A New Perspective on Forest Definition and Shade Regimes for Redd+ Interventions in Ghana’s Cocoa Landscape

2017

English

Efforts to use spectral characteristics to differentiate between various shade regimes in cocoa plantations in Ghana have generally been difficult. Therefore, the use of field-based approaches to provide a landscape level understanding of how the Ghana forest definition parameters play-out on the ground, and their implications for climate change mitigation interventions within the cocoa landscape of the High Forest Zone is very imperative. Using a replicated transect approach, biophysical data on dendrometric parameters of cocoa and shade trees were collected from ninety 1 ha plots, in ten cocoa growing districts within the cocoa landscape. The stocking density and other dendrometric parameters of upper canopy trees (UCT) on farms differed significantly between districts. Stem densities of UCT were highest at Offinso District (22.8 ± 1.7 stems ha-1) and lowest at Goaso District (16.2 ±3.00 stems ha-1). Crown cover ranged from 5.8 ±1.22 to 16.3 ±1.74 % in the Asumura and Asempanaye Districts, respectively. The use of stem numbers alone would classify cocoa farms in only two of the 10 study districts, New Edubiase and Offinso landscapes, as having high shade. Results from this study also indicated an overall mean cocoa tree height of 6.3 m, which is higher than the height component of the national forest definition parameters. Clearly, for cocoa systems to meet the national forest definition threshold, the critical parameter was the tree height, based on the fact that the cocoa landscape in most areas are quite contiguous and easily meet the crown cover and land area parameters. Result from the study reiterates the need to consider the potential and implications of different cocoa systems as forests in the national REDD+ discussions. The study therefore concludes that cocoa systems could be referred to as forests, if the Ghana forest definition is to be applied in its strict sense. However, if cocoa trees are masked out because they are seen to be agricultural crops, then UCT or shade trees in the cocoa systems provide the best means to apply the forest definition. Also, given the current nature and extent of tree incorporation in the cocoa landscape, it is misleading to use stem numbers to indicate shade levels

Asante, W. A.; Dawoe, E.; Acheampong, E.; Bosu, P. P