Our forest, our livelihood: Natural resources’ use controversies and community livelihood sustainability in the Mole National Park, Ghana

‘Protecting’ natural resources as a policy intervention for biodiversity conservation is a double-edged sword. Often touted as sources of revenue and a tool for poverty reduction in fringe communities, they are also largely a source of natural resource-use conflict. Over the years the Mole National Park in Northern Ghana has provided both cost and benefits to fringe communities and the local government. While studies have investigated the benefits of the Mole National Park to local resource users, conflicts that have characterized the park in recent years in terms of resource use, ownership and livelihood sustainability have been the least investigated. Using a qualitative approach, the study examines community perception of natural resource use and livelihood sustainability in fringe communities of the Mole National Park, Ghana. Thematic analysis from 13 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 14 in-depth interviews revealed that respondents’ major sources of sustenance hinge on Natural Resources (NRs) through farming and hunting with minimal alternative sources of livelihoods. As a consequence, denial of respondents’ access to the natural resources in the park has been a major source of contention between the local resource dependents and management of the park as residents believed that the resources from the forest are a gift from God, their ancestors and forefathers and no man can prevent access and utilization. This implies that a community-led management team involving other stakeholders is important in the management of the Mole National Park. Moreover, equal distribution of benefits that accrue from the forest with the forest fringe communities at heart will assist in minimizing the yearly conflicts that have been a characteristic of the park and ensure sustainable forest resource management.