Processing and utilization of trees on farmlands
and logging residues through collaboration with local communities
Ghana
This proposal originated from an ITTO Pre-project which was aimed
at determining the social acceptability, economic viability and environmental
impact of collecting and processing logging residues by local communities with
collaboration of the local timber industry. During the implementation of these
pre-project, members of the local communities expressed the desire for trees
on their farmlands to be extracted and processed into lumber. They requested
a full project which would consider the processing, utilization and marketing
of not only logging residues but also trees on their farmlands from which they
can derive some revenue.
The wood based industries of Ghana have made significant contributions towards
the socio-economic development of the country. However, the local communities
who live near the resource do not have access to timber products, neither do
they benefit any major income from harvesting of timber as concessionaires,
nor from the royalties which are paid by the concessionaires since these go
to the paramount and other chiefs. The result of this is that although the local
communities who live near the forests are the best people to protect the forests
from damaging activities such as illegal logging, they care little about what
happens in the forests. One way of stimulating their interest and involvement
in the sustainable management of forests and in their protection is to enable
them to derive income from these resources at the same time having timber products.
Based on this, the proposal emphasizes that forest resources of Ghana are vital
for the livelihoods of the local communities, and as a result, these communities
are key stakeholders in their sustainable management. This is in compliance
with the development goals of Ghana as pursued by its forest policy. With local
communities being major stakeholders who benefit from the forest resources,
the project focuses on working with them to extract, process and utilize lumber
and lumber products from logging residues and trees on farmlands, which will
give them the confidence to assist both the timber industry and the Forestry
Commission of Ghana in the sustainable management of the Ghanaian forest. This
pilot case could serve for demonstration and other communities could learn from
it to become beneficiaries of the forest activities.
Objective
Developmental Objective: To increase the benefits that local communities
derive from forest resources and thereby enhance their contribution to sustainable
forest management.
Specific objective: To promote processing of logging residues and trees
on farmlands and thereby provide increased timber products as well as generate
employment and income to local communities and some individual farmers.
Outputs
Processing of logging residues and trees on farmlands into products determined.
Capacity of local communities in processing, utilization, and marketing
of lumber and lumber products built.
Livelihood impacts of the processing, utilization and marketing of lumber
and lumber products determined.
Manual on extraction, processing and utilization of trees on farmlands and
logging residues published.
During the reporting period, the project focused on felling
and milling of trees on farmlands and logging residues, evaluation and
grading of lumber, determination of mechanical strength properties, and
assessment of machine operators. Trees on farmlands were felled and processed.
The lumber have been evaluated and graded. Four mechanical strength properties
of seven timber species (Dahoma, Black Ofram, White Ofram, Wawa, Essia,
Avodire and Edinam) at green moisture content were determined (using Universal
Instron Machine) and analysed. These strength properties included shear
parallel to grain, Modulus of rupture (MOR), Modulus of elasticity (MOE)
and compression parallel to grain. The results at green moisture content
indicate that the strength properties of the tested wood species are comparable
to those in literatures and in some cases better. These show that trees
on farmlands are as good as those from the forest. A questionnaire was
prepared for the assessment of preferred lumber machine by operators.
Novembre 2009
During the reporting period, the project focused on monitoring
and assessment of lumber; processing of trees on farmland evaluation and
grading of lumber; determination of mechanical strength properties; identification
of furniture product to be manufactured on community basis and review
of literature on manual production. Processing of trees on farmlands has
been completed for the first round for Dominase and Nsabrekwa communities.
Communities members have been mobilized to cart the lumber from the farmlands
to designated sites in the communities for residents members and other
prospective buyers to purchase. To ensure that the lumber produced is
sold at comparative prices, Prices of lumber at the local wood markets
were studied and taking note the cost of production of the lumber in the
project sites. Three mechanical strength properties of three timber species
(Bompagya, Sapele, and Ofram) at green moisture content were determined.
The Modulus of Rapture (MOR) and shear parallel to grain are highest for
Bompagya than the others while compression parallel to grain is the highest
for Sapele. Comparatively Ofram has lower strength properties. The Modulus
of Elasticity (MOE) for Bompagya is 9,507 N/mm as against 8,961 N/mm and
4,925 N/mm for Sapele and Ofram respectively. Three carpenters from each
of the block project sites have been identified. Training programme is
to be organized for them. Lumber from the logging residues will be used
to manufacture school furniture for teacher/pupils at each of the communities
selected.
November 2008
During the reporting period of 2008, trees on farmlands
were processed into lumber at designated project sites in the local communities.
Using logosol machines each tree and its logging residues (where available)
were processed in to lumber of different marketable dimensions. The impact
of in-situ processing was assessed to be minimal as compared to that made
by timber extraction machinery. Every lumber was evaluated and graded
using SATA grading rules (are used in grading lumber in West Africa).
The graded lumber from the three operating block areas ranged between
first grade (defect free) to third grade (minor defective lumber). To
ensure that the lumber produced is sold at comparative prices, process
of lumber at the local wood markets were studied and taking note of the
cost of production of the lumber in the project sites, price list was
established in collaboration with marketing committee members formed in
each of the project communities. Only output 1 has been concluded.
November 2007
During the reporting period, the project activities have
included the selection of two forest districts, Dunkwa and Asankragwa
and six local communities in these districts (Dunkwa District:Twifo Kyebi,
Japa, Nsuopuno/Dadieso and for Asankrangwa District: Nsabrakwa, Ankaasie,
Dominase) as the project sites; the organization of inception workshops
with the participation of key stakeholders of the project, including staff
of Forest Services Division as well as concession holders who have logging
residues in their concessions; the signing of MOUs with the local communities,
Forest Services Division and concessionaires who are collaborators of
the project; the acquisition of Logosol processing machines; and the training
of personnel for these machines.
