Ghana has earned the enviable reputation of managing its forests better than any other country in Africa. Its first Timber Protection Ordinance was passed as long ago as 1906, with the Forestry Department established in 1911. From those early days the country has based its forest resource strategy on inventory and selective felling control.
Despite valiant efforts to manage the forests, the resource has inevitably become depleted. By 1988 the World Bank estimated that Ghana was losing its forests at the rate of 750km² a year.
Today, of Ghana’s total land area of 238,000km² only about 80,000km² are in the climatic region that supports rainforest – the source of all export grade timber. In 1992 it was estimated that only 7% of Ghana’s total land area remained as intact closed forest. Over-exploitation, culminating in log exports of more than 700,000m³ in 1994, prompted action from the government which culminated in a log export ban. Climatic, ecological and suitable land restraints suggest that Ghana is unlikely to be able to greatly increase its forest area. It is therefore government policy to raise levels of productivity. To establish achievable standards and benchmarks, over the past decade the government has carried out a great deal of research and analysis. This determined the optimum annual allowable cut (AAC). Work was based on sensitivity tests for different levels cut over time scales ranging from 25-95 years with no replanting.
As a consequence of the research, in 1999 the Forestry Branch and International Tropical Timber Organisation agreed that the AAC should be set at one million m³ a year, a figure derived to ensure a timber supply lasting 55 years.
Tightening supply
Importers of Ghana hardwoods are therefore facing tightening supply. This is being energetically controlled and policed by the government to help preserve the forest estate, and particularly, the more valued and scarcer species. No fewer than 680 species have been identified. Many of these will be familiar to hardwood importers and include valuable timbers such as Afrormosia spp, odum (Chlorophora excelsa), sapele, utile, guarea, mahogany (Khaya anthotheca and Khaya ivorensis), teak (Tectona grandis) and a number of other highly exportable species. However, these timbers have reportedly been over-exploited over the years and are becoming increasingly difficult to source. A review of 1999 Ghanas export data provides the surprising fact that despite the 680 timbers apparently available, a modest range of only four species accounted for 60% of total production. These were wawa, ceiba, ofram and chenchen.
Lesser-used species
Wawa was comfortably the highest volume timber produced, accounting for 31% of all production. The balance of 40% was provided from a further 61 species.
Armed with better production information, the government is now turning its attention to encouraging the commercial marketing of lesser-used species (LUS). It is from this increasingly important group of Ghana timbers that progressive importers can expect to develop their future business.
Ghana is taking a responsible role in sustaining its forest management systems. These dictate which trees, the minimum diameter and which species may be cut in a particular felling cycle. When calculating the AAC, the Forestry Department considers all species available for commercial exploitation to produce the now universally recognised star species system. This grades species based on rarity and sustainability. The system codes species by the colours scarlet, red and pink.
Ghana has established a National Certification Committee to set up forest management standards and to formulate a certifiable forest management system. A universally accepted standard is in sight although problems still have to be overcome before the task is complete. The Standard Document, which has already been produced, covers categories of forests, performance standards, and performance parameters including economic, environmental/ ecosystems and social issues. Ultimately, this will be developed for use by the Ghana Forest Management Organisation with responsibility for certification duties.
Strong management
It is evident to any importer that Ghana is proposing strong management to protect its precious primary timbers. The government has already demonstrated its willingness to intervene in export allocation – often at little notice. In the future, buyers are likely to find it increasingly difficult to obtain favourite traditional export species. To avoid shortages of red star and scarlet star categories, and as insurance, it will be prudent to start paying attention to the pink star group of timbers in the lesser-used timbers list. These offer a number of advantages to both Ghana and importers.
Firstly, LUS species are in a better supply. Secondly, prices will be competitive as government encourages the marketing of LUS species. Thirdly, they are sustainable, and long-term supply continuity can be ensured by forward-looking importers turning their attention to the marketing of the more freely available pink species. About 20 species in the pink star category are worthy of importers’ attention. Further refinement of technical data suggests that the importer could start to market from at least six pink star LUS species that should meet a favourable response from new customers. This list is by no means comprehensive. However, the species mentioned are well tested, already exported, and full technical data and information packs are available from the Ghana Timber Export and Development Division headquartered in Takoradi, supported by a London office.