The stock and socio-economic uses of Borassus Aethiopum in Abrimasu Forest Reserve of Mampong Forest District

Abstract

This present paper provides the stock level and socio-economic uses of Borassus aethiopum in Abrimasu forest reserve of Mampong forest District. Survey was conducted in Abrimasu Forest Reserve and five selected fringe communities of the forest Reserve. Information on stocking, source, usage, as well as sale of Borassus aethiopum were obtained through semi-structured interview, key informants interviews, personal communication and desk study were used together with focal group discussion. The inventory of Borassus aethiopum was taken from both the on- and –off reserve areas. Three compartments and farms were randomly selected and demarcated for the study. The mean stocking ofBorassus aethiopum (33-61 trees per hectare) in the Abrimasu Forest Reserve was significantly higher than stocking in the off-reserve (18 and 61 trees per hectare). From the results, 29% of the respondents use Borassus aethiopum as food and 33% of the respondents use Borassus aethiopum as shelter. 15% and 23% of the respondents generate income for using Borassus aethiopum for Aphrodisiac and medicinal purposes. It was concluded that more Borassus aethiopum trees are exploited from the off–reserve than the forest reserve. It is envisaged that as the population increases in the study area, there will be over-exploitation on the species in terms of urban development, consumption and agricultural practices. Authors strongly recommend that measures are in place to save the species from extinction.