Ghana Sustainability Report

7/30/2019 Ghana Sustainability Report

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Habitat Assessment for the Establishment of Biodiversity Plots on the

SG Sustainable Oil Ghana, Brewaniese Plantation Using the High

Conservation Value Forest Criteria

Prepared By

Augustus Asamoah

(RSPO Approved Assessor)

Ghana Wildlife Society

Submitted to:

SG Sustainable Oil Ghana

Kedjebi

October, 2010


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Habitat Assessment for the Establishment of Biodiversity Plots on SGSOG, Brewaniese Plantation

Ghana Wildlife Society, 2010 1

Habitat Assessment for the Establishment of Biodiversity Plots on the SG

Sustainable Oil Ghana, Brewaniese Plantation Using the High Conservation Value

Forest Criteria

Prepared By

Augustus Asamoah

(RSPO Approved Assessor)

Ghana Wildlife Society

Submitted to:

SG Sustainable Oil Ghana

Kedjebi

October, 2010


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Ghana Wildlife Society is grateful to the Management and staff of SG Sustainable Oil

Ghana, for the opportunity to carry out this work. We are particularly grateful for the

recognition and support of Messrs Dan Beringer, Ransford Arthur and Carmine Farnan.

We would also like to acknowledge the immeasurable support of Messrs Siaw Yeboah,

Ofori Lartey and Asare Bediako and all who in diverse ways facilitated the execution of

this work. Thank you all very much and we look forward to more fruitful collaborations

in the future.


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Executive Summary

In keeping with the principles and criteria of the Round Table on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO)

in the development of its oil palm plantation, SG Sustainable Oil Ghana,(SGSOG)

commissioned a study to assess the habitat of the concession for the establishment ofBiodiversity Plots using the High Conservation Value Forest criteria on its Brewaniese

plantation.

Oil palm plantation development involves the complete removal of existing vegetation, a

process that invariably leads to the systematic erosion of local biodiversity. SGSOG plans to

mitigate the potential environmental impact associated with the large scale oil palm

development, through the establishment of Biodiversity Plots within the Brewaniese oil palm

plantation estate.

Biodiversity Plots are patches of remnant forest with varying sizes that are left uncleared within

the plantation matrix to serve as refugia for fauna and flora in the plantation area. These are

critical for the maintenance of local fauna and flora as well as ecological services such as stream

flow, reduction in runoff water and erosion along steep slopes in the face of the mass and

extensive removal of natural vegetation.

The 30Km2 SG Sustainable Oil Ghana, oil palm concession is located within the transition zone

between the semideciduous forest in the south and the woodland savannah in the north. The

vegetation is a mosaic of moist semideciduous, woodland and gallery forest.

Human-induced wildfire appears to be a major feature in the area and responsible for the

current vegetation structure of the lease with characteristic flora of both the semideciduous

forest and the woodland savannah dominant in the area.

Habitat assessment was carried out to physically identify specific areas with habitat, landscape

and socio-cultural elements that feature in the HCVF criteria applicable to Ghana such as the

need to safe guard the habitat of rare, threatened ecosystems, the need to sustain local fauna

and flora, the need to prevent erosion along steep slopes, protection of ecologically sensitive

areas, the maintenance of local religious and cultural practices and the need to sustain essential

ecosystem services such as stream flow.

Based on the High Conservation Value Forest interpretation for Ghana, two ecological and onesocio-cultural element that feature in two of the six HCVF criteria were identified SGSOG,

Brewaniese oil palm concession.

Six sites that can be set aside as biodiversity plots on the basis of their importance in erosion

control and protection of headwaters of streams and river as well as upholding the traditional

religious practices of land owning family were identified. These are the Kpetebu Hills south and


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north, Kpafiao Hill, the headwater of the Kpetebu stream, the Tomgbah Sacred grove/shrine

and the Hill Pillar 86 and associated hills.

It is recommended that each of the six proposed biodiversity plots be established by delineating

their external boundaries. The plots should be clearly isolated from the planted areas of theplantation and properly labeled with the ecological or socio-cultural importance for which the

plot has been set up.

It view of the propensity of the area to wild fire outbreak, it is strongly recommended that

effective fire breaks in the form of road clearing with about 4 meters width be constructed

round each of the proposed biodiversity plots to prevent fire outbreaks in the biodiversity plots.

It is also strongly recommended that activities such as hunting, farming, logging, palm wine

tapping and cattle grazing be completely prohibited from any of the biodiversity plots.

The biodiversity plots must be managed as integral part of the oil palm plantation, with the

prime objective of safe guarding their ecological, landscape and socio-cultural importance. As

part of the management of the biodiversity plots, a monitoring scheme should be put in place to

monitor and evaluate measurable habitat conditions such as vegetation structure, fauna

composition etc.


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Table of Content

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT........................................................................................................................................... 2

Executive Summary .................................................................................................................................................... 3

1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 6

1.1. Ecological Impacts of Large Scale Oil Palm Plantation ........................................................................ 6

1.2. Biodiversity Plots ...................................................................................................................................... 7

1.2.1. Habitat Evaluation Methodology ................................................................................................... 9

1.2.2. The Study Area ................................................................................................................................. 9

1.3. Procedure in Habitat Assessment ......................................................................................................... 10

2. Results ............................................................................................................................................................... 12

2.1. Ecological and Socio-cultural Elements Related to HCVF on the Concession ............................... 12

2.1.1. HCVF 4.1 Forest critical to water catchments ............................................................................. 12

2.1.2. HCVF 4.2 Forests Critical to Erosion Control ............................................................................. 13

2.1.3. HCVF 6: Forest Areas Critical to Local Communitys Traditional Cultural Identity ........... 14

2.2. Ecological Features of the Six potential Biodiversity Plot ................................................................. 15

