Reducing the over exploitation of Rosewood in Northern Ghana

In Ghana, African rosewood (Pterocarpus  erinaceus) is known locally as ‘Kpatro or Krayie’ and is found in parts of Brong Ahafo, Volta,  Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions of Ghana. It is predominant in the Forest-Savanna Transition, Sudan Savanna and Guinean Savanna ecological zones. Until its exploitation as timber, African rosewood was used locally as firewood and charcoal for energy needs, the foliage as fodder for livestock, and the wood for construction of musical instruments such as xylophone in the Upper West region. However, the rising demand for rosewood in China led to the exploitation of the species as timber.

Our ultimate aim is to help conserve rosewood species in Ghana through public education and capacity building. We value community education as a key entry point for engaging rural and indigenous community stakeholders as well as other climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Training and education on the impacts of deforestation, for example, can help communities make more informed decisions about the future of their forest resources and better engage in discussions about policies that may affect them.

Partners: AIG/FSD