Back
 OALibJ  Vol.2 No.10 , October 2015
Wildfire Management in the Tain II Forest Reserve of Ghana: An Evaluation of Community Participation
Enoch Akwasi Kosoe1, Issaka Kanton Osumanu1*, Victor Rex Barnes2
Show more
Abstract: Until 1983 uncontrolled wildfires were uncommon, especially in the forest zones of Ghana. Unfortunately early efforts at curbing wildfires did not place emphasis on stakeholder management. This weakness has constrained wildfire management as a result of weak coordination among stakeholders in the management of wildfire. But an essential element for the success of wildfire management is the active involvement of all stakeholders. This study was conducted to assess the role of stakeholders in wildfire management in the Tain II Forest Reserve in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. The study relied on both qualitative and quantitative approaches using household questionnaires as its primary data collection instrument. The study reveals that stakeholders occasionally participated in wildfire management planning, implementation and monitoring activities at the community level. This assertion was confirmed by the index of participation indicating that stakeholders were occasionally involved in wildfire management regarding planning (0.59), implementation (0.60) and monitoring (0.56). Also, empirical results show that the absence of incentives and lack of insurance serve as disincentives for effective functioning of wildfire squad volunteers around the Tain II forest reserve. The study concludes that the success, or otherwise, of wildfire management interventions, to a large extent, depends on the degree of involvement of stakeholders and the support given to them.
Keywords: Wildfire Management, Stakeholder Participation, Volunteer Squads, Tain II Forest Reserve, Ghana
Cite this paper: Kosoe, E. , Osumanu, I. and Barnes, V. (2015) Wildfire Management in the Tain II Forest Reserve of Ghana: An Evaluation of Community Participation. Open Access Library Journal, 2, 1-11. doi: 10.4236/oalib.1101964.
References

[1]   Republic of Ghana (2006) National Wildfire Management Policy. Ministry of Land, Forestry and Mines, Accra.

[2]   IUCN (2002) Sustainable Tourism in Protected Areas. IUCN, Gland.

[3]   Makarabhirom, P., Ganz, D. and Onprom, S. (2002) Community Involvement in Fire Management: Cases and Recommendations for Community-Based Fire Management in Thailand. In: Moore, P., Ganz, D., Tan, C.L., Enters, T. and Durst, B.P., Eds., Communities in Flames: Proceedings of an International Conference on Community Involvement in Fire Management, RAP Publication 2002/25, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, 10-25.

[4]   Ganz, D. and Moore, P. (2002) Living with Fire: Summary of Communities in Flames International Conference. In: Moore, P., Ganz, D., Tan, C.L., Enters, T. and Durst, B.P., Eds., Communities in Flames: Proceedings of an International Conference on Community Involvement in Fire Management, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, 1-9.

[5]   Shield, J.B., Smith, W.R. and Ganz, D. (2006) Fire Management Working Paper: Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005. Report on Fire in the South East Asian (ASEAN) Region, Fire Management Working Paper FFM/10.

[6]   Ganz, D., Moore, P.F. and Shields, B.J. (2001). Report of an International Workshop on Community-Based Fire Management. RECOFTC and Project Fire Fight South East Asia, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 6-8 December 2000, RECOFTC Training and Workshop Report Series, 2001/3 Bangkok.

[7]   Moore, F.P. (2003) Community-Based Fire Management (CBFiM). Global Fire Summit, Sydney, 8 October 2003, International Wild Land Fire Summit Paper No. 5.

[8]   FAO (2003) Community-Based Fire Management: Case Studies from China, the Gambia, Honduras, India, the Lao People‘s Democratic Republic and Turkey. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, RAP Publication 2003/08, Forest Resources Development Service Working Paper FFM/2.

[9]   Ganz, D., Moore, P. and Reeb, D. (2003) Prologue: Community-Based Fire Management Case Studies from China, the Gambia, Honduras, India, Lao People‘s Democratic Republic and Turkey. Forest Resources Development Service, Working Paper FFM/2, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, RAP Publication 2003/08.

