forested areas, a significant negative impact of large-scale mining is unavoidable. There is currently an apparent ‘conflict of interest’ in decision-making by the sector
Ministry responsible for biodiversity conservation. This is because key government departments and agencies responsible for managing lands, forests and wildlife, and
mining activities are all under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
6.5 EFFECTIVENESS OF GHANA’S PROTECTED AREAS FOR BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
Wildlife Protected Areas, including wetlands Ramsar sites are spread throughout the ecological zones coastal and northern savanna, and forests of Ghana. There are still
ecosystems that are under-represented in the Protected Area systems. These include inland wetlands and marine reserves Ministry of Environment and Science, 2002.
Marine resources receive only minimal protection through fisheries and endangered species CITES legislations.
Management of Wildlife Protected Areas is primarily constrained by logistical resources, both human and financial. A study supported by USAID on Environmental
Threats and Opportunities Assessment ETOA, 2006, revealed that while conservation is a long-term effort, the Wildlife Division is unable to plan on a long-
term basis since funds are provided on annual basis. Ramsar status confers a degree of national and international recognition on wetlands
and calls for legal backing for wise use of wetland resources. Ramsar sites in the country, however, remain threatened by unsustainable use, inappropriate
infrastructural development and pollution. Undesignated inland and coastal wetlands some of which are pristine are either under serious threat or in a much poorer state
ecologically.
Globally Significant Biodiversity Areas GSBAs and Community Resources Management Areas CREMAs are innovations that could provide improved
protection and conservation of Ghana’s areas of high biodiversity importance. The participatory management approach in the GSBA and CREMA concepts can provide
benefits for adjacent communities most affected by wildlife andor the Protected Areas and help build advocates for conservation and models for sustainable use.
6.6 EFFECTIVENESS OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL TREATIES
Many of the international conventions and treaties have been the basis for Ghana’s legal frameworks for biodiversity conservation. However, the implementation of most
of these treaties suffers similar constraints of limited funding and logistical resources. There have always been difficulties in monitoring and enforcement of penalties for
non-compliance mainly because of lack of efficient surveillance systems and weak policing along the country’s extensive borders. This is compounded by lack of
political commitment. For example, there is inadequate data to determine the extent of illegal trade across Ghana’s boarders with its neighbors. While wildlife that passes
through the Accra airport and major sea ports are regulated using CITES permits, there is much less known about overland trade in wildlife product at Ghana’s borders.
45
A National document on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation REDD Strategy known as the REDD+ Readiness Preparation Proposal R-PP has
been developed to address Reducing Emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. The document outlines the roadmap to address drivers of deforestation
with its REDD Strategy options to mitigate the effects of climate change. Ghana has established a multi-stakeholder National Climate Change Committee
NCCC hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology. The committee is made up of relevant government agencies including EPA, FC, MOFA,
MLNR, MEST and is responsible for advising government on the issues relating to the climate change in Ghana.
7.0 CURRENT PRIORITIES FOR TERRESTRIAL AND MARINE BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION
