Under the veil of science: a history of state management of Ghana’s High Forest zone

Research output: Contribution to journalConference abstract in journalpeer-review

This paper examines the way forest science and knowledge has been used in Ghana to legitimate the power of the central state over forests, and timber resources in particular. It analyses how science has been invoked to authorize management decisions aimed at sustainable forest management, notably the felling cycle, the framework of large and small grained protection measures
and the yield formula and scientifically based forest inventories. The paper focuses on the period from 1989 to the present and is based on analysis of narratives as presented in reports, letters, speeches and newspaper articles. The paper finds that narratives of sustainable timber management based on scientific silvicultural principles have been maintained throughout the period despite
mounting evidence of the opposite. The paper thus argues that various forms of official ignorance have been carefully maintained to avoid systematic reassessment and policy learning and ultimately allowing state officials to maintain control over the resource.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Forestry Review
Volume16
Issue number5
Pages (from-to)92
Number of pages1
ISSN1465-5489
Publication statusPublished - 2014
EventXXIV IUFRO World Congress - Salt Palace, Salt Lake City, United States
Duration: 5 Oct 201411 Oct 2014

Conference

ConferenceXXIV IUFRO World Congress
LocationSalt Palace
CountryUnited States
CitySalt Lake City
Period05/10/201411/10/2014

ID: 131357399