| Name of Country |
| Location |
Western Africa |
| National websites |
Ghana Website , Ghana Web, Official Ghana Site |
| Embassy / Chancery in U.S. |
Chancery: 3512 International Dr. NW. 20008
(686-4520). (FAX 686-4527) |
| Agencies responsible for
biological inventory and conservation |
Ghana Forestry Department, PO Box 1457, Kumasi,
Ghana. |
| Non-governmental organizations
concerned with conservation |
CRAN (Christian Rural
Aid Network), ActionAid |
| Major Natural Resources |
Compared to the rest of Africa, Ghana
has a relatively high level of natural resources. Timber and Cocoa are two of
Ghana's most plentiful crops. Fishing is another of Ghana's most productive natural
resources. Between fishing and agriculture, the two industries employ over 50% of
working people in Ghana. Ghana also has a small amount of precious metals.
Gold and bauxite are both rather plentiful in Ghana. There is also a forestry
industry in Ghana that is quite lucrative. Timber is one of Ghana's main
exports. An approximately 5% annual growth rate in Ghana's economy can be linked to
lucrative cocoa, timber, and gold trades. Ghana is also a large provider of illicit drugs
to the rest of the world. Wild Cannabis is smuggled out of Ghana ever hour.
Regardless of their large amounts of fish, gold, and timber, Ghana is still mostly a
country that concentrates on sustenance living. Between Ghana's agriculture
and fish markets, they have enough resources to provide for themselves. |
| Major Environmental and
Conservation Issues |
Like most other
African countries, Ghana has its fair share of environmental issues. There is a
severe drought in Northern Ghana that is interfering with Ghana's agricultural activities.
Ghana is also having a problem with deforestation. Its growing timber
market has come at a price. Ghana's forests are disappearing quickly.
The livestock of Ghana have also taken their toll on the land. They have overgrazed
and left farmers with little good grazing land left. Poaching of wildlife and
habitat destruction due to agriculture and expansion is currently threatening biological
diversity in Ghana. The water supply of Ghana is also being slowly ruined by
livestock, soil erosion, etc. This water pollution is having an averse effect
on the fishing industry. In addition, this widespread water pollution has left
natives with very little clean water to drink or to bathe in. |
| Statistics |
Information
Sources |
| Land area |
238,540 sq km |
Ghana Website |
| Area of forest |
83,489 sq. km |
Ghana Website |
| Area of wetlands |
170,165 hectares (area in sq km was not
available) |
National Report of Ghana |
| Area of territorial waters |
8,520 sq km |
Ghana Website |
| Population |
18,497,206 (July 1998 est.) |
Ghana Website |
| Population Density |
77.5 people per sq. mile |
|
| Area protected (ha) (only areas
>1000ha) at all IUCN levels |
1,104,000 ha |
World
Resource 96-97 |
| Fraction of land area protected
(%) |
4.6% |
World
Resource 96-97 |
| Major Protected Areas |
List from
Information Center for the Environment |
|
| Endemic Species |
| Mammals |
1 |
| Birds |
1 |
| Reptiles |
1 |
| Amphibians |
X |
| Fish |
X |
| Invertebrates |
X |
| Plants |
43 |
|
World Resource
96-97 |
| Endangered, Threatened and
Vulnerable Species |
| Mammals |
13 |
| Birds |
10 |
| Reptiles |
4 |
| Amphibians |
0 |
| Fish |
0 |
| Invertebrates |
0 |
| Plants |
83 |
|
World Conservation Monitoring
Centre - Animal World Conservation
Monitoring Centre - Plants |
| Extinct Species |
| Mammals |
0 |
| Birds |
0 |
| Reptiles |
0 |
| Amphibians |
0 |
| Fish |
0 |
| Invertebrates |
0 |
| Plants |
1 |
|
World Conservation Monitoring
Centre - Animal World
Conservation Monitoring Centre - Plants |
| Species listed on CITES Appendix
I |
|
CITES-listed Species Database |
| Species listed on CITES Appendix
II |
|
CITES-listed Species Database |
| Legislation |
| Laws protecting endangered or
threatened species |
|
| Laws protecting endangered
ecosystems |
|
| Signatory to CITES |
2/12/76 |
| Signatory to Ramsar Wetlands
Convention |
6/22/88 |
| Signatory to Convention on
Biological Diversity |
8/29/94 |
| Signatory to Migratory Bird
Treaty |
No |
| Member of International Whaling
Commission |
No |
| Signatory to other international
treaties designed to protect or manage biological resources |
List of Ghana Treaties
(Note: This is a list of all treaties Ghana is involved in, not just ecological ones) |
| Natural Resource Use |
Information
Sources |
| Fisheries |
388,000 metric tons |
World Resource
96-97 |
| Forestry / deforestation |
16,965 cubic meters |
World Resource 96-97 |
| Ecotourism |
$370 million a year |
Official Ghana
Site |
| Trade in wildlife products |
Figures are unavailable, but it is known
that Ghana still allows trade of Ivory in duty-free shops, which makes a large amount of
revenue. |
WWF
Site |
| Hunting |
Again, exact figures are not known, but
many species are hunted or poached for their extrinsic or intrinsic value. Examples
of these types of speciese are chimpanzees, deer, fish, wildcats, etc. |
|
| Other uses of natural resources |
Timber, gold, manganese, bauxite, and
diamonds are some of Ghana's main exports. |
Official Ghana
Site |
| Human Impacts on Natural Resources |
Information
Sources |
| Air pollution |
Ghana has the same problems as
most countries with air pollution (particulate, etc.) However, there is another also the
problem of indoor air pollution. Inside cooking stoves have led to high amounts of
indoor air pollution, which have been correlated with instances of Acute Respiratory
Infections. |
Inside Air Pollution Study |
| Water pollution |
Ghana's sacred lagoons are being
ruined as a result of excessive logging, soil erosion, and use of explosives and chemicals
in fishing. There is also little water suitable for drinking in Ghana |
The Nightmare Lagoons |
| Development activities |
Like in most cases, Ghana's
industrial rebirth since 1983 has come hand in hand with environmental degradation and
deforestation. The loss of forest in Ghana due to logging, production of charcoal,
fire, and use of wood as fuel has led to deforestation, desertification, and an overall
loss of biodiversity. In 1988, it was estimated that total losses as a result of
Ghana's forestry and agriculture practices has been upwards of 120 million dollars!
Development in Ghana has not come without its costs. |
Abstract |
| Introduced species |
A certain introduced mite has taken over Cassava production
in Ghana, parasitic weeds of the Striga family have damaged grain production.
Lastly, introduced fungi have interfered with agriculture. |
CABI |
| Legislation addressing these
issues |
National Environment Action Plans (NEAPs), National
Conservation Strategies (NCSs), National Plans of Action to Combat Desertification
(NPACD), National Tropical Forestry Action Plans (TFPAs), Country Environmental Strategy
Papers (CESPs), National Energy Assessments, and Country Programmes for the Phase Out of
Ozone-Depleting Substances |
GEO-1 |
| Restoration and Reintroduction |
Information
Sources |
| Programs for restoration of
damaged habitat |
Forest Inventory Project, Loretto
Community |
Organization
Database |
| Programs for ex situ
conservation (captive breeding and reintroduction) of endangered species |
|
|