REPUBLIC OF GHANA MINISTRY OF ENVIORNMENT, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INNOVATION NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ACCRA NOVEMBER 2016 TABLE OF CONTENTS List of Tables ................................................................................................................................. iv List of Figures ................................................................................................................................. v Abbreviations/ Acronyms .............................................................................................................. vi FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................. ix EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................ x CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 1 1.1 Territorial Area ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Biogeographical Zones ..................................................................................................... 1 1.3 Biodiversity and its Significance ..................................................................................... 2 1.4 Biodiversity of Terrestrial Ecosystem in Ghana .............................................................. 3 1.4.1 The Flora of Terrestrial Systems............................................................................... 3 1.4.2 The Fauna of Terrestrial Systems ............................................................................. 4 1.5 Biodiversity of the Marine and Aquatic Systems............................................................. 5 1.5.1 Marine Systems ......................................................................................................... 5 1.5.2 Fresh water and other near Aquatic Systems ............................................................ 6 1.6 Status and trends of important biodiversity components ................................................. 7 1.6.1 Forest biodiversity .................................................................................................... 7 1.6.2 Agricultural biodiversity ........................................................................................... 7 1.6.3. Dry and sub-humid lands biodiversity ...................................................................... 8 1.6.4 Inland Water Biodiversity ......................................................................................... 8 1.6.5 Marine and Coastal Biodiversity .............................................................................. 9 1.7 Values of Biodiversity and its Contribution to Human Well-Being in Ghana................. 9 1.8 Current Approaches to Biodiversity Conservation Practices in Ghana ......................... 12 1.9 Key Interventions Aimed at Improving Biodiversity Conservation .............................. 14 1.9.1 Forestry and Wildlife Interventions ........................................................................ 14 1.9.2 Forest Sector Development Project (FSDP-I and II) .............................................. 15 1.9.3 Natural Resources Management Programme (NRMP)........................................... 16 1.10 Procedures used in Revising National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan ................ 18 Page i of 158 1.11 Overview of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) Chapters 19 1.12 NBSAP Linkages to Relevant National and International Initiatives ........................ 20 1.13 The Policy Context of the NBSAP ............................................................................. 21 CHAPTER TWO: THE UNDERLYING CAUSES OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN GHANA .. 26 2.1 Nature of Biodiversity Loss in Ghana ............................................................................ 26 2.1.1 Direct Causes of Biodiversity Loss......................................................................... 27 2.1.2 Indirect Causes of biodiversity loss ........................................................................ 32 2.2 Policy Implications of Biodiversity Loss ....................................................................... 33 2.3 Key Issues and Opportunities for biodiversity conservation in Ghana .......................... 33 2.3.1 Lessons Learnt from the Review of the Earlier of national Biodiversity Strategy . 33 2.3.2 Opportunities........................................................................................................... 38 CHAPTER THREE: NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY: VISION, PRINCIPLES, GOALS, PRIORITIES AND TARGETS ..................................................................................... 40 3.1 National Vision and Mission towards Biodiversity Conservation ................................. 40 3.1.1 Guiding Principles for Conservation and Management of Biodiversity ................. 40 3.2 Goal and Objectives ............................................................................................................ 41 3.2.1 National priorities and planning horizon ................................................................ 42 CHAPTER FOUR: BIODIVERSITY STRATEGY AND ACTION PLAN ............................... 46 4.1 National Biodiversity Actions Plan ................................................................................ 46 CHAPTER FIVE: NBSAP IMPLEMENTATION AND COORDINATION .......................... 70 5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 70 5.2 Strategies for Effective Management and Coordination of Biological Diversity .......... 70 5.3 Roles and Responsibilities of Stakeholders in the Implementation of NBSAP ............. 71 5.3.1 Roles of Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) 71 5.3.2 Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources (MLNR) ............................................... 72 5.3.3 Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) ............................................................ 73 5.3.4 Expected Roles of Private Sector and Civil Society Organisations ........................ 73 5.3.6 Role of Development Partners ................................................................................ 73 5.3.7 Role of other MDAs................................................................................................ 74 5.4 Framework for Engagement and Coordination .............................................................. 74 Page ii of 158 5.5 Monitoring and Evaluation Plan .................................................................................... 74 5.5.1 Overall Results Framework .................................................................................... 75 5.6 Communication and Outreach Strategy for the NBSAP ................................................ 90 5.6.1 Promoting social inclusion ...................................................................................... 90 5.6.2 Knowledge management plan ................................................................................. 91 5.6.3 Communications Strategy ....................................................................................... 92 5.7 Plan for Resource Mobilization for NBSAP Implementation ........................................ 92 5.8 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 104 References ................................................................................................................................... 105 Glossary of Terms ....................................................................................................................... 107 APPENDIX ................................................................................................................................. 110 Appendix 1 Summary of some past Intervention in the Forest and Wildlife Sector with impact on Biodiversity Conservation...................................................................................... 111 Appendix 2: Wildlife Conservation Areas in Ghana .......................................................... 116 Appendix 3: International Biodiversity Conventions and Agreements to Which Ghana Is Signatory ................................................................................................................................. 117 Appendix 4: Indicative Cost of Implementing NBSAP (2016-2020) ..................................... 117 Page iii of 158 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Vascular Plant Census of Ghana ...................................................................................... 4 Table 2: Indicative estimates of Biodiversity Products in Ghana ................................................ 10 Table 3 : Frequently Visited Ecotourism Sites in Ghana .............................................................. 11 Table 4: Wildlife conservation areas in Ghana ........................................................................ 13 Table 5: National Strategic Goals and Targets ............................................................................ 43 Table 6 : NBSAP Overall Results Framework ............................................................................... 75 Page iv of 158 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1 : Protected Areas