Forest conservation practices: Insights of local communities near wildlife-protected areas in Ghana

Abstract

Effective forest conservation relies on active community participation; however, local communities in Ghana are often excluded from policy development. This study explored community perspectives on forest conservation by identifying practices that local inhabitants believed could help preserve the forests in two wildlife-protected areas within the forest-savannah transition zone of Ghana: Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (BFMS) and Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve (KSNR). A cross-sectional survey involving 300 respondents was conducted using semi-structured questionnaires to gather insights into locally suggested conservation practices. A Multinomial Logistic Regression (MLR) model was employed to assess whether the socio-demographic variables such as age, sex, educational level, occupation and residential status influenced these perspectives. Wildfire prevention was the most emphasised conservation strategy in BFMS (38.6%), while respondents in KSNR (37.2%) emphasised increased staffing for effective forest monitoring. Socio-demographic variables had no statistically significant influence (p > 0.05) on respondents’ perspectives. The findings highlight the importance of integrating local knowledge and community-driven conservation approaches for effective forest management. Strengthening participatory strategies can enhance conservation outcomes and contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals 13 (Climate Action) and 15 (Life on Land), which focus on biodiversity conservation and ecosystem resilience.