The prospect of biodiversity conservation in cocoa agroforestry landscape, Ghana M. O. Ansah1 , O. Pabi1*, and J. S. Ayivor1 1 Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies (IESS), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana *Corresponding Author: opabi@staff.ug.edu.gh Abstract The adoption of cocoa agroforests in Ghana and other West African countries for biodiversity conservation has not been conclusive. Though constituting major landscapes, cocoa agroforests are not fully adopted for biodiversity conservation, despite the declining cover of protected forest areas that are considered as biodiversity hotspots. We assessed the biodiversity conservation potential of cocoa agroforest farms relative to a protected forest vegetation. Six plots were delineated in cocoa agroforest farms, and a plot in a protected forest. Trees with a diameter of, at least, 5 cm at breast height (1.3m) were identified and counted in the plots. Multiple quantitative general diversity measurements of species richness, Shannon index, Simpson index and Sorensen’s plot similarity were estimated and compared among the plots. Though the protected forest recorded the highest (2.74) for the Shannon index, some cocoa farms recorded higher measurements as well (2.46 and 2.31). Three cocoa plots recorded higher values for Simpson index (0.92, 0.89 and 0.83) than the protected area (0.73). Dominance was higher in the protected forest (0.127) than one cocoa plot (0.098). The Sorensens’s index showed a wide variation in similarity among the cocoa farms, indicating the possibility of management types. The finding indicates a potential for adopting cocoa agroforestry for biodiversity conservation, yet, given the variations in diversity measures among the farms, further studies to determine the management types and the mix of tree species diversity and abundance that yields the optimum sustainability benefits must be conducted. Keywords: Protected forest, species richness, species count, Simpson index, Shannon index, Sorenson’s coefficient, ‘Kakum forest Introduction under cocoa production in Ghana (FAO, 2021). Protected forest areas have been used West African countries produce about 70% as a strategy for biodiversity conversation of the world’s cocoa (FAO, 2019). Ghana (Duran et al 2013). However, as the cover of produced about 1.1million metric tons of protected forest and other forested areas reduce cocoa in the 2020/2021 cocoa season (GCB due to land use pressures, their potential and 2021). Cocoa production sustains cocoa value for conserving biodiversity minimizes. businesses and rural households (Asamoah Hence, cocoa agroforestry landscape has been & Owusu-Ansah, 2017). Cocoa agroforestry recommended as alternative for conserving is established in the forest regions of Ghana, biodiversity (Suratman, 2018). Yet, their potential which form part of the Guinean forests of for sustainable biodiversity conservation has West Africa, and noted for global significance not been fully investigated.This study makes a in biodiversity of endemic species of flora and contribution in this area. fauna (Norris et al., 2010). Traditional cocoa Burgeoning human populations and intense agroforest has been identified as hotspots of land use exert immense pressure on forest biodiversity (Norris et al 2010). However, resources that result in deforestation, these areas are also said to be experiencing forest degradation and biodiversity loss. deforestation, partly, due to cocoa production. Timber extraction and road construction In 2021, about 1.46 million ha of land was in the forest are considered precursors for West African Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 31(1), 2023: 44 - 55 45 West African Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 31(1), 2023 agricultural expansion. Ruf (2001), has 2004; Asare, May 2006). Also, diverse trees observed that in Cote d’Ivoire, roads in timber on cocoa farms can be sold to supplement concessionaires partly facilitated the influx of farm income to improve household welfare agricultural migrants that results in expansion, (Gockowski et al. 2006; Jagoret et al. 2014; particularly, of cocoa and coffee, causing Njini, 2021). rapid deforestation. It has been observed Given the inconclusiveness and contradictory that these activities lead to significant loss of observations, it is obvious that the forest species as vegetation structure becomes understanding of the potential for the use simplified (Norris et al., 2010). Between 2000 of cocoa agroforestry as a biodiversity and 2013, the FAO (2019) observed that cocoa conservation strategy remains inconclusive. production made a large contribution to global Therefore, the question of whether cocoa deforestation, through forest conversion. agroforest landscapes can host adequate Cocoa production contributes substantially species richness and abundance, to serve to the economy of Ghana, contributing as biodiversity conservation landscapes is 7.3% of GDP (Afrane and Ntiamoah, 2011; not fully answered. Deforestation reduces Codjoe et al., 2013), and serves as a source forest cover and transforms them into agro- of livelihood to many Ghanaians. In Ghana, ecosystems. Agricultural landscapes and cocoa production has been identified as the forest land uses outside protected areas, are single most important commodity driver of therefore, envisaged to become dominant areas deforestation in the cocoa mosaic landscape, for biodiversity conservation (Siebert, 2002; contributing over a quarter (27%) of forest to Putz et al. 2000; FAO, 2011). Thus, this study agriculture conversion (Forestry Commission, sought to evaluate the use of cocoa agroforestry for 2017). bio-diversity conservation. Contrary to the above claims, major cocoa The Kakum Forest and the adjoining non- production areas have been classified as forested landscape are important for both biodiversity hotspots (Norris et al 2010; forest conservation and cocoa agroforestry. It FAO,2011). It has been claimed that cocoa is one of the areas for the implementation of the agroforest of native or exotic forest trees subnational REDD+ program dubbed ‘Ghana provides a multi-strata and multi-species Cocoa Forest REDD+ Program (GCFRP)’. system with a structure and function like The programme aims to reduce deforestation the forest (FAO, 2002; Sonwa et al., 2014), and forest degradation in the cocoa forest mimicking a forest habitat and serving as mosaic landscape by complementing cocoa faunal refuges (Griffith 2000). A recent study production and forest management. Also, it by Asigbaase et al (2019) in the Eastern seeks to make cocoa production resilient to Region of Ghana, observed high levels of climate change and at the same time, ensure diversity of shady trees: with higher levels livelihood enhancement of local farmers. It in the organic cocoa farms (cocoa agroforest is envisaged that the findings of this study without agrochemical application) than the would provide knowledge to evaluate the traditional cocoa agroforestry. They, however, potential and develop strategies for REDD+ did not compare the traditional cocoa farms interventions using cocoa agroforestry. with the natural forest. Besides, organic cocoa Specifically, the study analyzed and made a farms constitute a minor proportion of cocoa comparison of tree count, richness, evenness, agroforestry in Ghana, hence would not be a dominance and similarity on a protected forest major landscape for biodiversity conservation. reserve and cocoa farms of private owners. Maintaining substantial proportions of Quantitative diversity indices were used to shade trees in cocoa production systems is estimate the diversity levels of both protected considered a sustainable land-use practice that areas and cocoa agroforest landscapes. The complements the conservation of biodiversity rest of the paper reports on the methods, within agricultural landscapes (Schroth et al. findings, discussions and conclusion. Ansah M. O. et al: The prospect of biodiversity conservation in cocoa agroforestry landscape, Ghana 46 Methodology Assin Atandansu Resource Reserve (AARR) and the Kakum National Park (KNP) where Study Area exploitation of resources is prohibited. They The study area is in the Assin South district are designated for scientific, educational, of the Central Region of Ghana (Fig 1). It recreational, and aesthetic purposes (Pappoe, occupies a total land area of 1100, 89650 km2, et al, 2010). Economic tree species like Wawa, representing about 11.4 percent of the region’s Mahogany, Odum raffia and bamboo abound total land area. It is bordered on the West by in the area (GSS, 2014). Many of the rural Twifo Hemang- Lower Denkyira District, dwellers are dominantly farmers of cocoa and Abura Asebu Kwamankese District on the food crops. South, Asikuma Odoben- Brakwa District and Ajumako Enyan Essiam District on the East and Assin North Municipal, in the North. Methods Some of the cocoa