upper West 333.87 Upper East 312.14 Volta 152.94 Central 18.53 Western 0.00 TOTAL 10,015.20
Fig. 7: Cedrela plantation ravaged by fire in the Tano Offin Forest Reserve, Nkawie Forest District, Ashanti Region.
12 6.0 FOOD PRODUCTION WITHIN 2012 TO 2014 PLANTATION COUPES
In 2015, an estimated 10,126 Metric Tonnes (MT) of food crops were produced from the 3,756.91ha of forest plantations established by the FC from 2013 to 2015. This data did not include 2015 plantain and cocoyam produce.
The major crops produced were as follows: Plantain – 6,006MT, Cereals (maize, millet and rice) – 1,147MT, Tubers (Cocoyam, Cassava and Yam) – 2,551MT, Legumes (Beans, Cowpea, Groundnut and Sorghum) - 20MT and Vegetables (Tomato, Pepper, Garden Eggs) – 401MT. A summary of the food production per region is shown in Table 7 below with the details with respect to the various coupes shown in Appendix 4. The data excludes 2015 plantain and cocoyam production.
Table 7: Summary of food production in 2015 (2013 to 2015 coupes)* REGION PLANTAIN CEREALS TUBERS LEGUMES VEGETA- TOTAL FOOD (MT) (Maize, (Cocoyam, (Beans, BLES PRODUCTION Millet, Rice) Cassava, Cowpea, (Tomato, (MT) (MT) Yam) (MT) Groundnut, Pepper, Sorghum) Garden (MT) Eggs)
(MT)
Ashanti 745.77 187.54 210.60 1.36 384.97 1,530.24
Brong Ahafo 481.60 194.38 222.80 6.50 4.96 910.23
Central 1,155.11 107.66 179.65 - - 1,442.41
Eastern 2,916.96 505.10 1,002.78 1.20 - 4,426.04
Greater Accra ------
Northern - 48.95 83.48 1.50 11.30 145.23
Upper East - 7.25 - 0.50 - 7.75
Upper West - 95.40 - 9.00 - 104.40
Volta - 1.30 - - - 1.30
Western 707.00 - 852.00 - - 1,559.00
TOTAL 6,006.43 1,147.58 2,551.31 20.06 401.22 10,126.60
*Food production estimated as follows: Plantation Area reported intercropped with food crops x 2MOFA 2010 Av. Yield (MT/ha) x specific crop production factor [plantain: 70%, Yam: 70%, Cocoyam: 30%, Maize: 100%]
1Agriculture in Ghana, Facts and Figures (2010). Ministry of Food and Agriculture, 2011
7.0 MONITORING OF FOREST PLANTATIONS
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Lands and Forestry undertook visits to plantation sites in the Brong Ahafo Region (APSD and Ayum) while the Forestry Commission Board undertook a visit to the Form Ghana plantation in Asubima Forest Reserve, Offinso Forest District, Ashanti Region. Staff of the FSD also undertook monitoring visits to plantation sites across the country.
13 Fig. 8: Managing Director of Form Ghana Limited briefing Chief Executive and a delegation from the FC on Form Ghana operations within the company’s teak plantation in Asubima Forest Reserve, Offinso Forest District, Ashanti Region.
Fig. 9: A 44-year old Aucoumea klaineana Plantation at Neung South Forest Reserve, Tarkwa Forest District, Western Region.
14 Fig. 10: FSD Staff undertaking diameter measurements of Aucoumea klaineana trees within the Aucoumea stand in the Neung South Forest Reserve, Tarkwa Forest District, Western Region.
8.0 CHALLENGES
Fig. 11: A culvert over River Bontire near the town of Abrewapong leading to the EcoPlanet Bamboo LLC’s plantation in North Bandai Hills Forest Reserve, Juaso Forest District, Ashanti Region, washed away by heavy rains.
15 8.1 Sustainable Funding of Plantation Establishment and Maintenance The key challenge to the NFPDP is the absence of reliable and adequate sources of funding for plantation establishment and maintenance by Government; and access to credit for small and medium scale commercial forest plantation developers.
8.2 General Condition of Established Plantations On-Reserve Out of the total of 164,494.85ha established by Forestry Commission and the private sector on- reserve, the Forestry Commission (FC) currently has an estimated 140,000 ha of plantations established since 2002 under its management. Out of this large forest plantation estate, an estimated 68,000 ha of plantations established between 2007 and 2013 are in urgent need of proper maintenance, fire protection, rehabilitation and other silvicultural interventions, especially; weeding, pruning and thinning. The estimated 72,000ha established between 2002 and 2006 require thinning, pruning and fire protection.
In 2015, inventories covering 2,916.57ha of the 2002 MTS coupe were carried out for purposes of commercial thinning. 186,185 trees with a standing volume of 32,993.567m3 were allocated to logging companies for removal.
8.3 Other Challenges
Fig. 12: Crossing River Boumfum to Miro Forestry Ltd’s plantation within the Boumfum Forest Reserve in the Kumawu Forest District, Ashanti Region.
16 Additional challenges to the management of the established FC plantations comprise the following: i. Inadequate Motorbikes and vehicles for field monitoring by FSD. ii. Annual destruction of planted areas by wildfire. iii. Destruction of planted seedlings by cattle (Fulani Herdsmen). iv. Unresolved issue of acceptable Benefit Sharing Arrangements for off-reserve plantations established under the EPP between Government and Landowners.
9.0 WAY FORWARD
Fig. 13: Kade District Forest Manager (M) and his team undertaking a reconnaissance survey of degraded sites with representatives of Newmont Golden Ridge Ltd. within the Kwekaru Forest Reserve, Eastern Region.