The 1994 forestry policy in Ghana gave ‘birth' to the concept of collaboration and decentralisation, with the hope that involvement of all stakeholders and the devolution of power to the lower levels could contribute to sustainable forest management and improvement in forest governance and livelihoods, especially at the community level. True to this, government, through the sector ministry and the forestry commission as well as civil society and the donor community have pursued several programs (establishment of CBOs-CFCS, CBAGs etc, boundary cleaning contract with forest fringe communities, Modified taungya systems etc) all aimed at promoting good forestry governance and livelihood innovations.

This study therefore will examine and provide insight into the dynamics of forest and tree-related livelihood conflicts and management pathways in the context of forest governance in Ghana. To what extent can knowledge about the dynamics of those conflicts and management pathways contribute to reducing forest conflicts and promoting pro-poor forest governance?

Specific objectives

1. To explore types of forest and tree related livelihood conflicts, underlying causes and impacts.
2. To identify stakeholders involved in forest and tree-related livelihood conflicts and their relations.
3. To clarify the way different stakeholders perceive and frame forest and tree-related livelihood conflicts in specific conflict cases (Detailed analysis will be carried out by Msc. Student.).
4. To analyse the dynamics in forest and tree-related livelihood conflicts in terms of a) stakeholders b) framing and reframing processes c) effects on resource base d) institutional changes (formal and informal) e) contextual factors.
5. To analyse existing conflict management mechanisms and the extent to which they help or hinder resolve forest and tree-related livelihood conflicts.
6. To analyse the customary and statutory law procedures in forest and tree-related conflict management mechanisms.
7. To come forward with recommendations for improved forest and tree -related conflict management pathways.

Duration
15^th March, 2008 to 31^st December, 2011

Expected outputs:

1. Types of forest and tree related livelihood conflicts, underlying causes and impacts explored.
2. Stakeholders involved in forest and tree-related livelihood conflicts and their social network relations identified.
3. Different stakeholders perceived and framed forest and tree-related livelihood conflicts in specific conflict cases (Detailed analysis will be carried out by Msc. Student.) carried out.
4. Dynamics in forest and tree-related livelihood conflicts in terms of a) stakeholders b) framing and reframing processes c) effects on resource base d) institutional changes (formal and informal) e) contextual factors analysed.
5. Existing conflict management mechanisms and the extent to which they help or hinder resolve forest and tree-related livelihood conflicts documented.
6. Customary and statutory law procedures in forest and tree-related conflict management mechanisms analysed.
7. Good and Pro-poor forest governance options of forest and tree-related conflict management pathways recommended.

Projects Outcomes:
 Infosheet: Project information 1.20 MB
 Infosheet: Actors in Ghanaian forest use and governance 342.11 KB
 Infosheet: Forest governance: What it is and what it looks like 1.73 MB
 Infosheet: Forest and tree-based livelihoods in Ghana’s High Forest Zone: Reforestation schemes 739.91 KB
 Infosheet: Forest and tree-based livelihoods in Ghana’s High Forest Zone: timber from forests and farmland 416.86 KB
 Infosheet: The importance of non-timber forest products to people’s livelihoods in the High Forest Zone 439.98 KB
 Infosheet: Forest-related livelihoods in Ghana’s High Forest Zone: The Modified Taungya System 463.33 KB

Implementing Partners

	University of Amsterdam
	Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology