Project Team:
Sparkler, B.S., Obiri, B.D., Derkyi, N.S.A., Dabo, J. and Adjei, R.

Background
Ninety percent (90%) of wood fuel supply in Ghana is derived directly from the natural forest. Over exploitation of traditional hard wood species such as Anogeissus leiocarpus (Kane), Milicia excelsa (Odum) and Khaya senegalensis (Mahogany) has resulted in scarcity of these species. Th is has led to charcoal producers switching to new soft wood species, which produce loads of charcoal dust, burns quickly, and generates charcoal of poor quality. In spite of this shi\Z in tree species used for charcoal production, there is virtually no empirical information on the emerging wood fuel species that are used for charcoal production.

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Project Team:
Apetorgbor, M.M., Peprah, T., Mensah,J.K., Duah-Gyam fi, A. and Darko-Obiri, B.

Background
Several hectares of plantations are being established in Ghana to reforest degraded forest lands for the past two decades. During the initial establishments of these plantations, diff erent herbicides are used by farmers to selectively remove or kill non-economic plant species, which often compete with the tree saplings for light, water, space and nutrients. Th e continual use of these herbicides depletes populations of ecologically important soil micro-organisms and causes loss of soil fertility. Th e herbicides also alter soil properties, such as pH, which in turn inhibits essential microbial activity.

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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.

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Project Team:  
D. Blay, L.Damnyag,  L. Anglaere, Twum Ampofo, F. Dwomoh, Local community reps
Project Duration: 2012-2015

Background
Continuous DFD both in and outside forest reserves  in Ghana has negative impact on local livelihood and the environment. The negative impacts are: Shortage of forest resources; Climate change effects; Loss of biodiversity; Phase I rehabilitated some of degraded forest areas with forest fringe communities collaboration. Local communities established 240 ha of plantations  in some degraded forest reserves. With new benefit-sharing farmers who planted the trees and land owners are entitled to 40%.

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Project Implementation Team:
K. Owusu-Afriyie, E.G. Foli, G. Ametsitsi, A. Duah-Gyamfi, S.Addo-Danso, E. Nutakor, B. Darko-Obiri, S. Adu-Bredu, S. B. Acquah, S. Akpalu, G. Djagbletey, J. Mensah, E. Obeng, C. Konto, S. Pentsil

Background
The new National Forest Plantation Development Programme (NFPDP) was launched in January 2010. It entailed nationwide establishment and maintenance of plantations in degraded forest reserves and outside forest reserves. In 2011, the MLNR engaged the services of independent verifiers to assess the performance of the programme after one year of implementation.

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Project Team:
Emmanuel Opuni-Frimpong, Victor K. Agyeman, Beatrice Darko Obiri, K. A Ghartey, David F. Karnosky, Nana Yaa Nyarko-Duah, Samuel Mensah Opoku, Andrew Burton

Background
Defined in Article 12 of the Kyoto Protocol, allows Non-Annex 1 countries to achieve sustainable development and contribute to the objective of the UNFCCC which is to prevent dangerous Climate Change and assist Annex 1 countries to achieve compliance with their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments. It allows countries with reduction or emission-limitation commitment under the Kyoto Protocol (Annex 1 Party) to implement an emission-reduction project in developing countries. CDM allows for emissions reduction and removal.

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Project Team:
Bright Obeng Kankam, Caleb Ofori Boateng, Victor Kwame Agyeman Funding Agency: Newmont Golden Ridge Ltd

Background
Mining operations destroy forest habitats and negatively impact on wildlife (WRM, 2004).   First survey before the forest was cleared: a total of 22 amphibians species, 9 reptiles species (7 snakes and 2 tortoises), 79 species of birds and 12 species of mammals were confirmed to be present.

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