ASSESSMENT OF FOREST COVER DEPLETION DUE TO LOGGING IN THE OFFIN RIVER PORTION AND OFFIN SHELTERBELT FOREST RESERVES IN GHANA

The study was conducted to investigate the extent of forest cover depletion resulting from logging in two forest reserves in Ghana. Seven communities were covered in this study and forest inventory results were analysed. Illegal logging, surface mining, NTFP harvesting and processing, unsustainable agriculture practices were observed to be prevalent in the seven (7) forest dependent communities. Over an eleven (11) year period, a total sum of 21.3% forest loss has been detected in the Offin Shelterbelt and Tano Offin forest reserves. It is anticipated that should current over-exploitation and forest degradation continue in the Offin Shelterbelt forest reserve, the stand density in terms of basal area (m2 ha-1) shall be reduced to less than 5 m2ha-1 threshold in seventeen (17) years. The afore mentioned malpractices has adverse practical implications inclined towards to the decimation of prime species which are valuable genetic resources across various disciplines, with an eventual extinction of these floral lives. The declination of forest cover and bad land use practices in the catchment have impacted negatively on the regularity of the flow and water quality of River Offin on which surrounding communities are heavily dependent on in the cultural proceedings.