Unsustainable Management of Forests in Ghana from 1900-2010

Abstract

Forests play important roles in maintaining and balancing the natural ecosystem. The high rates of deforestation in recent years however have become concerned for all governments all over the world. The high rates have resulted in a number of climatic changes such as global warming with its effects on the global environment giving rise to sea levels and the resultant adverse effects. The role of forest cover in hydrological and carbon cycles in the atmosphere is enough evidence of its importance and the need to protect its cover. Between 1900 and 1999, more than 6.5 million hectors of forest was degraded in Ghana according to a report published at the website of mongabay.com. Further, between 1990 and 2010, the country lost an average of 125,400 hectors of forest or 1.68% per year. In total, between this period alone, Ghana lost 33.7% of its forest cover which is equivalent to 2,508,000 hectors of forest, (FAO, 2011). This data reveals that the rate of detestation in Ghana is quite high. Deforestation is one of the main environmental challenges in Ghana and efforts are being undertaken to protect the endangered forest cover from absolute depletion and also to establish secondary forests. Keywords: