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TBI-Ghana has gone through an elaborate programme development process.
In this process, problems related to sustainable forest management
were identified. Those problems that can be solved by information
form TBI-Ghana's research framework. The following projects are
implemented under TBI-Ghana's research framework.
Research
Silvicultural
interventions in tropical moist forest in Ghana: an assessment of
forest response
This research project aims to contribute to the development of appropriate
silvicultural systems and growth models for improved forest management
by evaluating the effects of the past silvicultural treatments on
forest condition and productivity. The study will examine tree growth
and mortality rates and the competitive interactions resulting from
the interventions. Other issues to be assessed include shifts in
forest structure and composition, plant life form diversity and
the value of the forest to various stakeholders.
Managing
natural resource conflicts: the role of empowerment. A case of forest
conflicts in Ghana
The research aims at studying forest-based conflicts in Ghana with
the view to making appropriate scientific and policy recommendations
to provide options for effective stakeholder conflict management
and stakeholder collaboration. The outputs will be useful to policy
makers and forest managers in providing a tool for the management
of conflicts in policy and management decisions that will pro-actively
prevent potential conflict scenarios.
Modelling
composition and performance of timber tree regeneration after selective
logging
Selection of trees for felling and retention as seed trees, combined
with the distribution and intensity of extraction disturbance are
variables, which have a major influence on the composition and distribution
of tree regeneration. They are also variables, which management
and logging practice can influence. Implicit in Ghana's current
Girth Limit Selection system is an expectation that logging disturbance
will permit and may even enhance the regeneration of timber tree
species for future harvest. But tree selection and retention are
largely based on market and milling demands. Current harvesting
guidelines focus on a balanced selection of trees for felling with
consideration of advance regeneration. These guidelines are disconnected
from seedling regeneration requirements. This project will link
existing survey data on the composition of timber tree regeneration
to seed sources and to canopy and soil.
Geo
information applications for off-reserve tree management in Goaso
district, Ghana
The main research objective is to improve management of off-reserve
tree resources in Goaso. New methodologies will be developed or
existing methodologies adapted to assess availability and potential
of off-reserve tree resources, to analyze stakeholder requirements
and identify appropriate mechanisms for stakeholder motivation.
National staff will be trained to apply these methodologies. The
outputs will be included in the national forest sector database
(CANOPY) that is currently being established in the framework of
the NAFGIM initiative.
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Research site
Based on the contours of the programme, a final selection
of the research site has been made. The site is about three
hours drive, west of Kumasi, near the town of Goaso. It is
made up of six contiguous forest reserves which offer opportunities
for studying issues connected with logging, wildlife and forest
protection together with their socio-economic dimensions.
The study site is in the Goaso Forest District, with an area
of 2,187.5 km2. The district has six (6) forest reserves with
a total area of 761.23 km2, making it one of the richest forest
districts in Ghana. The forests have been extensively logged,
but they still remain productive, and constitute one of the
few examples of sustainable logging in West Africa; forests
outside the reserves are however unsustainably logged. Another
forest reserve, the 'Bobiri' reserve close to Kumasi, has
also been selected for the great amount of basic data already
available and for the opportunities it offers for studies
on eco-tourism.
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Training
MSc students
in the Netherlands
TBI-Ghana supports some students to do their forestry related MSc
in the Netherlands. Follow the link above for Ghanaian students
who are currently in the Netherlands.
PhD students
As part of the current projects two students will be trained up
to the PhD level. The PhD students are related to the projects Managing
natural resource conflicts: the role of empowerment. A case of forest
conflicts in Ghana and Silvicultural
interventions in tropical moist forest in Ghana: an assessment of
forest response
Student Platform
The current education system at universities in Ghana mainly involves
information transfer from lecturer to student. There is often little
room for project work, practical fieldwork and two-way communication.
However, current working environments ask for fresh graduates with
a
broad horizon: international working experience, practical know-how
and familiarity with other disciplines. Students want to obtain
theseskills and knowledge, but do not know where to start.
In order to contribute to filling a gap in current education system,
TBI-Ghana has set up a Student Platform. The Student Platform facilitates
student research related to sustainable forest management and sustainable
development. The following activities are to be undertaken within
the Student Platform:
· Facilitate interdisciplinary and intercultural student
group research
· Facilitate individual student research
· Assist in finding relevant study programmes
· Transform research results into tailor-made information
Two interdisciplinary student groups have finalised their projects
on agroforestry and livelihood
opportunities . More
information on the project.
Communication Training
For research results to have an impact, target groups should be
involved in the research process from the beginning until the end.
Moreover, some effort has to be made to transform the scientific
information into formats that your target group can understand.
TBI-Ghana has therefore started organising a quarterly communication
training. This one-day training seeks to improve scientists' presentation
and writing skills.
Bridging
science and society to conserve Ghana's rainforest
The overall objective is to contribute to conservation of the forest
through raising awareness and linking scientific knowledge and society.
The training component in this project involves raising awareness
of forest fringe communities and general public on how to use the
forest in a sustainable way and facilitate bottom-up information
flow. To achieve this, TBI-Ghana organises participatory rapid appraisal
(PRA), and participatory learning actions (PLAs) in a great number
of villages in and around the TBI-Ghana study area supported by
a travelling poster exhibition.
Refresher courses
In collaboration with International Agricultural Centre (IAC) in
the Netherlands, TBI-Ghana organised a refresher course for IAC
alumni. The course was on 'Leadership
and Adaptive Management in Forest Environments'.
Library
TBI-Ghana has set up a small library at the TBI-Ghana office on
the FORIG compound. Besides TBI publications and some information
on sustainable forest management in Ghana, the library provides
information on forestry related courses in the Netherlands and on
fellowships. The library is open during working hours from Monday
until Friday.
Design and test of methods
The following activities are undertaken to support the design and
testing of appropriate methods that will improve the formulation
and implementation of policy and sustainable forest management techniques.
Silvicultural
interventions in tropical moist forest in Ghana: an assessment of
forest response
See above
Managing
natural resource conflicts: the role of empowerment. A case of forest
conflicts in Ghana
See above
Modelling
composition and performance of timber tree regeneration after selective
logging
See above
Geo
information applications for off-reserve tree management in Goaso
district, Ghana
See above
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