Forest Resources Value Chain Analyses: Alternative Development Pathways toward Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Forest Management in Ghana

Abstract

The value chain development of forest products and ecosystem services is important for sustainable forest management (SFM), especially in developing countries where the livelihoods of users and communities depend on timber and non-wood forest products (NWFPs). This chapter explains why and how NWFPs and ecotourism services value chain analyses need to be integrated into forest resource planning and management in Ghana. The chapter identified and analyzed all aspects of NWFPs and ecotourism services value chains and their roles in biodiversity conservation. The value chain analyses were approached through desk analysis of secondary information, field visits and interviews with key stakeholders. Theories on the concepts of value chain analyses and NWFPs and ecotourism services value chain analyses were provided. The study proposed alternative development pathways for NWFPs and ecotourism services value chain analyses and the institutiogramme for ecotourism services. It identified the link between these value chain analyses and the impact on forest biodiversity conservation. The study concludes that Ghana is faced with policy implementation challenges towards SFM that could be addressed by applying value chain analyses. This would help to increase policy understanding that there are alternatives to the current timber production, illegal farming and illegal mining practices on the forest landscape.