Workshop on Indigenous Knowledge

1
Some Ghanaian Traditional Practices of Forest
Management and Biodiversity Conservation
Kwame Asamoah Adam (Forestry Research Institute
Of Ghana)
2
AHAFO? Gatherers/ Hunters
ASAMOA Warthog
3
Objective

• To demonstrate the relevance of indigenous
  knowledge to Sustainable Forest Management first
  by identifying areas where indigenous knowledge
  have had some application and secondary where
  further investigation are needed to provide
  better understanding for improved management that
  will meet the changing needs of society

4
Outline of presentation

• 1. Background
• Definition of indigenous knowledge
• Special features of indigenous and scientific
  knowledge
• Intricate relationships between man and the
  forest
• 2. Knowledge contributing to forest management
• 3. Indigenous practices contributing to
  biodiversity conservation
• 4. Discussions conclusions

5
Background

• Definition of indigenous knowledge
• Indigenous knowledge may be defined as the
  holistic traditional scientific knowledge of a
  peoples lands, natural resources and environment
  developed over many generations as a result of
  their interrelationship with the natural
  environment towards cultural, social, economic
  and physical well-being of the indigenous people
  (Derived from Agenda 21-UNCED,1992).

6
Background Special features of indigenous and
scientific forest Knowledge
7
Background The intricate relationships between
humans and forest resources

• This relationship goes through life time during
  which the wealth of knowledge is built
• Food (nutrition)
• Shelter
• Clothing
• Health
• Entertainment/ leisure
• Communication (language)
• Industry and commerce

8
Knowledge contributing to forest management

• Forest management defined-
  the process of making and implementing
  decisions about the use and maintenance of forest
  resources and organisation of related activities
  (Duerr et al., 1979).
• Forest management decision-making process-
  involves integration and utilization of
  several kinds of knowledge Indigenous and
  scientific to meet the needs of society

9
Knowledge contributing to forest management

• Botanical knowledge on species characteristics
  and use properties.
• Ecological knowledge on growing conditions of
  plant and animals in the forests.
• Technical knowledge on silvicultural management
  practices.
• Institutional knowledge on norms, rules and
  regulations for using and managing forest
  resources with a locality.
• Behavioural knowledge on community needs and use
  pattern.
• Market related knowledge on economic benefits and
  values of forest produce.
• Legal knowledge on national, international,
  regional and state levels laws and legislation
  for planting and harvesting.
• (Adapted from Munyanziza and Wiersum, 1999)

10
Indigenous knowledge contributing to forest
management

• Botanical knowledge on species characteristics
  and use properties.
• Enormous wealth of indigenous knowledge in plant
  species identification and naming exists (e.g..,
  Ntim, 2006)
• Over 800 plant spp recorded initially by their
  local names during botanical surveys and timber
  inventories (FIP, 1989Hawthorne 1990)

11
Botanical knowledge species characteristics and
use properties.

• 2. Indigenous cottage industries provide insights
  for scientific studies into the utilization of
  wood (e.g.., chew sticks, tool handles, fibres)
  and plant extracts (e.g.., Allanblackia oil,)
• Irvine, 1960 Used indigenous knowledge to
  document information on (medicinal, veterinary,
  food, pest control etc ) uses of numerous woody
  plants in west Africa

12
Knowledge contributing to forest management

• Indigenous ecological knowledge on trees
• plant sexes (e.g. names ending Nini Bedee)
  Dioecious trees
• Plant species varieties (Akoa, Nua, hemaa, and
  hene)
• Site requirements (Mfofoa, kwaemu, Sreso, Wora,
  epe)
• Flowering and fruiting times (e.g., appearance of
  specific insects)
• Fruit and seed dispersers (Otwe ntrowa, Nwam dua,
  kusie toma, Kwakuo aduaba, osono bese, Osonoa
  -Ankaa)
• Harmful plants and plant parts (folklores)

