This study aimed to identify suitable corridors to connect two fragmented forest reserves in Ghana using cocoa agroforestry. Geographic information system analysis identified two potential corridors between the forest reserves. Baseline economic analysis found that no-shade cocoa farming was currently most profitable but cocoa agroforestry could be competitive if farmers were given payments for environmental services like carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation. The study provides guidance on using cocoa agroforestry corridors to increase forest connectivity in Ghana.

1. Cocoa Agroforestry for Increasing Forest Connectivity
in a Fragmented Landscape in Ghana
Asare Richard1, Victor Afari-Sefa*2, Yaw Osei-Owusu3, Opoku Pabi4
Cocoa cultivation is a major economic activity and land use system in Ghana. Traditionally, cocoa
was planted under partially cleared forest with remaining trees providing shade to cocoa trees
(Asare 2005; Anglaaere et al. 2011). Recent management practices in new cocoa fields,
particularly by migrant farmers, have been associated with widespread forest clearings where
little or no shade is maintained (Ruf 2011). Given how fast agricultural activities diminish
biodiversity, the major challenge for conservationists/agriculturists in biodiversity hotspots is
how to balance the economically driven agricultural expansion with strategies necessary for
conserving natural resources, and maintaining ecosystem integrity and species viability (Asare
2006). It is estimated that 50-70% of the total areas of protected forestlands in Ghana have
been illegally encroached (Ministry of Science and Environment 2002). In the process, two
protected areas of biodiversity importance in the Western region of Ghana—Bia Conservation
Area (Reserve A) and Krokosua Hills Forest Reserve (Reserve B)—have been encroached through
lumbering for timber, cocoa production and other agricultural land expansions (Oates et al.
2000; Oates 2006). To address the impact of increased cocoa area expansion in the two
protected forest areas, a multidisciplinary study involving biophysical and socio-economic
assessments within a GIS framework was undertaken to delineate possible candidate sites for
cocoa agroforest corridors to link the two forest reserves.
A. INTRODUCTIONA. INTRODUCTIONA. INTRODUCTIONA. INTRODUCTION
BBBB. OBJECTIVE. OBJECTIVE. OBJECTIVE. OBJECTIVE
• identify suitable corridors and recommend compatible cocoa-timber
species to connect the forest fragments with cocoa agroforest corridors
• assess opportunity costs of alternative farming systems and offer
appropriate conditions/incentives for farmers to undertake cocoa
agroforestry
In terms of delineation of the agroforestry corridor, there is a management regime within 5 km by
the Forestry Commission beyond the boundaries of the forest reserves. Accordingly a 5 km buffer
was generated beyond the boundaries of the forest reserves. This zone (shaded light green in Fig.
3) captured all manner of landforms and land-use/cover formations in a 5-km radius outside the
forest reserves. Thus, between the Reserve B, Bia National Park and Bia North Forest Reserves is a
central zone (shaded yellow in Fig. 3), which was considered an area of exclusion. More favorable
conditions based on vegetation cover, fewer settlements, and low annual cropping exist in the
area between Bia North Reservation area and Bia National Park (Fig. 2). The GIS analysis indicated
that two areas are most favorable (Fig. 3): The gap between Bia National Park and Bia North Forest
Reserve referred to as the northern site (Fig. 2) with a distance of 4 km and, the gap between the
southeastern tip of the Bia Resource Reserve (south of Reserve A) and southwestern tip of
Reserve B, referred to as the southern site, with a distance of 5.5 km. Baseline socio-economic
scenario results indicate that no-shade cocoa is the highest in terms of profitability (Table 1). The
second best enterprise to no-shade cocoa is cocoa agroforests, under the assumption of legality of
timber sales after a 20-year production cycle. Oil palm and rice production are break even
propositions. Results from the economic analysis and farmers’ perceptions of biodiversity
conservation acknowledges the need for environmental payments to support cocoa agroforest
corridor creation.
D. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIOND. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIOND. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIOND. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
C. MATERIALS AND METHODSC. MATERIALS AND METHODSC. MATERIALS AND METHODSC. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The study area lies within latitude 3.2720 N and latitude 2.5870 W. The western boundary of the
area forms part of the western boundary with Cote d’Ivoire (Fig. 1). Relevant spatial information
such as water bodies, land cover, topography, forest reserves, etc. were procured as shape files
generated from analogue topographic maps with a scale of 1:50,000 and transformed to an
adopted remote sensing coordinate system. The corridor delineation was carried out in ArcGIS in
a raster format. Landsat ETM+ data was used to develop the land-use/cover map. Figure 2 is a
direct output of the classification process, which includes built-up areas like settlements and
exposed grounds, annual cropping and fallow lands with cocoa-tree formations among others.
