Biodiversity in Dry Semi-Deciduous Forest Zone: Comparison between Natural Forest, Cleared Forest and Teak Plantations in Ghana

Project Team:
Kankam, B.O., Opuni-Frimpong, E., Ofori-Boateng, C.A., Duah-Gyamfi , A. and Mensah, J.K.

Background
Th e continuous loss of forest cover over the years and its consequent devastating effect on global environmental conditions necessitated the use of planted forests worldwide. In 2007, it was estimated that 121,127 hectares of plantations mainly from exotic species such as teak, cedrela, Gmelina, pines and eucalyptus had already been established in Ghana. However, the extent to which these plantations support biodiversity is unknown. Plantation may a ffect biodiversity either positively or negatively yet, we do not know how different wildlife may respond to di fferent plantation types (especially  teak as pursued in this research). Given that many forest organisms depend on old-growth microhabitats, there is a priori reason to expect differences in relative abundance and diversity of species (e.g. amphibians, butterflies, macrofungi) in natural forests and plantations.

The study makes preliminary inferences about the biodiversity changes associated with plantation establishment (in this case in the dry semi-deciduous forest zone) in Ghana which may also identify the species most vulnerable to fragmentation. e objectives are as follows:
1. To examine and compare the amphibian and bu er y communities in a natural forest, cleared forest and teak plantations.
2. To examine and compare the diversity and abundance of macrofungi.
3. To assess and compare the diversity and abundance of seedlings and saplings.

Who We Are

Forestry Research Institute of Ghana is one of the 13 institutes of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). It is located at Fumesua near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. It started as a research unit within the Forestry Department in 1962. It was fully established as a research institute and named FOREST PRODUCTS RESEARCH INSTITUTE (FPRI) under the then Ghana Academy of Sciences in 1964 and in 1968 placed under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).

Contact Us

The Director
Forestry Research Institute of Ghana, P. O. Box UP 63 KNUST
Kumasi, Ghana

Tel :+233-(0)3220-60123/60373
Fax :+233-(0)3220-60121
Email : director@csir-forig.org.gh