2.2.1. Biodiversity Plot 1 & 2: Kpetebu Hills ........................................................................................ 152.2.2. Biodiversity Plot 3 - Kpafiao Hills ................................................................................................ 16

2.2.3. Biodiversity Plot 4 Hill Pillar 86 ................................................................................................ 17

2.2.4. Biodiversity Plot 6 - The Kpetebu Stream headwater................................................................ 18

3. Conclusion and Recommendation ................................................................................................................ 20

3.1. Conclusions .............................................................................................................................................. 20

3.2. Recommendation .................................................................................................................................... 21

3.2.1. Establishment of Biodiversity Plots ............................................................................................. 21

3.2.2. Construction of Firebreaks ............................................................................................................ 21

3.2.3. Hunting and Farming .................................................................................................................... 22

3.2.4. Cattle Grazing ................................................................................................................................. 22

3.2.5. Replanting of Degraded Areas of Proposed Biodiversity Plots ............................................... 223.2.6. Palm Wine Tapping........................................................................................................................ 23

3.2.7. Logging ............................................................................................................................................ 23

3.2.8. Management of Biodiversity Plot ................................................................................................. 23

Reference .................................................................................................................................................................... 25

Appendix 1: GPS Coordinates of Proposed Biodiversity Plots ......................................................................... 26

Appendix 2: Profile of Survey Team Leader ......................................................................................................... 29


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1. IntroductionAgriculture has, traditionally, formed the principal economic activity in Sub-Saharan Africa. It

generates the bulk of employment and incomes, and is the major land-use factor. In Ghana, for

example, agriculture contributes 37% of the gross domestic product (GDP) and 60% of export

earnings, and occupies 57% of the total land area (Ghana, Republic of 1990). As the major land-

use factor, agriculture exerts a powerful modifying influence on the natural environment,

especially through vegetation removal, with profound implications for biodiversity.

Conversion of forests and large stretch of fallow land to plantation agriculture often exerts a

great deal of negative impacts on local flora and fauna. Such conversions normally result in theexit of many native species and the invasion of fauna and flora species which were previously

not associated with the habitat (Turner & Foster, 2009, Donald, 2004). Crops such as oil palm,

coffee, cocoa and coconut are commonly grown in plantations in the tropical regions of the

world. In Ghana oil palm plantations are widespread throughout the country especially in the

mid and southern parts of the country. They vary in size from the small farms which are few

hectares in size owned by peasant farmers; to relatively large farms owned by commercial

farms and also the very large commercial farm plantations owned by corporate bodies (Gyasi,

1996b).

1.1.Ecological Impacts of Large Scale Oil Palm PlantationPlantations are distinguished not only by their large size but also by their monocultural

character, systematic layout, and advanced infrastructure. Other typical characteristics include:

corporate outlook; high capital outlay; mechanization; and high reliance on artificial/organic

external inputs, notably agro-chemicals, for biological regeneration. Economies of scale are the

major advantage of the plantation system (Gyasi, 1996b). The sheer level of farming enhances

efficiency by permitting greater specialization, systematic research, and mechanization,

especially of processing. Other major advantages include reduced soil erosion by the densely

distributed plants and rural development in the plantation areas through provision of modern


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infrastructure, introduction of advanced agricultural and other technical skills, and

employment opportunities in rural area (Gyasi, 1996b).

However, these advantages are often not balanced against various social, economic, and

environmental problems associated with the plantation system. Large scale oil palm

plantations development may dislocate local people, create land shortage and land tenure

problems among them, erode local culture and tradition as a result of influx of people from

other areas, weaken local food security by export crop, specialization, reduce and erode

biodiversity and cause pollution and general destabilization or disturbance of the socio-

economic system, including the land or natural environment that supports the plantations

(Gyasi, 1996b).

But perhaps the most serious adverse effect of oil palm plantation development has been the

rapid transformation of the forest ecosystem and its resilient diversified ecologically based

traditional economy into a vulnerable artificial monocultural system (Fitzherbert et al. 2008,

Gyasi, 1996b). With the development of large scale oil palm plantation, the resilient, diversified

indigenous agriculture, modeled on the forest ecosystem and based on eco-farming principles

borne out of the peasants' intimate knowledge of the natural environment, is replaced by the

risk-prone monocultural system, with devastating consequences for natural habitats (Gyasi &

Enu-Kwesi, 2001, Gyasi, 1996b). Deforestation and the associated erosion of biodiversity

resulting in scarcity of forest products such as bush meat, medicinal plants, and fuel wood are

among the environmental problems associated with large scale oil palm development (Henson,

I.E. and Chang, K.C. (2003).

1.2. Biodiversity PlotsThe establishment of oil palm plantation involves the complete removal of existing vegetation

before planting the oil palm seedling. This process invariably leads to the systematic erosion of

local biodiversity. The rapid expansion of oil palm plantations therefore constitute a major

threat to biodiversity which must be mitigated. One way by which SG Sustainable oil Ghana,


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plans to mitigate the potential environmental impact associated with the large scale oil palm

development, is the establishment of Biodiversity Plots (GWS, 2004, 2007) within the plantation

matrix at its Brewaniese oil palm plantation estate. Biodiversity Plots are patches of remnant

forest with varying sizes that are left uncleared within the plantation matrix to serve as refugia

for fauna and flora in the plantation area. This is one practical way of ensuring sustainability of

local biodiversity within the grossly altered plantation landscape. The patches of natural forest

in the area are necessary for the maintenance of local fauna and flora as well as ecological

services such as stream flow, reduction in runoff water and erosion along steep slopes in the

face of the mass and extensive removal of natural vegetation.


