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Title: | WILDFIRES AS DOMI A T FORCE DRIVI G FARMI G SYSTEMS I THE FOREST TRA SITIO ZO E OF GHA A |
Authors: | Amissah, L. Kyereh, Boateng Agyeman, V. K. |
Keywords: | Forest transition zone farming system wildfires change |
Issue Date: | 2011 |
Publisher: | Ghana J. Forestry |
Abstract: | Wildfires have become very influential in the ecology and socio-economic aspects of the rural landscape
in the transition zone of Ghana. Eight farming communities around four forest reserves with short firereturn
intervals were studied to determine major changes in farming systems that can be attributed to
wildfires. Results show that recurrent annual wildfires and other related factors have caused major
changes in the farming systems of the study areas. Based on farmer perceptions, significant changes were
found in the type of vegetation available for conversion into farms, site productivity, crops grown, labour
input, and crop yields. Thick secondary forests with long rotations and high site productivity are no
longer available for cultivation. They have been replaced with light grass and Chromolaena odorata
fallow with short rotations and low site productivity. Other important changes are a dramatic shift from
the growth of perennials (e.g. Cocoa) to annuals (e.g. maize), high labour requirements for land
clearance, low crop yields, and a reduced interest in the cultivation of cocoa which used to be the
backbone of the local economy. Farmers perceived these changes to be negative factors, implying that
bush fires may be undermining agriculture beyond the physical destruction of farms and farm produce |
Description: | This article is published in Ghana J. Forestry |
URI: | http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/13517 |
Appears in Collections: | College of Agric and Natural Resources
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