[10]   International Forest Fire News (IFFN) (2003) Outcomes of the International Wildland Fire Summit, Sydney, Australia, 8 October 2003. International Forest Fire News (IFFN), July-December 2003, 20-35, No. 29.

[11]   Barnes, V.R. (2008) Proposal for Community Fire Management in and around Tain II Forest Reserve in Sunyani Forest District. For Agro-Forestry Practices to Enhance Resource-Poor Livelihood Project (APERL). Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources and Faculty of Forest Resources Technology, KNUST, Kumasi, Unpublished Document.

[12]   Obiaw, E. (2004) The National Bushfire Strategy and Wildfire. In: Millar, D., Apusigah, A.A. and Berinyuu, A., Eds., The Chief, the Forestor and the Fireman: Proceedings of the Bushfire Workshop of February 2004, UDS/Care International, Tamale, 51-59.

[13]   He, C.C. (2002) Foreword. In: Moore, P., Ganz, D., Tan, C.L., Enters, T. and Durst, B.P., Eds., Communities in Flames: Proceedings of an International Conference on Community Involvement in Fire Management, RAP Publication 2002/25, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, 38-56.

[14]   Kieft, J. and Nur, A. (2002) Community-Based Disaster Management as a Response to Increase Risk to Disaster with Emphasis on Forest Fire. In: Moore, P., Ganz, D., Tan, C.L., Enters, T. and Durst, B.P., Eds., Communities in Flames: Proceedings of an International Conference on Community Involvement in Fire Management, RAP Publication 2002/25, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, 57-73.

[15]   Goldammer, G.J., Frost, H.G.P., Jurvelius, M., Kamminga, M.E., Kruger, T., Moody, I.S. and Pogeyed, M. (2002) Community Participation in Integrated Forest Management: Experiences from Africa, Asia and Europe. In: Moore, P., Ganz, D., Tan, C.L., Enters, T. and Durst, B.P., Eds., Communities in Flames: Proceedings of an International Conference on Community Involvement in Fire Management, RAP Publication 2002/25, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, 74-91.

[16]   Fire Fight West Africa (2003) Workshop Report on Pre-Project Workshop on Fire Fight, Kumasi, Ghana. Sponsored by International Tropical Timber (ITTO) and Organised by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).

[17]   Brody, D.S. (2003) Measuring the Effects of Stakeholder Participation on the Quality of Local Plans Based on the Principles of Collaborative Ecosystem Management. Journal of Planning, Education and Research, 22, 407-419.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0739456X03022004007

[18]   Grumbine, E. (1994) What Is Ecosystem Management? Conservation Biology, 8, 27-38.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1994.08010027.x

[19]   Westley, F. (1995) Governing Design: The Management of Social Systems and Ecosystems Management. In: Gunderson, L., Holling, C.S. and Light, S.S., Eds., Barriers and Bridges to the Renewal of Ecosystems and Institutions, Columbia University Press, New York, 391-427.

[20]   Yaffee, S., Ali, P., Frentz, I., Hardy, P., Maleki, S. and Thorpe, B. (1996) Ecosystem Management in the United States: An Assessment of Current Experience. Island Press, Washington DC.

[21]   Duane, T. (1997) Community Participation in Ecosystem Management. Ecology Law Quarterly, 24, 771-797.

[22]   Duram, L. and Brown, K. (1999) Assessing Public Participation in U.S. Watershed Planning Initiatives. Society and Natural Resources, 12, 455-467.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/089419299279533

[23]   McCool, S. and Kathleen, G. (2001) Mapping the Dimensions of Successful Public Participation in Messy Natural Resources Management Situations. Society and Natural Resources, 14, 309-323.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/713847694

[24]   Brechin, S.R., West, P., Harmon, D. and Kutay, K. (1991) Resident People and Protected Areas: A Framework for Inquiry. In: West, P. and Brechin, S.R., Eds., Resident Peoples and National Parks: Social Dilemmas and Strategies in International Conservation, The University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 5-28.