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1.2.1. Habitat Evaluation Methodology

1.2.2.

The Study AreaThe 30Km2 SG Sustainable Oil Ghana, oil palm plantation estate is located to the south of

Brewaniese, in the Nkwanta South District, of the Volta Region. The area consists of series of

hill ranges running in north-south direction and falls within the transition zone between the

semideciduous forest in the south and the woodland savannah in the north. The vegetation is a

mosaic of moist semideciduous and woodland forest; with the semideciduous forests located in

valleys between the hill ranges, whereas the woodland savannah is usually found along the

slopes and the summit of the hill.

Human-induced wildfire appears to be feature in the area and responsible for the current

vegetation structure in the fallow parts of the lease. Characteristic flora of both the

semideciduous forest and the woodland savannah dominate in the area. Although subsistence

agriculture is the main occupation of the people in the area, there is a significant presence of

fallowland as well as patches of forest in relatively good condition, a factor that could be

attributed to the relatively low population density of the area.

About three different hill ranges, the Kpetebu, Kpafiao and Pillar 86 are prominent features on

the concession. On these hill ranges are peaks that rise to elevation in excess of 500 metres

above sea level. Associated with the hill ranges in the area are the Asukawkaw River which

currently forms the southern limit of the concession and its numerous tributaries such as the

Tomgbah, Kpetebu, Deben and Langara. Asukawkaw and its tributaries are key to the drainage

of the concession area. Several low lying and marshy area associated with the streams and

rivers are important sites for oil palm cultivation.


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1.3. Procedure in Habitat AssessmentHabitat assessment was carried out to physically identify specific areas within the concession

that can be set aside as biodiversity plot to sustain local biodiversity using the High

Conservation Value Forest approach. A direct habitat and landscape assessment covering the

entire uncleared portion of the concession was carried out. Fauna and flora species recorded

during the initial baseline survey comprised mainly of common and widespread species within

their natural geographic range. No habitat of globally threatened plant or animal species was

identified in the study and species recorded in the area during the baseline did not include any

globally threatened species. In view of this situation, fauna and flora wildlife was not used as a

factor in the identification of potential biodiversity plot.

The habitat assessment focused primarily on identifying habitat, landscape and socio-cultural

elements that feature in the HCVF criteria applicable to Ghana. These included but not limited

to safe guard the habitat of rare, threatened and endangered ecosystems, the need to sustain

local fauna and flora, the need to prevent erosion along steep slopes, protection of ecologically

sensitive areas, the maintenance of local religious and cultural practices and the need to sustain

essential ecosystem services such as stream flow. These ecological and socio-cultural elements

were identified using the principles and criteria of the Ghana National Interpretation of

Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and the High Conservation Value Forest (HCVF)

interpretation for Ghana (Proforest, 2006).

Using the High Conservation Value Forest interpretation for Ghana, two ecological and one

socio-cultural element that feature in two of the six HCVF criteria were identified on the SG

Sustainable Oil Ghana (SGSOG), Brewaniese oil palm concession. The elements were identifiedin relation to HCVF criteria 4; forest areas that provide basic services of nature in critical

situations and HCVF criteria 6; forest areas critical to local communitys traditional cultural

identity. Under HCVF 4, two ecological elements relating to HCVF 4.1; forest area critical to


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water catchments and HCVF 4.2 forests area critical to erosion control were identified on the

concession area.

For each area identified under any of the two HCVF criteria above, the global positioning

system hand set, Garmin GPSmap 60CSx was used to delineate the external boundary of the

specific site be set aside as biodiversity and its area estimated. The specific GPS coordinates of

the external limits of each of the six proposed biodiversity plots is included in this report as

Appendix 1.


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2. ResultsBased on the two HCVF criteria, a total of six sites have been proposed for the establishment of

biodiversity plots. These are the Kpetebu Hills south and north, Kpafiao Hill, the headwater of

the Kpetebu stream, the Tomgbah Sacred grove/shrine and the Hill Pillar 86 and associated

hills. None of the six sites has been proposed on the basis of their importance as habitat for a

population of any species of global conservation concern.

2.1.Ecological and Socio-cultural Elements Related to HCVF on the Concession

2.1.1. HCVF 4.1 Forest critical to water catchmentsCriteria 4.1 of the HCVF interpretation for Ghana stipulates that a forest area may be considered

as HCVF if it covers the entire sub-catchment of a stream on which a community of people

depend for drinking water, irrigation water or fishing, and the forest provides a function in

regulating the quality and quantity of water on which these functions depend. This HCVF is

thought likely to be present in some areas within the Dry semi-deciduous forest zone and in

hilly areas dominated by the Upland evergreen forest type. Associated with the hill ranges inthe SGSOG oil palm concession is the catchment of the many streams and rivers which are

important factors in the hydrology of the area and also for the SGSOG oil palm plantation.

Water catchment areas are critical ecosystems in rural areas such as the Brewaniese area, where

majority of the inhabitants depend on streams and rivers as the main source of drinking water.

The catchment areas of streams and rivers are ecologically sensitive areas that should be

protected by ensuring that their vegetation covers are not removed. Where this HCVF occurs, it

is recommended that actions that could adversely affect the regularity, quality or quantity of

stream flow such as clearing or removal of stable natural vegetation must be completely

avoided. It is further required that the mandatory riparian protection areas must be strictly

observed and SGSOCs Management shall put in place specific prescriptions for the protection

of riparian vegetation and watershed management.


