COMMUNITY NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND POVERTY REDUCTION IN THE LAWRA DISTRICT OF UPPER WEST REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

This study is/was an assessment of community-based natural resource management in rural areas and how natural resources enhance community livelihoods in reducing poverty against the backdrop of resource depletion. The study adopted a trans-disciplinary approach to research aimed at gathering the necessary information on natural resource management. Data collection techniques such as review of relevant literature, focus group discussions, in-depth interviews, formal institutional interviews and gender sensitive three generational approach were used and data analysed by the use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) as well as qualitatively techniques approach. The main findings of the study were that: traditional methods of managing natural resources are still much preferred by community members to modem systems. Informal institutions in the form of traditional authorities are more recognized institutions by many in the communities than formal institutions. These informal institutions exist and are very active in natural resource management. Natural resources particularly land might be fairly adequate or inadequate for some community members due to differences in population pressure. Open resources such as fuel wood and grasses are fairly adequate as compared to land which forms their major source of livelihoods. They acknowledged that continues cultivation of the limited land has exhausted its nutrients. Communities both urban and rural depend much more on natural resources for their survival than other sources of livelihood. It was also revealed that gender plays significant role in managing natural resources in the area. Ownership and control in the case of land is in the hands of men but not women. GOs and NGOs also play their roles in NRM. However, SARI in particular complained that traditional method of farming deplete soil nutrients and advised it should be discouraged. Low adaptability by community members to new varieties of crops is a serious challenge in the study area. The study concluded that ensuring sustainability of natural resources means a combination of formal and informal methods of natural resource management. That is endogenous development should be advocated strongly.