Forestry Development Master Plan 2016 – 2036.

The Forestry Development Master Plan is a national policy with a sectoral approach. The timeframe of the policy is 20 years between 2016 and 2036. The objective of the Master Plan is to ensure sustainable forest management, ecosystem preservation, biodiversity conservation, wildlife protection, environmental protection, soil conservation, land use planning, sustainable use of forest resources, afforestation, rehabilitation and restoration of degraded landscapes, and plant cultivation, in a socially equitable manner.
In order to make forestry more productive and sustainable, (i) forestry protection measures will be taken to ensure sustainable management and utilization of forests, wildlife, wetlands, and savannah ecosystems, (ii) protected area management systems will be improved, (iii) climate-smart agriculture will be supported, and (iv) forest management certification will be developed.
Forest enterprises will be modernized as a means of job creation for the rural and urban poor. Equitable benefit sharing and public participation will be promoted in forest and wildlife resource management.
Capacity building of forestry institutions and public will be improved through training, research-based and technology-led development in the field of sustainable forest and wildlife management and therefore public awareness will be raised on the value and multiple uses and benefits of forests. Fiscal measures will be taken for natural forest and wildlife management, timber plantation development, plant and machinery, development of tertiary processing activities, woodfuel processing, and micro/small forest based enterprises. Forest and wildlife based industries will be developed to satisfy domestic and international demand for competitively-priced quality products. Wood marketing, export development, trade promotion and domestic wood market will be developed for sustainable supply of timber and woodfuels.
The Master Plan seeks to contribute to reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and climate and temperature regulation.
The Ministry of Land and Natural Resources shall be responsible for monitoring the implementation of this Master Plan. The Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate within the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources shall be the Plan Implementation and Coordination Unit to manage the programs. The monitoring and evaluation information will be shared with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, National Development Planning Commission, Ghana Statistical Service, Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Environmental Protection Agency, development partners, Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate, Civil Society Organizations, the private sector and decentralized entities, and other partners intervening in the forestry sector.