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2.1.2. HCVF 4.2 Forests Critical to Erosion ControlAccording to the HCVF criteria 4.2 of the HCVF Interpretation for Ghana, a forest area is

considered HCVF if it is essential to the protection against severe erosion or terrain instability in

areas where the consequences of these are severe or could be severe. One of the environmental

disturbances that usually characterize the conversion of natural habitat into monoculture

plantation is erosion. This is usually common on hills slopes. There are two steep sided hill

ranges that run through middle as well as the eastern end of the concession. These steep sided

hill ranges have sparse/light vegetation cover with rock outcrops at the summits. The whole

lease area is prone to bush fire and this increases the vulnerability of the hill slopes to erosion.

Furthermore Criteria 4.3 of the draft Ghana National Interpretation of the principles and criteria

of the RSPO requires practices that minimizes and controls erosion and degradation of soils.

This criterion requires further that planting of palm oil should not be carried out on slopes in

excess of 250.

This HCVF requires special protection and areas that meet this criterion are required to be

under continuous, uneven-aged vegetation cover and habitat disturbing activities such as the

removal of vegetation cover should be avoided. Such areas should normally be exempt from

large scale removal of its cover vegetation as it is with oil palm plantation development. It is

also required that for such areas management should be restoration, through the re-

establishment of natural vegetation. It is further required that restoration should be made using

a mixture of native species, including both pioneer and climax trees, with a focus on the re-

establishment of an ecologically functional forest ecosystem. The establishment of monoculture

tree plantations is considered inappropriate in these areas. In view of these, the steep sided

slopes and the summits of the hill with relatively high elevations have been proposed for the

establishment of Biodiversity Plots.


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2.1.3. HCVF 6: Forest Areas Critical to Local Communitys Traditional CulturalIdentity

In Ghana, forests often have deep spiritual and cultural significance for forest fringe

communities. In particular, forests can play crucial roles in defining their culture and identity.

A forest area is considered HCVF if it defines the cultural identity of the local people such that

its absence will lead to cultural erosion. The main characteristics of forests associated with the

cultural identity of local people include:

Traditional burial grounds for chiefs located in forest areas Ritual grounds for traditional religious worship of shrines and fetish gods located in forest

areas

Taboo days when entry to a forest area is forbidden No-go areas of forest, possibly overseen by a traditional/religious leaderThis HCVF is usually associated with patches of forest and are often referred to as sacred

groves. In most cases sacred groves are described by oral tradition or historical accounts which

describe stories or mysteries associated with the forest and the worship of a forest deity.

Reverence for deity is an important part of cultural beliefs, norms, practices and identity ofmany rural communities in Ghana. Within the patch of relict moist semideciduous forest is the

Tomgbah Shrine belonging to the Agyawure Family of Brewaniese. The shrine represented by

three rock outcrops at three different locations constitutes an important religious worship for

the Agyawure family.

It is required that cultural sites that fall in this HCVF criterion should be set aside and excluded

from site clearing and preparation for planting. Management prescription would be

determined by the threat and potential threatened envisaged from the proposed land use. Such

areas should be completely delineated with off limits to enhance the sanctity of the site. It is

required under this HCVF that SGSOs Management provides unlimited access to local

communities for observance of their religious rituals and traditions.


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2.2. Ecological Features of the Six potential Biodiversity Plot

2.2.1. Biodiversity Plot 1 & 2: Kpetebu HillsThis is a steep sided slope hill situated almost in the middle of the leased area. The hill is

separated into southern and northern section by a valley. Vegetation on the hill slopes and at

the summit is generally woodland savannah with patches of semideciduous vegetation in the

valleys, especially at the source points of streams that flow out of the hills. Although the hills

generally have steep slopes in excess of 25 degrees, there are several portions with gentle slopes.

The southern portion of the Kpetegu hills which is hereby referred to as the proposedBiodiversity Plot 1, has steep sided slopes on the eastern and western sides, but the northern

and the southern ends have rather gentle slopes. The summit is however flat with woodland

savannah vegetation characterized by trees such as Vitellaria paradosa, Parkia biglobosa, Kyaya

senegalensis, Diospyros mespiliformis,Adansonia digitata, Anogasis grandufolia and grass and shrub

undergrowth. The vegetation structure of medium height trees with shrub and grass under

growth, is obviously maintained by the recurrent bush fire which is a constant feature in the

area. The steep sided slopes of the hill along with the flat summit is hereby being proposed to

be set aside as biodiversity plot mainly for the prevention of erosion along the slopes.

The proposed area for the biodiversity plot on the southern portion of Kpetebu hill has an

estimated area of about 10.4 ha. However, considering the fact that the slopes are not uniformly

steep all round the hill and indeed some areas along the slopes can be planted, suitability for

planting at some specific portions should be used besides gradient to determine the eventual

size of this biodiversity plot.

The northern section of the Kpetebu Hill (Proposed Biodiversity Plot 2) is narrow and

elongated with a length and breadth of about 1000 and 200 metres respectively. As with the

southern section, the gradient of the slopes of the northern section of the hill is not uniform,

with mix of very steep sided and gentle slopes. The vegetation structure of the northern section


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of the hill is quite similar to that of the southern section, in terms of species composition, with

the same characteristic flora species. The northern section with an estimated area of 16.4

hectares has lush grass undergrowth with signs of cattle grazing. As has been proposed earlier,

suitability of specific areas along the slopes for planting of oil palm should determine the

eventual size of the plot. This is in view of the fact that there areas along the slopes with

gradient below 250 but with rock out crops which obviously is not suitable for oil palm.

The habitat evaluation of the Kpetebu Hills did not encounter the presence or likely presence of

any globally threatened flora or fauna species. There was also no sign of a key habitat to any

fauna species of conservation concern on the Kpetebu Hills. Large mammal species which were

indirectly encountered in this portion of the lease included the red river hog, bush buck and the

marsh cane rat. These were detected by way of their foot prints, droppings and feeding

activities. None of the bird species encountered on the lease is of global conservation concern,

but several bird species which are wholly protected under Schedule 1 of the Wildlife

Conservation regulation were encountered on the Hills. These are however common species

with widespread occurrence in their natural range.

