VULNERABILITY OF FOREST RESOURCES TO GLOBAL CLIMATE-CHANGE - CASE-STUDY OF CAMEROON AND GHANA

The response and feedbacks of forest systems to global environmental c hange, including the ecosystems of West Africa, are expected to be pro found. A comparative assessment of current and future forest distribut ion in Cameroon and Ghana in response to land-use change and global cl imate change was completed. From 1970 to 1990, the forest area of Came roon and Ghana declined dramatically due to harvesting and degradation , averaging 0.6 and 1.3% each year, respectively. The areal distributi on of West African forest systems is projected to shift 5 to 15%, base d on 4 General Circulation Model (GCM) scenarios and the Holdridge Lif e Zone Classification System. Loss of forest habitat due to destructio n, degradation and climate change is projected to increase animal and plant species loss. Adaptation of evergreen and deciduous forest syste ms to global environmental change poses many challenges for Cameroon a nd Ghana. Application of low-input, indigenous resource management opt ions, which have been practiced on a sustained basis for centuries, ma y be a feasible adaptation goal.