The Economics of Timber Exploitation

Abstract

Standing timber in Ghana is not sold on a free and open market. Until December, 1998 logging companies operated on a concession basis and concessions were allocated by the Government through the Ministry of Lands and Forests. With the Timber Resources Management Act (1997) and the Timber Resources Management Regulations (1998), timber rights are now supposed to be allocated according to technical, financial and social qualifications of timber companies. An expected element of financial bidding for acquiring access to standing timber must be considered abolished by the Government of Ghana (see section 12.3.2 for further details). By far most land, including forest reserves, is community owned (stoolland), yet all rights to timber or trees on any land were in 1962 vested in the president in trust for the stools concerned (Concessions Act, 1962; 16, 1–3).