[25]   Innes, J. (1996) Planning through Consensus Building: A New View of the Comprehensive Planning Ideal. Journal of American Planning Association, 62, 460-472.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/01944369608975712

[26]   Castro, P.A and Nielsen, E. (2001) Indigenous People and Co-Management: Implications for Conflict Management. Environmental Science and Policy, 4, 229-239.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S1462-9011(01)00022-3

[27]   Orgle, T.K. (2000) Wildfire Management Project in the Transitional Zone of Ghana. Project Document for the Natural Resources Management Programme (NRMP). Royal Netherlands Embassy, and Ministry of Lands and Forestry, Accra.

[28]   Amanor, K.S. (2002) Bushfire Management, Culture and Ecological Modernization in Ghana. IDS Bulletin, 33, 65-74.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1759-5436.2002.tb00008.x

[29]   Republic of Ghana (1996) The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) Act (Act 517). Ministry of Interior, Accra.

[30]   Amissah, L. (2008) Indigenous Fire Management Practices in Ghana. Traditional Forest-Related Knowledge and Sustainable Forest Management in Africa. IUFRO World Series Vol. 23.

[31]   Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (2002) National Action Programme to Combat Drought and Desertification. EPA, Accra.

[32]   Hall, J.B. and Swaine, M.D. (1981) Distribution and Ecology of Vascular Plants in a Tropical Rain Forest: Forest Vegetation in Ghana. W. Junk, The Hague.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-8650-3

[33]   Adhikari, R.J. (2001) Community-Based Natural Resource Management in Nepal with Reference to Community Forestry: A Gender Perspective. Journal of the Environment, 6, 9-22.

[34]   FAO (2007) Fire Management—Global Assessment 2006. A Thematic Study Prepared in the Framework of the Global Forest Resources Assessment 2005. FAO Forestry Paper 151, Rome.

[35]   FAO (2009) Forest Fires and the Law: A Guide for National Drafters Based on the Fire Management Voluntary Guidelines. FAO Legislative Study 99.
www.fao.org/docrep/011/i0488e/i0488e00.htm

[36]   McCay, B.J. and Jentoft, S. (1998) Market or Community Failure? Critical Perspectives on Common Property Research. Human Organization, 57, 21-29.
http://dx.doi.org/10.17730/humo.57.1.372712415k227u25

[37]   Zhang, L.C., Wu, L., Zhao, Y.Q. and Lu, C.Z. (2003) Community-Based Forest Fire Management in Wenyime Village, Sanchahe Township, Dayao Country, Chuxiong Yi Autonomous Prefecture. Forest Resources Development Service, Working Paper FFM/2. RAP Publication 2003/08. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok.

[38]   Dampha, A. (2003) Management of Forest Fires through the Involvement of Local Communities: The Gambia. Forest Resources Development Service, Working Paper FFM/2. RAP Publication 2003/08. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok.

[39]   Alvarado, A.C., Rosales, E.S. and Aguilar, S.A.M. (2003) Management of Forest Fires and the Participation of Local Communities. Forest Resources Development Service, Working Paper FFM/2. RAP Publication 2003/08. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok.

[40]   Nanda, K.P. and Sutar, C.P. (2003) Management of Forest through Local Communities: A Study in the Bolangir, Deogarh and Sundergarh Districts of Orissa, India. Forest Resources Development Service, Working Paper FFM/2. RAP Publication 2003/08. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok.

[41]   London, S. (2003) Community-Based Fire Management in Lao People’s Democratic Republic: Past, Present and Future. Forest Resources Development Service, Working Paper FFM/2. RAP Publication 2003/08. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok.

[42]   Kurtulmuslu, M. and Yazici, E. (2003) Management of Forest Fires through the Involvement of Local Communities in Turkey. Forest Resources Development Service, Working Paper FFM/2. RAP Publication 2003/08. FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok.

 
 
Top