THE EFFECTS OF WOODLAND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ON THE VEGETATION OF WEST GONJA DISTRICT

Abstract

The Northern Savannah Zone is blessed with woodlands which play critical roles in the provision of shelter, fuel-wood, medicinal plants, control of erosion, scenic protection, control of global warming and foreign exchange earnings. Hence, Sustainable Forest Management is very crucial and cannot be achieved without effective woodland management systems. This study assessed the role of indigenous management on the sustainability of woodland vegetation in the West Gonja District. It thus compared the effects of indigenous and formal management systems of woodlands on livelihoods of inhabitants of West Gonja District (WGD). Questionnaires, key informant interviews, on-site-observations, satellite imagery and ground data collection were used to collect data from 397 respondents. The study revealed that people in the district were aware of the Sustainable Woodland Management concept and undertook activities that ensures the survival of woodlands using indigenous methods such as taboos and control harvest. It was observed however, that their participation in Forest Policy and Legislation reforms was limited. The indigenous and formal woodland management systems complemented each other in ensuring the sustainability of woodlands in WGD but, the people think that the formal woodland management strategy has some drawbacks on their source of livelihood due to its restrictions. Since the inception of the formal woodland management system, the Damongo scarp reserve decreased in vegetation cover from 1986 through to the year 2000 and then to 2021. The Kenikeni and Yakombo woodlands reserves maintained a fairly constant woodland vegetation over the years since the start of the formal management system. A total of 48 species belonging to 35 families were identified in the three woodland reserves. The family Fabaceae was the dominant family whilst Anacardiaceae and Celastraceae recorded the least plant families. Structurally the diameter range of the woody species in the three reserves were fairly similar. It is recommended that a strong partnership be built between all stakeholders’; Government, NGOs and the Woodland communities in the management of woodland resources.