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Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Ghana, a West African country, possesses tropical high forests and savannas. There are a total of 3,600 species of flora, representing the three major taxonomic groups. There is only one known gymnosperm, the West African cycad (Encephalartos barteri), which is indigenous to Ghana. Current records show that there could be as many as 221 species of amphibians and reptiles, 728 species of birds and 225 mammalian species. The country’s threatened species include 4 species of marine turtle and 3 species of crocodile. There are 7 threatened bird species, including 4 endemic to the upper Guinea forest block. There are three species of frog; Baumann’s reed frog (Hyperolius baumanni), lime reed frog (Hyperolius fusciventris), Bobiri reed frog (Hyperolius sylvaticus) and one lizard species, the false agama (Agama sylvanus), endemic to Ghana. There is a high degree of butterfly endemism in Ghana where about 23 species are classified as endemic or near endemic. Work on diversity of organisms in marine and aquatic systems has concentrated mainly on those 81 species that are exploited for food. About 392 marine species of organisms comprising 347 fish species has been recorded. Ghana’s freshwater fish fauna includes 157 species of which 9 are endemic. The 4 main obstacles facing the conservation of biodiversity are: inadequate financial resources, limited skilled human capacity, deficiency in infrastructure and a general lack of awareness on the importance of biodiversity.

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

Currently, there are 16 legally constituted wildlife reserves covering about 5.3% of the total surface land area. These are categorized into: 1 strict nature reserve, 6 National Parks, 2 wildlife sanctuaries, 6 resource reserves and 1 Biosphere reserve. In addition, there are 6 wetlands, which have been declared as Ramsar sites.

Percentage of Forest Cover

The tropical forest in Ghana covers 10.2% of total land area. This represents 2.46 million hectares of forest cover and is mainly confined to the southern and middle sectors of the country. Most of the forests only exist in statutory forest reserves with very little patches of traditionally protected forest occurring as sacred groves outside the reserves and representing less than two percent of the total forest area. The rest of the country is made up of savanna vegetation.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The long-term goal of the country’s strategy is to achieve the conservation and sustainable management of the country’s biological diversity. This must be achieved throughout the whole country and within all representative ecological zones. Several key issues that require action have been identified and separated into several categories. The first is the creation and strengthening of the management of protected area systems. This includes initiatives like: the creation and rehabilitation of permanent protected forests, the creation of Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas (GSBAs), the implementation of Important Bird Areas (IBAs) which uses birds as indicators of habitat quality, and the establishment of biodiversity corridors. The second key issue is the creation and strengthening of management of ex-situ conservation systems. Thirdly, are the incentive measures and sanctions for the conservation and sustainable utilization of biological diversity, including economic and social incentive measures and sanctions.
 

• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (English)

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

The Government of Ghana has succeeded in implementing several projects that aim at achieving the 2010 target, several of which include: development of the forest and wildlife policy; local participation on issues of sustainable use, benefit sharing and incentives; and promotion of species diversity (particularly marine turtles, shore birds, mangroves and some food crops). The main success is the restoration and maintenance of several mangrove areas. Reports on poaching and or kills of these animals are received less frequently. For the common objective of improving the status of threatened species, two measures come into focus, which are the conservation of habitat of specific organisms and the ban on exploitation of certain species in force. One aim of the Government of Ghana is to promote the conservation of genetic diversity. This is done from different sectoral policy directives e.g. agriculture, fisheries, forestry, medicine etc. To decrease the rate of loss and degradation of natural habitats, the State of Ghana began drafting legislation pertaining to certain aspects of land and aquatic resource use. The main initiatives for the control of potential invasive alien species include sensitization, quarantine provisions at the ports and immediate destruction of identified invasive species. In addition, guidelines on effluents and air quality have been developed and used to reduce pollution and its effects on biodiversity.

Initiatives in Protected Areas

Government of Ghana has decided that every ecological zone in the country should have a representative protected area established. Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas like, Atiwa, Bawjiase, Bobiri, and Kyabobo National Parks have been established (Atiwa and Bawjiase were designated under the Biodiversity High Forest Project). Existence of Ramsar Sites provided an initiative for involving local authorities in management of protected areas. EIA is now mandatory for all projects in sensitive areas. Compensation issues have been identified as the major gaps in the effective establishment and management of protected areas.

Initiatives in Access and Benefit Sharing

Currently Ghana does not have any initiatives, measures, or legislations on Access and Benefit Sharing. There are however some related laws and Legislations in the country which have some bearing on ABS.

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

Ghana has not established any legal system on indigenous knowledge. However the constitution recognizes and supports the existence of such knowledge and practices.