Hectares No. of farmers % No. of fields % < 1 ha to 2 ha to 3 ha

Transcription

1 Biodiversity report Ghana / Cocoa / Biodiversity Query Information Project Ghana / Cocoa / Biodiversity Query Results Hectares No. of farmers % No. of fields % < 1 ha to 2 ha to 3 ha to 4 ha to 5 ha to 6 ha to 7 ha ha TOTAL Query Average Average field size 1.7 Average farm size 1.63 Area (ha) Traffic light scores

2 Parameters Proportion (%) of Fields Number of trees Species Richness Landscape diversity Vegetation Structure Number of native species k Farm size distribution per farmer (ha) 4k No. of Farmers 3k 2k 1k k < 1 ha 1 to 2 2 to 3 3 to 4 4 to 5 5 to 6 6 to 7

3 8k Field size distribution (ha) 6k No. of Fields 4k 2k k < 1 ha 1 to 2 2 to 3 3 to 4 4 to 5 5 to 6 6 to 7 Traffic light scores Number of trees Number of native species 5 Species richness green yellow red Vegetation structure Landscape diversity Overall Traffic light graph: Number of indicators

4 1 Proportion of farms 5 1 indicator 2 indicators 3 indicators 4 indicators 5 indicators Number of Red/Amber/Green lights scored This graph shows the proportion of farms scoring red/amber/green for different numbers of indicators (eg: 4% farms Have scored 2 green lights overall in this territoy). Number of trees per hectare 1 8 % of Fields trees 1-13 trees trees > 22 trees No. of trees

5 trees 1-13 trees trees > 22 trees Technical Summary: Maintaining a certain quantity and diversity of non-cocoa trees on cocoa farms is recommended to provide adequate shade levels, ecosystem services and alternative household income. To obtain this data, all non-cocoa trees found to be above 1cm diameter at breast height (dbh) within the sample plots are recorded, and then the total is extrapolated to trees p/ha. Species richness 1 8 % of Fields < 5 species/ha 5-9 species/ha 9-11 species/ha > 12 species/ha No. of species per hectare

6 -11 species/ha 9 species/ha > 12 species/ha less than 5 species/ Technical Summary: This data is obtained by counting the number of different species found within the sample plots and then extrapolating the findings to hectares. Rainforest Allinance recommends a minimum of 12 native species per hectare for cocoa production. While it is generally accepted that species richness is desirable for diversification of income and shade cover, some species may attract or host insects that cause harmful cocoa diseases. Shade trees per hectare 1 8 % of Fields shade trees 1-13 shade trees shade trees > 22 shade trees No. of shade trees per hectare

7 shade trees 1-13 shade trees shade trees > 22 shade trees Technical Summary: While some hybrid cocoa varieties that do not require much shade have been introduced into the cocoa farming system, low or no shade is deemed unsustainable because of the associated high levels of inputs required. The level of required shade is also dictated by the age of plantation: young cocoa trees thrive best under 7% shade in the first few years of their life. 18 mature shade trees p/ha is required by UTZ Certified and 2 trees p/ha is required by Rainforest Alliance. This indicator is constructed using the number of trees data. Dead trees per hectare 1 8 % of Fields trees 1-3 trees >3 trees No. of dead trees per hectare

8 > 3 trees 1-3 trees trees *No traffic light score could be applied to this indicator Technical Summary: The presence of dead trees is ambiguous: whilst a disproportionally high number of dead trees could indicate negative agricultural practices or trees competing for water, dead trees standing can also provide animal habitats and maximise on-farm carbon storage (or may be of cultural significance). No literature was found on recommended numbers or ratios of dead trees on cocoa farms in order to guide categorization or traffic light cut-offs. This data was obtained by counting the number of dead trees standing within the sample plots. Diversity of land use adjacent to the farm 1 8 % of Fields land types 3-4 land types 5-6 land types

9 3-4 land types 5-6 land types 1-2 land types Technical Summary: Whilst cocoa agroforests maximize biodiversity and conservation value when they are established in the proximity of a forest (Gockowski 24, Asare 26, Donald 24, Sonwa 21, WWF 26), it is important to minimise any negative impact of cocoa farming on those ecosystems, such as potential pollution from chemicals. For this reason, UTZ recommends a buffer zone of 5m for streams and 1m for swamps (UTZ 29). CRIG recommends that cocoa farms are not established near extremely wet or swampy lands (CRIG 1987). More research is needed to understand the merits of one land use over another and as such, no traffic light system is applied. Data is collected by on-farm observation. Land use types adjacent to the farm 1 8 % of Fields Annuel food crops Other perinnial crop Cocoa field Forest Bush fallow Swamp Stream Other land use *No traffic light score could be applied to this indicator Carbon stock

10 1 8 % of Fields > 16 Mg/ha Mg/ha 4-12 Mg/ha < 4 Mg/ha Mg/ha < 4 Mg/ha 4-12 Mg/ha > 16 Mg/ha Technical Summary: In the context of climate change, the possibility of carbon sequestration by forests has a strong potential to promote the maintenance of forest trees or the planting of non-cocoa trees in cocoa farms. This indicator is constructed from the number of trees registered within the farm plots of at least 1 cm dbh and on the values of dbh obtained for each tree from the Biodiversity Form. This value is then expressed per ha. Vegetation Structure

