CHAINSAW MILLING IN GHANA: CONTExT, DRIVERS ... - Fornis.net

Chapter 3Timber production and trade3.1 Structure of chainsaw millingAn analysis of chainsaw operations (TBI-Ghana 2008) recognised 18 stakeholdergroups, including the FSD, farmers, lumber brokers, sawmillers, DAs, consumers(including carpenters), law enforcement agencies (police, judiciary and Customs,Excise and Preventive Service, or CEPS), chiefs (land-owners) and chainsaw operators,including operators, loading boys and transporters. Other key stakeholders in policydiscourse included the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the ParliamentarySelect Committee on Forests, environmental non-governmental organizations(ENGOs) and trade associations, including the Ghana Timber Millers Organization(GTMO) and the Ghana Timber Organization (GTA).For the operatives (from the loading boys to the lumber dealers who finance theactivity), CSM is a source of employment that supports their livelihood. At thecommunity level, the operations affect local people, especially farmers, in both positiveand negative ways. CSM supplies local people with lumber and some farmers selltrees on their farms for income; on the other hand, some people have conflicts withoperators over payment of compensation for trees cut on their farms and for damagesto their crops. The DAs and traditional authorities (land-owners) are importantparticipants since chainsaw operations potentially affect their revenue from forestexploitation. There is a general perception that some chiefs support chainsawoperations and are sometimes involved in it.The timber trade associations, particularly the GTMO, are opposed to CSM and haveconsistently called for full enforcement of the ban. The GTMO and GTA are umbrellaorganizations for Ghana’s timber-milling companies and logging companies, respectively.With their secretariats headed by a full-time executive secretary, they have11