Illegal logging, wildfires, unauthorized farming, cattle grazing, and illegal mining (galamsey) pose severe threats to forest reserves in Ghana’s Offinso Forest District (OFD). These activities persist due to ineffective monitoring systems, weak enforcement, and limited community involvement in forest governance. Current interventions suffer from high response times, making real-time prevention difficult and increasing the vulnerability of communities reliant on forest resources. In response, the Application of Technology to Enhance Monitoring of the Forest in Offinso Forest District (ATEM-OFD) project, funded by the World Resources Institute (WRI) through the Global Forest Watch (GFW) Small Grants Programme, seeks to modernize monitoring efforts. As part of this initiative, Knowledge for World Conservation (KWC) conducted a baseline study to assess forest personnel’s awareness, capacity, and willingness to adopt technology-driven forest monitoring tools.
Key Findings
Digital literacy and awareness of monitoring tools
The study revealed a mix of basic and advanced digital skills among respondents. While GPS and GIS technologies were relatively well-known, awareness of advanced tools such as drones, satellite imagery, and remote sensors was significantly lower. The most commonly used monitoring app was Avenza, but more sophisticated tools remained largely unexplored.
Current forest monitoring practices
Monitoring efforts in OFD remain largely manual, involving field surveys, boundary inspections, and fire-belt maintenance. This reliance on traditional methods limits real-time data collection and efficient response to illegal activities like logging and mining. The lack of technological integration hinders effective resource allocation and rapid decision-making.
Willingness to adopt and integrate smart monitoring technologies
Despite gaps in technological expertise, enthusiasm for integrating smart monitoring tools was notably high. A majority of respondents expressed strong willingness to adopt digital solutions such as the GFW Forest Watcher App to enhance forest surveillance and protection efforts.
Perceived benefits of smart monitoring tools
Respondents unanimously agreed that smart monitoring tools would improve efficiency by enabling real-time alerts, enhancing safety, and reducing time spent on manual field inspections. Anticipated benefits include quicker responses to deforestation threats and better preparedness for potential dangers in forest reserves.
Training and equipment needs
To successfully transition to tech-enabled monitoring, respondents identified key requirements, including basic operational training, advanced technical workshops, and ongoing technical support. Additionally, there is a strong demand for essential equipment such as smartphones, tablets, and GPS-enabled devices to facilitate digital monitoring.
Barriers to adoption
Challenges to implementation include limited digital literacy, lack of hands-on experience, and insufficient resources for training and technical support. The continued reliance on manual methods underscores the urgent need for capacity-building programs to bridge these gaps.
Recommendations for Implementation
A phased approach is recommended, beginning with basic training and equipment provision, followed by advanced capacity-building initiatives. Establishing partnerships with technology providers, government agencies, and conservation organizations will be crucial for scaling up and ensuring sustainability in digital forest monitoring.
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