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

Chainsaw milling in Ghana: context, drivers and impacts3.5.3 Consumption of chainsawn lumber by the domestic marketDetermining the actual consumption of chainsawn lumber within Ghana requires anestimate of chainsawn lumber production and of the amount of chainsawn lumberexported to neighbouring countries. A recent national survey conducted by TIDDand FORIG (TIDD/FORIG 2009) projected the annual sales of timber (lumber andplywood) in the local markets to be 664,350 m 3 , 84% of which (558,054 m 3 ) 3 wasreported to be sourced from chainsawn lumber.To estimate total CSM production, the illegal direct overland exports of lumber mustbe added. Based on data by Blackett and Gardette (2008), 4 total overland exportscan conservatively be put at 260,000 m 3 per year (Table 12), all of which is assumedto be derived from CSM.Table 12. Timber and wood products trade to regional markets in West Africa, 2007Beninin transit to Sahelto product volume statusplywood 2,500 m 3 legallumber unknown illegalteak sawn-timber unknown illegalIvory Coast lumber unknown illegalNigeria plywood 74,500 m 3 legallumber unknown illegalSahel region lumber 39,000 m 3 legallumber 260,000 m 3 illegalTogo plywood 6,700 m 3 legalSource: Blackett and Gardette 2008lumber unknown illegalThe TIDD/FORIG survey (TIDD/FORIG 2009) indicated that 11% of the lumber salesof 664,350 m 3 in the domestic market — about 72,904 m 3 — were exported overland.If 84% of this volume derived from CSM, then the direct overland exports canbe set at 199,000 m 3 . It is unlikely that direct sawmill sales are included in this total,as sawmills would have the appropriate permits and licences and would exportlumber legally.Table 13 presents a range of estimates of the tree volume harvested by chainsawmillers, based on reported recovery efficiency, domestic annual sales volume anddirect overland export volume.24