Comparative Analysis of Community-based Forest Management in Nchumuru and Adele Communities, Oti Region, Ghana

Abstract

Community-Based Forest Resource Management (CBFRM) has emerged as a critical approach for promoting sustainable forest use and conservation in forest-dependent rural communities. This study compares the forest resource management strategies adopted by the Nchumuru and Adele communities in the Oti Region of Ghana, with particular attention to governance structures, traditional institutions, sanctions, and livelihood strategies. A comparative case study design was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative methods. Data were collected through household surveys administered to 344 respondents, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. The findings reveal significant differences in how CBFRM strategies operate across the two communities. While awareness of forest management practices is relatively high in both communities, the pathways through which awareness is generated differ. In Nchumuru, forest governance is strongly rooted in traditional ecological knowledge, credible sanctions, and culturally regulated livelihoods, resulting in cohesive and self-enforcing management practices. In contrast, the Adele community exhibits weakened traditional authority, uneven enforcement of sanctions, and greater reliance on external actors and livelihood interventions such as bee-keeping. These differences highlight the importance of institutional legitimacy, social embeddedness, and livelihood alignment in shaping forest governance outcomes. The study concludes that effective community-based forest management is context-specific and must integrate local institutions with appropriate external support to achieve long-term sustainability.