growing communities were Assin Adiembra, Brahabebome and Assin Site selection and plots establishment Kruwa. A reconnaissance survey was carried out The area lies within the Evergreen and to ascertain the type of cocoa production Semi-Deciduous Forest zones. It has a systems and the cocoa farm sizes in the study bimodal rainfall pattern, with the major area. Matured farms with a mixture of cocoa season occurring from April to July, whereas and trees were the key candidates for the the minor occurs between September and study. Three cocoa growing communities, November. Annual rainfall averages between namely: Adiembra, Brahabebome and 1250 mm and 2000mm. Temperatures are Kruwa, all in the Assin South District, were generally high, with the highest average of purposively selected as they bordered the about 30 oC occurring between March and April. KCA ((Fig.1), hence presume to have the The average humidity of the area is generally same ecological zone as the protected forest. high: from 60 to 70 percent (GSS,,2014). The farmers also practice cocoa agroforestry. It has five protected forest reserves, namely, Cocoa farms of sizes greater than two hectares Ayensua, Krotoa, Apeminim, Atendansu and were selected with farmer consent. Assistance Kakum. Kakum also known as the Kakum of local informants from the communities Conservation Area (KCA) comprises the was sought. In all, six farms were purposely Figure 1 A map of Assin South District showing Adiembra, Brahabebome and Kruwa 47 West African Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 31(1), 2023 selected based on the above selection criteria: individuals per study plot. Thus, pi is the two from each of the three communities. proportion of individuals in species i. The A site was purposively selected from each Simpson’s Index (D) (Simpson, 1949), was farm. One site was also selected from the used to measure the probability that selecting KCA for the comparative assessment. Thus, two individuals will belong to the same altogether, seven sites were selected for the species, with values ranging between 0-1. study. For each site, a plot of 100m x 100m It is a measure of dominance, hence, high was demarcated, using a compass and a values indicates high dominance, whereas low surveyor’s tape. Wooden pegs were used in probabilities indicate low dominance or high marking out the corners of the plots. Each plot diversity (equitability). It was estimated using was uniquely identified by their community’s the formula: abbreviation and site number. The names used were as follows: Adiembra plot 1 (AP1), 1/D = 1/S[(n (n-1))/N(N-1)] Adiembra Plot 2 (AP2), Brahabebome Plot 1 (BP1), Brahabebome Plot 2 (BP2), K r u w a where n is the total count of individuals for Plot 1 (KP1), Kruwa Plot 2 ( KP2) and KCA. a particular species in the sample and N is Thus, a total of six plots of cocoa agroforest, the total count of individuals in the sample. and one. The Community/plot similarity was estimated by the Sorensen’s coefficient (I) (Magurran, Tree Identification and Enumeration 2004), which is a measure of what the different The diameter of all trees of, at least 5cm within communities have in common in terms of the demarcated plots were measured at breast species. It gives a value between 0 and 1, where height (dbh) of 1.3m using a surveyor’s tape 1 is a complete community overlap and 0 is and trees marked with white chalk for easy a complete or total community dissimilarity. identification and counting. The enumeration The Sorensen’s Coefficient equation is team comprised a tree spotter and his assistant and a recorder. The Spotter identified the CC = 2C⁄(S1+S2) trees, measured the dbh and provided any useful information about it, while the recorder where: C represents the number of species the catalogued the species, dbh and any other plots have in common, S1 is the total number information on a tally sheet. Trees were of species in plot 1, S2 is the total number of identified by the shape of their crowns, leaves, species in plot 2. fruits, and bark texture. Trees that could not be identified on field were sent to the herbarium for identification (Hawthorne and Gyakari Results 2006). Tree species abundance, richness and family Plant diversity and analysis A total of 699 individual trees comprising 65 Multiple diversity measures were used different species and belonging to 30 families, to determine the general and different were enumerated in all the 7 plots (Table 1). On dimensions of