2.2.2. Biodiversity Plot 3 - Kpafiao HillsThe Kpafiao Hills is a long hill range located in the middle of the leased area and extends

northwards to the northern limit of the lease. The hill rises to a maximum elevation of over 550

metres above sea level. It generally has steep sided slopes with gradients in excess of 30o at

some section along the western end of the hill. There are several points along the slopes of the

hill where streams flow out after heavy rains and during the wet season.

The vegetation is basically woodland savannah characterized by medium-height trees with

grass and shrub undergrowth. This distinct vegetation structure appears to be maintained by

the human-induced bush fire which if not controlled can occur frequently. The proposed site

for the establishment of the biodiversity plot which comprises of the steep sided slopes and the

flat summit of the hill stretches for about 2.6 kilometres in length and 400 metres in breadth,


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with an estimated area of 93 hectares. Again suitability of specific areas along the slopes of the

hills for oil palm should determine the actual size of this plot. Prevention of soil erosion along

the steep slopes of the hill is the rationale for proposing the establishment of Biodiversity at this

site.

2.2.3. Biodiversity Plot 4 Hill Pillar 86Hill Pillar 86 is located at the extreme east of the concession. The name of the hill emanates

from the fact that boundary pillar 86 on the Ghana-Togo frontier line is situated at the summit

of the hill. This is about the highest peak on the concession, running in a north-south direction

and rises to a maximum elevation of about 667 metres. It has very steep sided slopes with

gradient far in excess of 25 degree. There are two other hills including the Tomgbah hills,

located east of the deserted Tomgbah settlements which are associated with Hill Pillar 86.

Unlike the other hills on the concessions whose summits are covered in woodland vegetation,

the summit of Hill Pillar 86 is covered in grass with very little sign of trees. Incidence of bush

fire appears very rife on the summit and in the surrounding areas, including the adjoining hills

to the east and west.

Hill Pillar 86 is part of a range of hills that extends into Togo and constitutes the head waters of

several streams including the Tomgbah stream and several other tributaries of the Asukawkaw

River. Hill Pillar 86 along with the adjacent Tomgbah hill together have about an area of about

40 hectares. There are on either side of the hill, deep valleys out of which flows some tributaries

of the Asukawkaw.

Biodiversity Plot 5 - Tomgbah Shrine

This is the immediate surroundings of the Mfekla Shrine of the Agyawure Family of Brewaniese

and comprises of a relic of moist deciduous forest and the Tomgbah stream which is one of the

main tributaries of the Asukawkaw River within the concession area. With an estimated area of

9.4 hectares, the grove comprises of an old cocoa plantation within which are small patches of


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secondary forest in relatively good condition. Several characteristic moist semi-deciduous

forest tree species such as Cola gigantic, Milicia excelsa, Terminalia ivorensis, Erythrophleum excelsa,

Khaya ivorensis, Triplochiton scleroxylon and Ficus sur, which obviously are remnants of the

emergent trees in the old cocoa plantation, give the area a good forest outlook.

The proposal for setting aside this area as a biodiversity plot is in compliance with High

Conservation Value criteria 6, thus forest areas critical to local communitys traditional cultural

identity. Religious practices constitute a significant aspect of the culture of many indigenous

communities and family shrines such as the Mfekla shrine are highly revered. The immediate

surroundings of such religious entities should be protected from development activities that can

potentially desecrate such sacred sites. The actual area that is occupied by the three Mfekla

shrine is relatively small but the 9.4 hectares biodiversity plot has been proposed to give the

shrine and the Tomgbah stream adequate vegetation cover and avoid the incidence of public

exposure of the shrine, which would potentially offend the sensitivity and religious attachment

of members of the Agyawure Family.

2.2.4. Biodiversity Plot 6 - The Kpetebu Stream headwaterThe Kpetebu stream headwater is a relatively small area of approximately 4.1 hectares of relic

moist semideciduous forest located at the south-western corner of the northern section of the

Kpetebu Hills. The vegetation is dominated by several characteristic semideciduous forest tree

species. This relatively small patch of relic semideciduous forest is key to the flow of the

Kpetebu stream. The stream is obviously an ephemeral and only flows during the wet season

and dries out during the dry season and this appears to the nature of most of the streams in the

concession area. With the exception of the Asukawkaw which flows throughout the year,

almost all the streams dry out during the dry season. It is however, important that the oil palm

plantation development does not lead to the complete and permanent drying up of the seasonal

streams within the concession area through the removal of natural vegetation cover.


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With significance presence of semideciduous vegetation and condition, the small patch of relic

forest besides serving to protect the physical conditions of the Kpetebu stream headwater could

also serve as a critical habitat for fauna wildlife in the area. The site is therefore being proposed

for the establishment of a biodiversity plot on the basis of HCVF 4.1; but would eventually

serve other important function of a refuge of fauna and flora wildlife in the area.


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3. Conclusion and Recommendation3.1. ConclusionsThe habitat assessment involved direct observation and identification of ecological and socio-

cultural elements relevant to the criteria of the High Conservation Value Forest. The

assessment identified six sites that can be set aside as biodiversity plots on the basis of their

importance in erosion control and protection of headwaters of streams and river which are key

to the livelihood of neighboring communities as well as upholding the traditional religious

practices of land owning family.

