Impacts of local conservation strategies on forest flora species of the Ambalara forest reserve in the Wa East District, Ghana

Abstract

ABSTRACT Sustainable conservation of forest flora species is dependent on local conservation strategies. In the past, fringe communities of the Ambalara Forest Reserve were excluded from its conservation. In contemporary times, the participation of fringe communities in the conservation of forest flora species of the Ambalara Forest Reserve has been strengthened due to the Community Resource Management Area (CREMA) initiative. This study examines the impact of strategies used by local actors such as the land priest (tendaana), sectional heads, chiefs (naamene), diviners, women leaders (magazias) and youth groups on forest flora species of the forest reserve. The strategies used by local actors are taboos, creation of traditional firebelts, revered tree species, bans and awareness creation. The study reveals that, fringe communities endorse the chiefs (naamene) and the land priests (tendaana) as the most effective actors in the conservation of forest flora species of the reserve and the traditional fire belt creation as the most effective conservation strategy. The study concludes that, there exist local management actors and strategies in the conservation of forest flora species of the forest reserve, and fringe communities and the reserve are impacted positively by means of their engagement in alternative livelihood activities and species richness of forest flora species respectively. It is recommended that traditional awareness creation should be intensified by the chiefs and elders on the need to conserve forest flora species of the reserve for future generations and as a form of mitigating the effects of climate change on biodiversity.