11 6 5 4 % of Fields Multistrata Single strata Cocoa strata Cocoa strata Multistrata Single strata Technical Summary: A vegetation structure where several strata s exist (with at least one strata being above the canopy level for shade), is favourable to biodiversity conservation. The vegetation structure indicator is based on the analysis of tree size and distribution of the number of trees by the different dbh ranges. Banana/plantain are assumed to belong to the same stratum as cocoa trees and considering the fact that farmers plant them specifically to provide shade to younger cocoa trees (cutting them down when cocoa trees are older and taller), succession planting should be planned. Vegetation Succession

12 7 6 5 % of Fields Good Moderate Low Chart title Good Moderate Low Technical Summary: Vegetation succession (in relation to trees) results from the changes in the agroforest community over a period of time and should ensure the maintenance of the agroforest s structure and environmental conditions. This parameter is constructed using the number of trees that are registered in different dbh classes. Primary Use

13 1 8 % of Fields Food Timber Medecine Other *No traffic light score could be applied to this indicator Exotic species 8 6 % of Fields 4 2 > 12 species/ha 9-11 species/ha < 9 species/ha

14 Chart title > 12 species/ha 9-11 species/ han 9 species/ha Native and exotic species % of Fields Predominantly Exotic Balanced Predominantly Native

15 Chart title dominantly Native Predominantly Balanced Technical Summary: While native species can be preferable from a conservation point of view (Bennett 212) due to the threat from invasive exotic species, exotic species can replace ecosystem services not provided by non-accessible native species. In addition, exotic species often provide additional functions including food and economic resources to the farmer. Rainforest Alliance recommends that at least 12 of the on farm species should be native (SAN 29). This data is farmer reported and partly validated by field surveyors. Top ranking tree species This table shows the top most occuring tree species by region (as reported by farmers) Ashanti Brong Ahafo Central Eastern Western All farms Rank Banana Oil palm Banana Oil palm Banana Banana 1 Oil palm Banana Oil palm Konkroma Avocado Oil palm 2 Avocado Avocado Other Banana Oil palm Avocado 3 Orange/Citrus Orange/Citrus Avocado Ofram Sesemasa Orange/Citrus 4 Ofram Sesemasa Dead trees Avocado Orange/Citrus Sesemasa 5 Mango Konkroma Odum Orange/Citrus Dead trees Ofram 6 Odum Onyina Ofram Odum Ofram Dead trees 7 Besi Unknown Otie Okoro Onyina Onyina 8 Konkroma Dead trees Onyina Sesemasa Unknown Odum 9 Okoro Mango Orange/Citrus Dead trees Odum Unknown 1

16 1 Black pod 5 1-1% 11-% 26-5% 51% + Results based on 9339 fields 1 Swollen shoot 5 Results based on 717 fields

17 1 Capsid/Mirids 5 1-1% 11-% 26-5% 51% + Results based on 9323 fields 1 Shade tree trimming 5 Shade Trees/ Full sun plantation 2-3 Trees/ Under light shade /Acre Results based on 93 fields 4-6 Trees/ Under moderate shade / Acre

18 1 Weeding 5 Never Systematically When Needed Results based on 9323 fields 1 Cocoa tree trimming 5 Never Systematically When Needed Results based on 9328 fields

19 1 Organic(liquid) 5 Annual Never When Needed Results based on 862 fields 1 Organic(solid) 5 Annual Never When Needed Results based on fields

20 1 Chemical(liquid) 5 Annual Never When Needed Results based on 9 fields 1 Preceding crop 5 Forest Old cocoa or coffee farm Results based on 9286 fields Old fields

21 1 Type of sowing 5 Direct sowing Results based on 929 fields Nursery 1 Certification 5 Fair trade Rainforest Alliance UTZ Results based on 4345 fields

22 1 Tree spacing 5 1.m 1.5m 2.m 2.5m 3.m 3.5m Results based on 98 fields 1 Traditionnal type 5 Improved variety Mix Traditional Results based on 9236 fields

23 1 Improved type 5 Improved variety Mix Traditional Results based on 1389 fields 1 Annual replacement rate Results based on fields

24 1 Number of trees per hectare Results based on 155 fields 1 Species richness Results based on 156 fields

25 1 Shade trees per hectare Results based on 155 fields 1 Dead trees per hectare Results based on 156 fields

26 1 Diversity of Land use types Results based on 9744 fields 1 Vegetation Structure 5 Cocoa strata Multistrata Single strata Results based on 156 fields

27 1 Carbon stock Results based on 3497 fields 1 Vegetation Succession 5 Good Low Moderate N/A Results based on 156 fields

28 1 Primary use 5 Edible Other Timber Results based on 156 fields 1 Native and exotic species 5 Balanced Pred. Exotic Pred. Native Results based on 156 fields

29 1 Banana/ Plantain Results based on 14 fields 1 Palm trees Results based on 155 fields

30 1 Land tenure 5 Direct Lease Share-cropping Results based on 9283 fields 1 Gender 5 F Results based on 138 fields M

31 1 Plantation date 5 < Results based on 2734 fields 1 Area Results based on 156 fields GeoTraceability 213 If you are facing any technical problem, contact support@geotraceability.com (mailto:support@geotraceability.com)