plant diversity. Species average, a hectare of cocoa farm recorded 68 richness was determined by species count (S) trees as compared to 293 on the natural forest. (Samways 1984; Krebs 1989). The Shannon The six hectares of cocoa plots recorded 58% diversity index (H) (Colwell and Huston 1991; of the total tree counts, whereas a hectare of the Shannon and Weaver 1949) or equitability, natural forest plot alone recorded 42%. Cocoa was calculated as: farms in the northeastern (Brahabebome, 165) and Southern (Kruwa, 177) sections of Ho= -∑pi(Ln pi) the KCA recorded higher tree counts than the Northwest (Adiembra, 64). The six-hectare pi is ni/N, cocoa plots recorded 38 species belonging where ni is the number of individuals to 23 families, whereas the one hectare of per species i and N is the total number of protected forest (KCA) recorded 43 species, Ansah M. O. et al: The prospect of biodiversity conservation in cocoa agroforestry landscape, Ghana 48 TABLE 1 Species list and families Species Family Local name Botanical name 1 Adwea Dacryodes klaineana Burseraceae 2 Afena Strombosia glaucescens Olacaceae 3 Akata Bombax buonopozense Bombacaceae 4 Akoua Antrocaryon micraster Anacardiaceae 5 Akyi Blighia sapida Sapindaceae 6 Asanfena Aningeria robusta Sapotaceae 7 Atabene Chrysophyllum perpulchrum Sapotaceae 8 Atoa Spondias mombin Anacardiaceae 9 Awiemfosaena Albizia ferruginea Mimosaceae 10 Baman Panda oleosa Sapotaceae 11 Bese Cola nitida Sterculiaceae 12 Besebuo Ivingia gabonensis Sterculiaceae 13 Cedar Entandrophragma candollei Meliaceae 14 Citrus Citrus spp Rutaceae 15 Danta Nesogordonia papaverifera Sterculiaceae 16 Dotodua 17 Edubrafo Mareya micrantha Euphorbiaceae 18 Emire Terminalia ivorensis Combretaceae 19 Esa Malvaceae Ulmaceae 20 Esia Petersianthus macrocarpus Lecythidaceae 21 Esono nankroma Homalium letestui Flacourtiaceae 22 Esonoafe 23 Fotie Hannoa klaineana Simaroubaceae 24 Foto Sterculia tragacantha Sterculiaceae 25 Fumtum Funtumia elastica Apocynaceae 26 Guava Psidium guajava Myrtaceae 27 Hyedua Daniellia ogea Caesalpiniaceae 28 Kakadukro Trichilia prieureana Meliaceae 29 Kakapenpen Rauvolfia vomitoria Apocynaceae 30 Konkroma Morinda Lucida Rubiaceae 31 Kosuoa Harungana madagascariensis Guttiferae 32 Kuakuabese Carapa procera Meliaceae 33 Kuakuanisuo Spathodea campanulata Bignoniaceae 34 Kumanini Lannea welwitschii Anacardiaceae 35 Kusia Nauclea diderrichii Rubiaceae 36 KyenKyen Antiaris toxicaria Moraceae 37 Mahogeny Khaya ivorensis Meliaceae 38 Mango Mangifera indica Anacardiaceae 39 Nyamedua Alstonia boone Guttiferae 40 Nyankomah Myrianthus libericus Moraceae/Urticaceae 41 Nyankyerene Ficus exasperata Moraceae 42 Obua Napoleonaea vogelii Lecythidaceae 43 Odoma Ficus capensis Moraceae 49 West African Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 31(1), 2023 TABLE 1 cont. Species list and families Species Family Local name Botanical name 44 Odon Erytrophleum suaveolens Fabaceae 45 Odum Milicia excelsa Moraceae 46 Ofram Terminalia superba Combretaceae 47 Ohaa Sterculia oblonga Sterculiaceae 48 Okoro Albizia zygia Mimosaceae 49 Okuo Zanthoxylum gilletii Rutaceae 50 Okure Bosqueia angolensis Cecropiaceae 51 Omena Diospyros kamerunensis Ebenaceae 52 Onyina Ceiba pentandra Malvaceae 53 Opam kotokro Macaranga barteri Euphorbiaceae 54 Osran(yooyi) Dialium guineense Fabaceae 55 Otie Pycnanthus angolensis Myristicaceae 56 Ototim Treculia africana Moraceae 57 Pear Persea americana Lauraceae 58 Pepea Margaritaria discoidea Euphorbiaceae 59 Sese Holarrhena floribunda Apocynaceae 60 Sesemasa Newbouldia laevis Apocynaceae 61 Tanuro Trichilia monadelpha Meliaceae 62 Wama Ricinodendron heudelotti Euphorbaceae 63 Watapuo Cola gigantea Sterculiaceae 64 Wawa Triplochiton scleroxylon Malvaceae 65 Yaya Amphimas pterocarpoides Caesalpiniaceae TABLE 2 Tree species abundance, richness and family of plots ATTRIBUTES AP1 AP2 BP1 BP2 KP1 KP2 KCA TOTAL Species Abundance 31 33 114 51 130 47 293 699 Species Richness 10 15 21 16 14 4 43 65 Family 9 13 15 16 7 4 24 30 belonging to 24 families (Table 2). abundance, with the exception of KP1 and KP2 as depicted (Table 2). The highest Tree abundance varied widely among the richness for the cocoa plots was BP1, which cocoa, with Kruwa Plot 1 (KP1) recording recorded 32% of the tree species, followed the highest of 130 trees per hectare, followed by BP2 (24%) with KP2 recording only 6% by Brahabebome Plot 1 (BP1) with 114. The of the tree species. Plots KP1 and KP2 had natural forest