The concept, state, roles and management of protected areas in Ghana: a review

Abstract

Protected areas have greatly improved the conservation of biological diversities worldwide. The main objective of this short review was to discuss the concept of protected areas, their categorization as well as their state and important roles they play in Ghana. Desk survey and Document Analysis under the qualitative research approach guided every facet of the review. The Interpretative Document Analysis was used in thoroughly analyzing the papers before the extensive review was written. The short review focuses on the state of three main protected areas namely wildlife sanctuaries, forest reserves and sacred grove systems in Ghana, their management and the roles they play in biodiversity conservation. The paper reveals that the protected areas must be enhanced and preserved to promote the conservation of biodiversity that pivots life. It argues that if protected areas are managed effectively with the support of local communities where many of these gazette sites are stepped, they would positively improve the ecology and enhance the conservation of biodiversity. Governments must ensure that strong legal frameworks are put in place to facilitate the smooth implementation of the principles for the establishment and management of protected areas