MANAGING NATURAL RESOURCE FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS: A STUDY OF THE CHAKALI COMMUNITY RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AREA (CREMA) IN THE WA EAST DISTRICT

Abstract

(CREMA) are zones labelled across this country for the preservation and safeguard of natural resources. The research aimed at the contributions of natural reserves management for justifiable livelihood in the Chakali CREMA of the Wa East District, Ghana. The framework for the research was Community Based Resource Management, which encourages active community participation. The methodology used was a qualitative approach, but questionnaires were used for data collection to aid the collection of some demographic data. Hence, the main tool for soliciting data combined both questionnaire and interview. The outcomes demonstrated that the communities were male dominated and as a result, females were not interested in the activities of the CREMA. It was also found from the study that some natural resources like land, forest, wildlife, water, rocks, soil, mountains, trees, forest animals, birds, grass, fishes and minerals (especially gold) are the major natural resources in Chakali. Furthermore, it was discovered from the research that the local people relied solely on natural resources for their livings. Respondents lamented on events that are destructively disturbing the CREMA including illegal mining, haphazard bush burning, grazing of the field, untimely application of chemicals, and so on. The study concludes that, in other to manage natural resource to sustain lives and for generational use, community members should actively participate in activities of the CREMA. Based on this, it is recommended that, there should be regular education and training of both CREMA members, executives and all stakeholders by Forest Commissions division responsible on the need to conserve and manage the forest reserves. Training should focus on reserve management as well as local community members – to know and appreciate the importance of nature management.