recorded 293 trees per hectare. few species, namely, Morinda lucida (69) The total and average tree species count per representing more than half (53%), Rauvolfia hectare was 80 and 13 for the cocoa farms. vomitoria (23), representing 18%, Albizia The standard deviation of tree count for all zygia (14) representing 11% and the remaining the cocoa farms was 43, whereas the species 13 species contributed 18% of the tree count. count standard deviation was about 6. All the 699 tree species recorded belonged Generally, species richness increased with to 30 families. Plot KCA recorded highest Ansah M. O. et al: The prospect of biodiversity conservation in cocoa agroforestry landscape, Ghana 50 TABLE 3 Tree diversity measurements 2.06 2.49 2.16 2.31 1.62 0.67 2.74 7.8 12.06 8.67 10.07 5.05 1.94 15.49 0.89 0.92 0.71 0.83 0.62 0.49 0.73 0.159 0.098 0.223 0.144 0.328 0.669 0.127 1-D 0.841 0.902 0.777 0.856 0.672 0.331 0.873 number of families, constituting 80%. This the natural forest obtained was 0.19 or 19%. was followed by BP2 (53%), BP1 with 50%, However, the cocoa were more similar, with a AP2 with 43%, AP1 with 30%, KP1 with 23% value of 0.425 (42.5%). Specifically, plot KP2 and KP2 with 13%. The richest families were and KCA were the most dissimilar (4.34%) Sterculiaceae and Moraceae, with six species among all the plots. The similarity between each, followed by Meliaceae with 5 spp., and the BP1 and the protected forest was the Anacardiaceae and Apocynaceae with four highest (33.8%): it was more than the similarity spp. each. between any cocoa agroforestry farm and a The Shannon diversity index measurements forest reserve. Tree species that were common ranged between 0.67 and 2.49 for the cocoa in the area were Celtis mildbraedii, Diospyros farms (Table 3). The average estimate was sanza-minika, Carapa procera, Cola gigantea, 1.90, with the standard deviation being 0.66. Dacryodes klaineana, Funtumia elastica, The highest value was (2.49) for AP2, with and Nesogordonia papaverifera. These were the lowest, 0.67, recorded for KP2. Thus, known forest trees present in the Kakum of the cocoa farms, the AP2 recorded the conservation area. highest diversity or equitability, very similar to the protected forest area. The protected forest recorded 2.74, which was the highest Discussion of all seven plots. The exponentiated values followed the same pattern (Table 3). The Tree abundance, richness and families relatively very low exponentiated value of Generally, tree abundance on cocoa farms was KP2 of less than two is indicative of very few higher than the 18 per hectare recommended species and with low abundance, for cocoa agroforestry farms by the Cocoa The Evenness index recorded measurements Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) (Anim- from 0.49 to 0.92, for the cocoa farms (Table Kwapong, 2006). Though KP1 and KP2 3). The equitability for the protected forest was recorded the highest tree count for cocoa 0.73. Evenness measurements among cocoa farms (Table 2), they recorded lower species agroforestry farms, including AP1, AP2 and richness as few tree species, namely, Morinda BP2, were higher than the protected forest. lucida, Rauvolfia vomitoria and Albizia zygia Hence, dominance was higher for the protected recorded high tree count. The predominance forest than the cocoa agroforest (Table 3). The of Morinda lucida on cocoa farms has been Simpson’s index ranged between 0.098 and associated with their use in traditional 0.669 for the cocoa agroforestry farms. The medicine. This confirms the assertion that, highest was recorded for KP2 (0.669), which farmer’s preference of shade trees revolve was about sevenfold the lowest recorded for around their importance to the farmers and AP2, 0.098. The KCA recorded 0.127, which their favorable interactions with cocoa trees was lower in diversity than AP2. (Asare and Asare 2008; Smith Dumont et al The Sorensen’s similarity index measurement 2014). In a study conducted by Asigbaase between the cocoa agroforestry farms and et al. (2019), they recorded 454 trees/ha 51 West African Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 31(1), 2023 belonging to 41 species and 18 families on findings, where farmers prefer tree species organic cocoa systems. that are medicinal, provides construction Kpakpo et al., (2010) have recorded 73 per materials, timber, improves soil fertility and 2.2 plots in the Kakum area. In another forest are shady (Tondoh et al, 2015; Asare et al, area