With the exception of the area proposed for Biodiversity Plots 5 and 6, the other plots are

basically hilly landscape with steep sided slopes and very sparse vegetation cover especially

Hill Pillar 86 and the associated hill. These areas appear to have lost their natural vegetation

due to seasonal man made bush fire. The apparent loss of the natural vegetation cover makes

these areas vulnerable to severe erosion especially along the hill slopes and it is imperative that

adequate measures are put in place to forestall further habitat degradation.

Although the assessment did not identify significance presence of fauna wildlife in the target

area, it is expected that setting aside these six sites would enhance the recovery of fauna wildlife

in the area, if appropriate management action that prevent habitat degradation are put in place.


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3.2. RecommendationThe SGSOG, Brewaniese oil palm plantation is located within an area that is prone to human-

induced bush fire. It is therefore imperative that measures are put in place to prevent the

outbreak of fire on the plantation during the dry season. Causes of bush fire in the area include

palm wine tapping, hunting and land clearing for farming. There is the regular incidence of

Fulani herdsmen deliberately setting fire to dry vegetation to induce regeneration of fresh

vegetation. These practices have the potential to destroy unintended areas. Other habitat

degrading human activities in the area include logging, which was identified to be very

rampant throughout the area. The following measures have therefore been proposed as

management interventions to avert further habitat degradation of the biodiversity plots.

3.2.1. Establishment of Biodiversity PlotsEach of the six proposed biodiversity plots should be established by delineation of the external

boundary using the GPS coordinates in appendix 1. The plots should be clearly isolated from

the planted areas of the plantation and properly labeled with the ecological or socio-cultural

importance for which the plot has been set up. The plot label should clearly spell out human

activities that are prohibited from the plots.

3.2.2. Construction of FirebreaksInteractions with some land owners in the area revealed that the bush fire that usually ravages

the area, often originate from far off areas. It is therefore strongly recommended that effective

fire breaks in the form of transect or road clearing be constructed round each of the proposed

biodiversity plots to prevent fire outbreaks from outside of the concession entering into thebiodiversity plots. The fire breaks should have a width of about 4 metres and should be

regularly maintained and cleaned of all vegetation at all times especially during the dry season.


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3.2.3. Hunting and FarmingHunting and farming are two major causes of bush fire in Ghana and it is important that

adequate measures are put in place to prevent these practices in the concession area and in

particular within any of the biodiversity plots. Hunting by any method should be prohibited

from the concession area and more so in the biodiversity plots. Although there is general

paucity in large mammal fauna in the concession area, complete cessation of hunting would

allow fauna wildlife to recover and build up in the area. Crop farming activities should not be

allowed anywhere on any of the biodiversity plots as it would defeat the essence of the plots,

apart from being a major potential source of fire outbreak.

3.2.4. Cattle GrazingActive and adequate signs of cattle grazing were observed on the concession and specifically on

the Kpetebu Hills (north) and on the Kpafiao Hills. The grazing could be coming from a Fulani

herdsmen village located at the northern end of the concession. It was also realized during the

field evaluation that some Fulani herdsmen also cross over from across the border from

neighboring countries during the dry season.

3.2.5. Replanting of Degraded Areas of Proposed Biodiversity PlotsThe slopes and summit of the Hill Pillar 86 is highly degraded and completely covered with

grass in sharp contrast to the semideciduous forest in the valleys at the foot of the hills. The

prevalence of grass on the hill promotes wild fire during the dry season when the landscape

completely dries out. To stabilize the landscape and prevent erosion along the hill slopes, it is

highly recommended that a mix of indigenous tree species be planted on the summit and along

the slopes of Hill Pillar 86 and associated hills.


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3.2.6. Palm Wine TappingPalm wine tapping activities were observed all over the concession where the habitat

assessment was carried out. Wild oil palm trees were observed throughout the concession.

This situation implies a propensity for palm wine tapping by local people from surrounding

communities. In view of the potential danger of fire out break from palm tapping activities, it is

important that this activity is prohibited on the concession particularly in the biodiversity plots.

The proposed biodiversity plot 5, which has a significant presence of wild oil palm trees, should

particularly be guarded against palm wine tapping. Wild oil palm trees located within any of

the proposed biodiversity plots should be paid for and left to stand.

3.2.7. LoggingHarvestable economic trees within any of the proposed areas for the establishment of

biodiversity plots should not be harvested or felled. It was observed in the course of the habitat

assessment that extensive harvesting of economic trees had previously been carried out on the

site by outsiders. The action has resulted in severe degradation of the isolated patches of forest

and further removal of trees from within these areas would aggravate the current situation.

Logging should therefore not be permitted in any of the proposed sites for biodiversity plots

and the entire concession.

3.2.8. Management of Biodiversity PlotIt is strongly recommended that the proposed biodiversity plots when established must be

managed as integral entity of the oil palm plantation, with the prime objective of safe guarding

their ecological, landscape and socio-cultural importance. These plots should also be managedto enhance the fauna and flora diversity of the area by serving as refuge for wildlife. As part of

the management of the biodiversity plots, a monitoring scheme should be put in place to

monitor and evaluate measurable habitat conditions such as vegetation structure, fauna


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composition etc. The periodic monitoring results should inform further changes in

management interventions.


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Reference

Donald, P.F. (2004) Biodiversity impacts of some agricultural commodity production systems.

Conservation Biology 18, 1737

Fitzherbert, E. B., Stuebig, M. J., Morel, A., Danielsen, F., Bruhl, C. A., Donald, P. F. & Phalan, B.2008. How will oil palm expansion affect biodiversity? Trends in Ecology and Evolution 23:538

545.

Ghana, Republic of, 1990. Ghana Medium Term Agricultural Development Programme

(MTADP): An Agenda for Sustained Agricultural Growth and Development (1991-2000).

Ministry of Agriculture, Accra.

