CO-MANAGING ECOSYSTEM SERVICES IN FOREST RESERVES IN GHANA: THE CASE OF THE BOBIRI FOREST RESERVE (BFR) IN KUBEASE IN THE ASHANTI REGION OF GHANA

Abstract

The communal/admitted rights of the people of Kubease to the Bobiri Forest Reserve (BFR) allow the locals to collect certain quantities of specific Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs) for personal use without any payment. However, if these NTFPs are to be collected in larger quantities for commercial purposes, a permit is needed. The communal/admitted rights of the Community to the ecosystem services of the Reserve make them important stakeholders in its management. Over the years however, there have been the over exploitation and continual decline of the ecosystem services provided by the Reserve. The Study concludes that there is the need to put in place the right institutional and legislative framework that allow the knowledge and understanding of all stakeholders to be reflected in making and implementing sustainable forest management decisions. Here, the resource users are important, as they directly tend to have a greater knowledge of their local environment.