Estimating the biodiversity effects of structural adjustment in Ghana

A dynamic model of forest land use in Ghana is developed and used to derive demand equations for optimal timber harvesting, cocoa land and maize land that are a function of the model’s price parameters. An equation is also developed to estimate the biodiversity level in Ghana. The hypothesis that ma...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Benhin, J.K., Barbier, Bruno
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: 2000
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18219
_version_ 1855528263032504320
author Benhin, J.K.
Barbier, Bruno
author_browse Barbier, Bruno
Benhin, J.K.
author_facet Benhin, J.K.
Barbier, Bruno
author_sort Benhin, J.K.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description A dynamic model of forest land use in Ghana is developed and used to derive demand equations for optimal timber harvesting, cocoa land and maize land that are a function of the model’s price parameters. An equation is also developed to estimate the biodiversity level in Ghana. The hypothesis that maize land expansion is a proximate cause of forest loss in either the pre or post-adjustment period is not supported by empirical results. Cocoa land expansion and timber expansion are significant factors, but their impacts on forest loss are reduced in the post-adjustment period. This infers that the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) has significantly reduced the impacts of cocoa land expansion and, less significantly, timber extraction on forest loss. In terms of price impacts on forest loss, relative timber input-output prices have the greatest impact on forest loss in both the pre and post-adjustment periods; adjustment policies have had little impact on the influence of timber prices on forest loss. The SAP, however, has affected the influence of cocoa and insecticide prices. Rising cocoa prices could induce farmers to convert forest land. Increasing the price of insecticides beyond a certain limit could also lead to increased rates of forest loss as farmers expand production by converting forest. The species-index estimates indicate that the rate of biodiversity loss has reduced in the post-adjustment period. It can be inferred that policies relating to prices and other incentives have reduced the rate of cocoa and maize land expansion and improved upon timber extraction.
format Book Chapter
id CGSpace18219
institution CGIAR Consortium
language Inglés
publishDate 2000
publishDateRange 2000
publishDateSort 2000
record_format dspace
spelling CGSpace182192025-01-24T14:13:12Z Estimating the biodiversity effects of structural adjustment in Ghana Benhin, J.K. Barbier, Bruno biodiversity cocoa (plant) economic analysis economics forests land use losses maize timber A dynamic model of forest land use in Ghana is developed and used to derive demand equations for optimal timber harvesting, cocoa land and maize land that are a function of the model’s price parameters. An equation is also developed to estimate the biodiversity level in Ghana. The hypothesis that maize land expansion is a proximate cause of forest loss in either the pre or post-adjustment period is not supported by empirical results. Cocoa land expansion and timber expansion are significant factors, but their impacts on forest loss are reduced in the post-adjustment period. This infers that the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) has significantly reduced the impacts of cocoa land expansion and, less significantly, timber extraction on forest loss. In terms of price impacts on forest loss, relative timber input-output prices have the greatest impact on forest loss in both the pre and post-adjustment periods; adjustment policies have had little impact on the influence of timber prices on forest loss. The SAP, however, has affected the influence of cocoa and insecticide prices. Rising cocoa prices could induce farmers to convert forest land. Increasing the price of insecticides beyond a certain limit could also lead to increased rates of forest loss as farmers expand production by converting forest. The species-index estimates indicate that the rate of biodiversity loss has reduced in the post-adjustment period. It can be inferred that policies relating to prices and other incentives have reduced the rate of cocoa and maize land expansion and improved upon timber extraction. 2000 2012-06-04T09:06:13Z 2012-06-04T09:06:13Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18219 en Benhin, J.K., Barbier, E.B. 2000. Estimating the biodiversity effects of structural adjustment in Ghana . In: Perrings, C. (ed.). The economics of biodiversity conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa: mending the ark. :273-308. Cheltenham, UK, Edward Elgar Publishing. ISBN: 1-84964-150-9..
spellingShingle biodiversity
cocoa (plant)
economic analysis
economics
forests
land use
losses
maize
timber
Benhin, J.K.
Barbier, Bruno
Estimating the biodiversity effects of structural adjustment in Ghana
title Estimating the biodiversity effects of structural adjustment in Ghana
title_full Estimating the biodiversity effects of structural adjustment in Ghana
title_fullStr Estimating the biodiversity effects of structural adjustment in Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Estimating the biodiversity effects of structural adjustment in Ghana
title_short Estimating the biodiversity effects of structural adjustment in Ghana
title_sort estimating the biodiversity effects of structural adjustment in ghana
topic biodiversity
cocoa (plant)
economic analysis
economics
forests
land use
losses
maize
timber
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18219
work_keys_str_mv AT benhinjk estimatingthebiodiversityeffectsofstructuraladjustmentinghana
AT barbierbruno estimatingthebiodiversityeffectsofstructuraladjustmentinghana