Gyasi, E. A & Enu-Kwesi, L, 2001. Managing agricultural resources for biodiversity

conservation> Policy Dimension: A case study of experience with managing agricultural

resources biodiversity conservation in West African region, with special reference to Ghana.Environmental Liaison Center International, University of Ghana, Legon.

Gyasi, E. A. 1996 b. The environmental impact and sustainability of plantations in Sub-Saharan

Africa: Ghanas experiences with oil-palm plantations. In Benneh, G. W. B. Morgan and J. I.

Uitto (eds) Sustaining the Future: Economic, Social and Environmental Change in Sub-Saharan

Africa. The United Nations University Tokyo. Pp.342-357

Gyasi, E. A 1991. The oil palm industry and its implications for the rural economy in Ghana.

Unpublished study funded by the University of Ghana, Department of Geography and

Resource Development, University of Ghana, Legon.

Gyasi, E. A. 1987. The Risonpalm nucleus estate of Nigeria: An agricultural plantation and its

effects on the surrounding area. Malaysian Journal of Tropical Geography 15: 26 38

GWS, 2007, Ecological Monitoring of the Biodiversity Plots of the Okumaning Oil Palm Estate of

the Ghana Oil Pam Development Company. An unpublished technical report produced for the

Ghana Oil Palm Development Company.

GWS, 2004, Ghana Conservation Action Plan for the Ghana Oil Palm Development Company.

An unpublished technical report of Ghana Wildlife Society.

Turner, E. C & Foster, W. A, 2009. The impact of forest conversion to oil palm on arthropod

abundance and biomass in Sabah, Malaysia. Journal of Tropical Ecology (2009) 25:2330.

Henson, I.E. & Chang, K.C. (2003) Oil palm plantations and forest lossan objective appraisal.

In Proceedings of the PIPOC 2003 International Palm Oil Congress, pp. 960-974,Malaysian Palm

Oil Board


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Appendix 1: GPS Coordinates of Proposed Biodiversity Plots

Site Name Point Code Date Coordinates Elevation (m)

Hill Pillar 86 HP86A 7-Aug-10 N7 54.712 E0 36.984 663 m

HP8AE 7-Aug-10 N7 54.719 E0 37.051 620 m

HP86AW 7-Aug-10 N7 54.714 E0 36.876 664 m

HP86BE 7-Aug-10 N7 54.658 E0 37.056 646 m

HP86BW 7-Aug-10 N7 54.658 E0 36.882 693 m

HP86CE 7-Aug-10 N7 54.625 E0 37.074 601 m

HP86CW 7-Aug-10 N7 54.621 E0 36.856 587 m

HP86DE 7-Aug-10 N7 54.552 E0 37.094 550 m

Hp86DW 7-Aug-10 N7 54.578 E0 36.818 546 mHp86EE 7-Aug-10 N7 54.518 E0 37.060 528 m

HP86EW 7-Aug-10 N7 54.501 E0 36.802 516 m

Hp86FE 7-Aug-10 N7 54.440 E0 36.977 415 m

HP86FW 7-Aug-10 N7 54.438 E0 36.761 406 m

HP86GE 7-Aug-10 N7 54.357 E0 36.972 348 m

HP86GW 7-Aug-10 N7 54.381 E0 36.757 340 m

HP86H 7-Aug-10 N7 54.274 E0 36.877 305 m

T Hill1 17-Jul-10 N7 54.344 E0 36.523

T Hill2 17-Jul-10 N7 54.414 E0 36.474

T Hill3 17-Jul-10 N7 54.403 E0 36.405T Hill4 17-Jul-10 N7 54.365 E0 36.397

T Hill5 17-Jul-10 N7 54.290 E0 36.444 266 m

Kpetebu Hill North KPN1 15-Jul-10 N7 54.950 E0 35.613 288 m

KPN2 15-Jul-10 N7 54.999 E0 35.661 269 m

KPN3 15-Jul-10 N7 55.113 E0 35.692 332 m

KPN4 15-Jul-10 N7 55.300 E0 35.689 356 m

KPN5 15-Jul-10 N7 55.410 E0 35.660 378 m

KPN6 15-Jul-10 N7 55.476 E0 35.610 380 m

KPN7 15-Jul-10 N7 55.516 E0 35.565 370 m

KPN8 15-Jul-10 N7 55.454 E0 35.524 365 m

KPN9 15-Jul-10 N7 55.361 E0 35.583 389 m

KPN10 15-Jul-10 N7 55.290 E0 35.603 384 m

KPN11 15-Jul-10 N7 55.113 E0 35.608 331 m

KPN12 15-Jul-10 N7 54.959 E0 35.551 284 m


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Kpafiao Hill Kp1A 16-Jul-10 N7 56.830 E0 35.310 332 m

