Fuel Wood Value Chain Report
This study analysed the fuelwood value chain for the fish smoking industry in 4 coastal regions of Ghana namely Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions as well as fuelwood producing areas in the moist semi-deciduous forest zone in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The objective was to analyze the nature of economic agents, transactions and constraints along the value chain to propose policy, development and research actions to enhance the chain. Literature was first consulted for general information on fuelwood use and management as well as policies and programs related to fuelwood across the globe and then specifically for fish smoking in Ghana. This helped in the preparation of the background to the study, the framework for analysing the fuelwood value chain and design of data instruments for gathering the requisite information for preparing this report. A total of 1400 actors were interviewed in 27 districts across the five regions for primary data. A cross-section assessment of the status of the fuelwood resources and quantity of fuelwood flows along the chain in the five regions was also undertaken. The actors interviewed include fuelwood resource owners and producers, transporters and middlemen, traders and consumers/fish smokers as well as traditional authorities, government departments namely, the EPA, FSD, Wildlife Division, NADMO and District Assembly. Some NGOs working in the coastal areas were also consulted. The data has been analysed descriptively and quantitatively. Results indicate that fuelwood is the primary source of fuel used by 98% of fish smokers along the coast. It is largely produced from natural sources from dead and standing trees on farmlands including fallows (49%) as well as dead trees and logging residues from government forest reserves (22%). However, production from mangroves cassia, neem and other plantations (29%) in the Volta estuaries and Central Region respectively on private lands are also key resources for fish smoking along the coast. For commercial purposes, there are distinct ownership and use rights for fuelwood resources. Fuelwood resources or land may be owned by a family, community or an individual and may be purchased outright or rented. Seventy fuelwood species are harvested for supply across the five regions, although the majority of the species have not been botanically identified. Twenty of these are most frequently harvested.
Read full report http://www.crc.uri.edu/download/GH2014_SCI011_SNV_FIN508.pdf