Institutional Arrangement for Urban Forest Management in Ghana: Assessing the Role of the Local Communities and Youths

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Authors

  • Bismark Yayra Adzah United Nations University- Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability Institute. 5–53–70 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8925, Japan https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0260-2227
https://doi.org/10.55559/sjahss.v3i4.261

Keywords:

Urban forest, Local Communities, Urban Sustainability, Youth Participation

Abstract

Sustainable management and conservation of urban forests are becoming increasingly important to achieve urban sustainability, thus requiring a unified stakeholder collaboration at different levels. Local communities and youth play essential roles in sustainable urban forest management. This study analyzed the institutional arrangement for urban forest management in Ghana and the involvement of local communities and youth. The research involved an in-depth analysis of environmental institutions in Ghana and used qualitative methods to explore community and youth roles in urban forest management. Findings revealed a lack of a specific institution spearheading urban forest management, leading to overlapping responsibilities and administrative conflicts. Despite their potential, local communities and youth are often excluded from urban forest planning and management, resulting in decreased ownership and misuse of urban forests. Recommendations include assigning clear roles to responsible institutions, designating a specific urban forest management body, and adopting a youth-focused participatory approach for effective management.

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Published on: 05-04-2024

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How to Cite

Adzah, B. Y. (2024). Institutional Arrangement for Urban Forest Management in Ghana: Assessing the Role of the Local Communities and Youths. Sprin Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, 3(4), 12–19. https://doi.org/10.55559/sjahss.v3i4.261
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