Forest Regulatory Frameworks and Outcomes: An Assessment of Flegt and Timber Exploitation Activities in Ghana

Abstract

The EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan in 2003 was aimed at addressing illegal logging and to check the trade of illegal timber products in global markets to ultimately control deforestation and forest loss. Ghana was among the first timber exporting countries to ratify the VPA in the year 2007. This study set out to examine how the ratification and enforcement of the VPA protocols has influenced forest governance and timber harvesting activities in Ghana. In other words, to what extent has the enforcement of FLEGT VPA protocols in Ghana contributed to forest governance and illegal timber trading activities in Ghana? The qualitative case study design was employed to gather data from purposively selected respondents. The study established that VPA implementation has reduced the incentives to engage in illegal logging because the control mechanisms put in place will easily detect illegality tendency of prosecution will be high and the tendency of not meeting international market standards are also high. It emerged the VPA helps check the rots in timber trade and exploitation through its multi-stage transparency and accountability systems which blows those covers with tendency to fuel illicit timber trading activities. The study proposes two clear measures which could help prevent, detect and deter people from such illegal timber trade.

Keywords: Forest governance, timber exploitation; timber trade; illegal logging; FLEGT

DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/73-03

Publication date: February 28^th 2021