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Abstract

Nine executives from three different Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs) in northern Ghana were interviewed for this study. The purpose was to identify and rate key threats that could derail conservation objectives and the management solutions they applied to reduce and mitigate such threats. The leaders identified conservation risks, assessed their likelihood of occurrence, and rated their consequences. Findings showed that the CREMAs’ conservation objectives were based on 1) plants and animals, 2) cultural heritage, and 3) water resources. The utility and amenity values of these resources promote conservation goals. Thirteen risks were identified and categorized as direct or indirect. Identified risks were prioritized into high, moderate, and low threats based on their magnitude and how frequently they were mentioned. Some risks were also categorized as systemic because they could undermine effective management of the CREMAs. Participants’ ratings were generally influenced by the value they placed on resources, the type of threat, and how the threat manifests. Additionally, risk location and the effectiveness of management informed the ratings. Risks are managed through bylaws enforced by patrols, conservation education, and livelihood incentives. The CREMAs combine contemporary and traditional techniques to manage risks.

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