Socioeconomic analysis primary data collected from 100 randomly stratified selected farm-
households. A standard cost-benefit analysis of a cocoa agroforests with cocoa as the dominant
crop (Gockowski et al. 2013) was applied to analyze the opportunity costs of alternative farming
systems by including revenues accrued from shade trees used as permanent shade in the
production cycle using the representative farm approach. The net present value (NPV), benefit-
cost ratio (BCR) and internal rate of return (IRR) were calculated based on discounting procedures
on a per-hectare basis using standard formulae (Gittinger 1982). Timber trees (Terminalia
superba) are assumed to be sown under the temporary shade canopy provided by plantains
planted at a density of 1,600 per ha and assumed to be sold legally in an approach similar to that
proposed by Somarriba et al. 2014. In the base scenario, we compared cocoa production systems
with other alternative cropping systems using standard bulk cocoa prices without any premium
price. We include payments for environmental and ecosystems services in a hypothetical scenario
analysis (Table 1).
E. CONCLUSIONE. CONCLUSIONE. CONCLUSIONE. CONCLUSION
• Multidisciplinary biophysical and socio-economic assessments undertaken
proved useful in establishing the baseline status for delineation of potential
corridor sites to link Reserves A and B and provide an economic and financial
paradigm to incentivize farmers in a cocoa agroforestry setting.
• The base scenario of the socio-economic study established that no-shade cocoa
production is the most important economic activity in the area in comparison
with competing alternatives, namely cocoa agroforestry, oil palm and rice. The
second best enterprise to no-shade cocoa is cocoa agroforests, under the
assumption that farmers will sell timber after the 20-year production cycle.
• Cocoa agroforest premiums alone are not attractive enough for farmers to shift
from no-shade cocoa to cocoa agroforestry. Paying farmers premium prices for
the cocoa produced along with substantial off-farm environmental and
ecosystem services (e.g., rewards for carbon sequestration and biodiversity
conservation) under agroforestry systems can tip the balance towards the
adoption of sustainable biodiversity friendly agricultural practices.
2AVRDC - The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC)
Eastern and Southern Africa
P. O. Box 10 Duluti, Arusha, TANZANIA
Corresponding author: E-mail: victor.afari-sefa@worldveg.org;
Tel: +255-27-255-3093
1Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource
Management, University of Copenhagen, Denmark and
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA),
Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) – INSTI
Building, Airport Residential Area, P. O. Box M#2, Accra,
GHANA
3Conservation Alliance, P. O. Box KIA 20436, Airport,
Accra, GHANA
4Institute for Environment and Sanitation, P.O Box LG 209,
University of Ghana - Legon, Accra, GHANA
Figure 2: Land use cover of the northern
part of the Reserve A, Reserve B and Bia
North Reserve
Figure 3: Map showing circled areas of
shortest distances for locating corridors
Crop/Farming system
Yield of main crop
in kg ha-1 year-1
Total Production
Cost
(¢GHC ha-1)
Total Revenue
(¢GHC ha-1)
Economic Profitability Indicators
NPV
(¢GHC ha-1)
BCR IRR
(%)
No-shade cocoa 948.88 1,429.15 2,247.33 1,025.12 1.26 45.0
Cocoa-agroforestry* 553.28 896.73 1,489.36 781.12 1.19 40.0
Oil palm 3,745.00 1,152.08 1,498.33 607.13 1.04 36.0
Rice+ 881.47 569.66 837.40 345.32 1.02 34.0
Cocoa-agroforestry (with
no premium cocoa price)*
553.28 896.73 1,489.36 781.12 1.19 40.0
Cocoa-agroforestry (with
premium cocoa price)*
553.28 896.73 2,105.34 945.67 1.24 43.5
Cocoa-agroforestry (with
premium cocoa price plus
carbon)**
553.28 896.73 2,297.02 1,317.76 1.32 45.9
Cocoa-agroforestry (with
premium cocoa price +
full environmental
benefits)***
553.28 896.73 2,609.22 1,657.41 1.40 51.3
Table 1: Computed economic indicators of scenarios on premium price and assumed
environmental benefits per annum
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Figure 1: Study area showing
administrative districts,
settlements, roads, and
protected forest reserves