Kp1B 16-Jul-10 N7 56.549 E0 35.466 334 m

Kp2A 16-Jul-10 N7 56.732 E0 35.436 378 m

Kp2B 16-Jul-10 N7 56.581 E0 35.525 375 m

Kp3 16-Jul-10 N7 56.704 E0 35.519 451 m

Kp3A 16-Jul-10 N7 56.720 E0 35.551 435 m

Kp4 16-Jul-10 N7 56.617 E0 35.529 438 m

Kp5A 16-Jul-10 N7 56.829 E0 35.604 468 m

Kp5B 16-Jul-10 N7 56.812 E0 35.494 470 m

Kp6A 16-Jul-10 N7 56.976 E0 35.531 491 m

Kp6B 16-Jul-10 N7 56.985 E0 35.349 485 m

Kp7A 16-Jul-10 N7 57.122 E0 35.526 501 m

Kp7B 16-Jul-10 N7 57.111 E0 35.312 489 m

Kp8A 16-Jul-10 N7 57.232 E0 35.483 492 m

Kp8B 16-Jul-10 N7 57.278 E0 35.261 490 m

Kp9A 16-Jul-10 N7 57.447 E0 35.458 467 m

Kp9B 16-Jul-10 N7 57.471 E0 35.185 470 m

Kp10A 16-Jul-10 N7 57.612 E0 35.399 495 m

Kp10B 16-Jul-10 N7 57.628 E0 35.131 490 m

Kp11A 16-Jul-10 N7 57.795 E0 35.266 478 m

Kp11B 16-Jul-10 N7 57.795 E0 35.010 480 m

Kp12 16-Jul-10 N7 57.903 E0 35.086 478 m

Kpetebu Hill South KPS 1 13-Jul-10 N7 54.599 E0 35.216 284 m

KPS 2 13-Jul-10 N7 54.661 E0 35.219 315 m

KPS 3 13-Jul-10 N7 54.760 E0 35.229 359 m

KPS 4 13-Jul-10 N7 54.778 E0 35.333 298 m

KPS 5 13-Jul-10 N7 54.777 E0 35.302 320 m

KPS 6 13-Jul-10 N7 54.816 E0 35.274 327 m

KPS 7 13-Jul-10 N7 54.810 E0 35.249 357 m

KPS 8 13-Jul-10 N7 54.883 E0 35.273 347 m

KPS 9 13-Jul-10 N7 54.979 E0 35.287 345 m

KPS 10 14-Jul-10 N7 55.006 E0 35.266 337 m

KPS 11 14-Jul-10 N7 54.977 E0 35.217 335 mKPS 12 14-Jul-10 N7 54.910 E0 35.198 342 m

KPS 13 14-Jul-10 N7 54.808 E0 35.185 349 m

KPS 14 14-Jul-10 N7 54.708 E0 35.197 339 m

KPS 15 14-Jul-10 N7 54.650 E0 35.278 320 m

KPS 16 14-Jul-10 N7 54.703 E0 35.311 309 m


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Tomgbah Shrine TS1 14-Jul-10 N7 54.519 E0 35.744 248 m

TS2 14-Jul-10 N7 54.468 E0 35.717 252 m

TS3 14-Jul-10 N7 54.435 E0 35.730 247 m

TS4 14-Jul-10 N7 54.420 E0 35.656 246 m

TS5 14-Jul-10 N7 54.391 E0 35.618 244 m

TS6 15-Jul-10 N7 54.343 E0 35.498 245 m

TS7 15-Jul-10 N7 54.454 E0 35.434 229 m

TS8 15-Jul-10 N7 54.412 E0 35.506 235 m

TS9 15-Jul-10 N7 54.441 E0 35.586 244 m

TS10 15-Jul-10 N7 54.499 E0 35.595 246 m

TS11 15-Jul-10 N7 54.582 E0 35.666 239 m

TS12 15-Jul-10 N7 54.749 E0 35.705 244 m

Kpetebu Stream Headwater KSH 1 15-Jul-10 N7 55.262 E0 35.418 312 mKSH 2 15-Jul-10 N7 55.304 E0 35.457 298 m

KSH 3 15-Jul-10 N7 55.282 E0 35.505 300 m

KSH 4 15-Jul-10 N7 55.273 E0 35.534 295 m

KSH 5 15-Jul-10 N7 55.225 E0 35.554 300 m

KSH 6 15-Jul-10 N7 55.183 E0 35.514 289 m

KSH 7 15-Jul-10 N7 55.191 E0 35.421 332 m


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Appendix 2: Profile of Survey Team Leader

Augustus Asamoah (Conservation Ecologist and Conservation Planning Specialist)

Augustus is a conservation ecologist with expertise in biodiversity management specializing in field

ornithology, habitat appraisal and conservation planning. With over eight years functional professional

experience in conservation ecology, biodiversity management and conservation planning, Augustus

coordinates and lead the biodiversity conservation research program of Ghana Wildlife Society. He has

since 2003 been the coordinator of the biodiversity conservation research and monitoring program of

GWS, leading all the baseline biodiversity survey as part of the core activity of GWS or as a consultancy

work for different clients. Augustus Asamoah is currently RSPO Approved HCVF Assessor.

Notable among the baseline biodiversity survey work that Augustus has coordinated and led include the

biodiversity inventory of forest reserves and sacred groves of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area

(contract from Okyeman Environment Foundation, under a World Bank Funded project), Biodiversity

Survey of the Operational Area of the Abosso Goldfield Ltd ( under contract from Mining Sector Support

Program), Biodiversity Baseline Survey of the Operational areas of Newmont Gold Ghana Ltd Ahafo and

Akyem (under subcontract from Geomatrix Consultants Inc of USA), Ecological Baseline studies for the

proposed rail spur and hauling road between Hwini Butre and Wassa Akyempim (under subtract from

SGS Environment), Baseline Biodiversity survey of Three Timber Utilization Contract Areas of the Ayum

Forest Products Ltd, Rapid Biodiversity Assessment of Seven Globally Significant Biodiversity Area

(under contract from the Forestry Commission). Augustus is the National Coordinator of the Threatened

Species Conservation program of the BirdLife International with specific duty for the conservation of the

White-necked Picathartes.

Augustus has a Master of Research (MRes) in Ecology and Environmental Management from the

University of York in the UK, BSc in Natural Resources Management from the Institute of Renewable

Natural Resources of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and postgraduate

Certificate in Terrestrial Ecology from the Conservation Training Consortium of the University of Illinois

in Chicago, USA. He is currently a registered PhD student in Biodiversity Studies at the Department

Animal Biology and Conservation Science, University of Ghana.


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