13
Knowledge contributing to forest management

• Technical knowledge on silvicultural management
  practices
• Tree behaviour (e.g., parasitism of Okoubaka
  aubrevillei odii)
• Traditional tree climbing (seed collection)
• Traditional seed extraction and storage (e.g.,
  Makore seeds)
• Traditional hunters knowledge of seed germination
  in dung (elephants, primates)
• Methods in inducing fruiting

14
Practices contributing to Biodiversity
conservation

• The appreciation for the conservation of forest
  and biodiversity is replete in Ghanaian culture
• Culture defined as the complex whole of
  knowledge, beliefs, morals, laws, customs and
  any other capabilities and any habits acquired by
  man as a member of society (Sir Edward Taylor)

• Sacred groves
• Water system Taboos
• Totem
• Beliefs
• Proverbs
• Festivals
• Folklores

15
Practices contributing to Biodiversity
conservation

• Sacred groves Community forests reserved to
  provide serene abode for ancestral spirits,
  deities and traditional worship
• Ancestral settlements
• Shrines
• Abode for community deities
• Abode for revered plants or animals
• Burial grounds for chiefs, royals and elders
• Most sacred groves are over 100 years old and are
  well protected

16
Potentials of Sacred for biodiversity
conservation
17
Potentials of Sacred for biodiversity conservation
18
Boayem sacred groove (The bat cave)
19
Discussions

• International and National forest policies
  seeking partnership in forest management between
  state institutions and indigenous communities
• Joint forest management projects in the 1980s
• Participatory forest management project in the
  1990s
• Collaborative forest management in the 2000

• But areas of joint participation and
  collaboration not adequately established

20
Opportunities and problems in integrating
indigenous and scientific forest management
Adapted from ETFRN publication Series 10
Lack of sustainable Forest management
Lack of integration between Indigenous and
scientific forest Management systems
Insufficient utilization Of scientific
forest Management systems
Lack of exchange Between indigenous And
scientific forest managers
Insufficient utilization of Indigenous forest
Management systems
Scientific forest Management System not
readily understandable
Scientific forest management knowledge
confined to literate people
Focus of indigenous forest management at The
micro level
Lack of documentation Of indigenous forest
management systems
Lack of Awareness Of advantages Of
documentation
Indigenous Belief systems
Low level of literacy Among Indg F managers
Learning of sc fms linked With literacy
Indg fms based On area Specific experience
21
Conclusion

• Integration of scientific and indigenous
  knowledge for sustainable forest management and
  biodiversity conservation has not been fully
  exploited
• However opportunities for doing so exist and
  there is the need for a continuous process of
  integration or adaptive learning.

22
References

• Adam, A. R. (1980) The structure and composition
  of the reproductive stand in a remnant forest in
  Kumasi. Student project KNUST
• Duerr, W.A., Teeguarden., D.E., Christiansen,
  N.B. Guttenberg, S. (eds.) (1979) Forest
  Resource Management Decision Making Principles
  and Cases. W.B.Saunders, Philadelphia, USA.
• FIP, (1989) Forest Inventory Project Final
  report. Forestry Department Planning Branch,
  Kumasi
• GACON, (1996) Floral and faunal survey in 4
  sacred grooves in Ghana. Field report
• Hawthorne, W. (1990) Field Guide to the Forest
  Trees of Ghana. NRI, ODA. Ghana Forest Series 1
• Irvine, F.R. (1961) Woody plants of Ghana.
  Oxford O.U.P
• Munyanziza, E., Wiersum., K.F. (1999).
  Indigenous Knowledge of Mimbo Trees in Morogoro,
  Tanzania. Indigenous Knowledge and Development
  Monitor 7 10-11.
• Ntim, J. G. (2006) Meaning to Twi Names of
  selected Local Plant Species with their uses and
  associated twi proverbs Special reference to the
  Asante tribe
• UNCED (1992). Agenda 21, Chapter 26 Recognising
  and Strengthening the Role of Indigenous People
  and their Communities. United Nations Conference
  on Environment and Development, June 3-14,1992.
  Rio de Janerio, Brazil.

23
THANK YOU