of Ghana, a much higher richness of 80 2014; Tscharntke et al, 2011 & Asase et al, species per ha was recorded (Vordzogbe, et 2009). al., 2005). Earlier studies in other parts of West Africa’s tropical high forests recorded 60 Tree diversity in cocoa farms and forest and 70 species per hectare (Lawson, 1985). In The forest landscape recorded the highest tree contrast, others have recorded lower species diversity compared to the average diversity on richness Ghana: 37 species/ha by Anning, et the cocoa farm, except for two plots AP2 and al,(2008) and 28 species/ha by Addo-Fordjour BP2. The Shannon index score was highest et al, 2009). Although the species richness of for plot AP2 (2.47), since many tree species the KCA plot is lower than those recorded in had high and almost equal representations. other parts of West Africa, it is comparable to This is an indication of minimal dominance, what was recorded by Anning, et al., ( 2008) which compares favorably with findings and Pappoe et al., ( 2010) in a disturbed semi- in Cameroon by Jagoret et al. (2014), who deciduous forest of Ghana. obtained values of 2.42 for the Shannon index, Plots like AP2, with relatively lower tree and 2.6 by Asase and Teteh (2010) for same counts (33/ha) but high richness (15 spp./ha) index in Ghana. In a recent study in Cameroon, and low species dominance meets the criteria the the Shannon index values reported for espoused by some researchers. According the cocoa agroforestry plots range between to them maintaining substantial proportions 2.95 to 3.43 (Njini, 2021), an indication of a of shade trees in a diverse cocoa production higher tree diversity than what was recorded systems is a sustainable land-use practice that in this study. This cocoa plots AP2 and BP2 complements the conservation of biodiversity can serve as a farm management type that are within agricultural landscapes (Schroth et better at conserving biodiversity than KP2, al. 2004; Asare, May 2006). They hold the which scored highest in abundance but lowest view that such farms stand a great chance in diversity. However, given the high tree of conserving biodiversity than those with abundance of plot KP2, it may have a high numerous trees with high species dominance. capacity and value for carbon sequestration The richest tree families observed on the and climate change mitigation, and thus cocoa farms, ie, Sterculiaceae (6), Moraceae serving to achieve the objective of REDD+. (6), Meliaceae (5), Anacardiaceae (4) and The sample plot from the forest recorded the Apocynaceae (4), were also found by Asigbaase highest diversity value of 2.74, was higher than et al., (2019), who recorded Moraceae and cocoa agroforestry farms (figure 2). Cocoa Apocynaceae as the richest families on a agroforest, although, ecologically friendlier traditional cocoa farms. Some tree species than other agriculture land use types in the area, of the families Sterculiaceae, Moraceae and were not the same as protected forests (Donald, Fabaceae, such as Albizia ferruginea, Albizia 2004). However, the equitability index of zygia, Amphimas pterocarpoides, Ficus the forest was lower than two plots from the exasperata, Antiaris toxicaria, and Melicia cocoa farms. This implies that tree species excelsa are known to improve soil nutrients found on the farms are evenly represented in through nitrogen fixation, provides good abundance than the forest. This agrees with shade which keeps soil cool and moist, are a the finding that farmers, especially, those from good source of local construction material and developing countries are responsible for high commercial timber (Asare et al, 2014; Asase biodiversity in agro-ecosystem landscapes et al, 2009; Dawoe et al, 2016 & Anglaaere since they are critical sources of food security, et al, 2011). Other research have made similar nutrition, and sustenance of their livelihoods Ansah M. O. et al: The prospect of biodiversity conservation in cocoa agroforestry landscape, Ghana 52 (Sundar, 2011). They may have decided which be due to the history of managing the different tree species and numbers to nurture or thin out agroforestry farms. The extreme cases may based on economic, medicinal or food benefits be studied for their socio-economic and and its good interaction with the cocoa. environmental benefits. It has been indicated Plots KP1 and KP2, which scored lowest for that a composition with a mixture of cocoa, species diversity, scored highest for dominance native or exotic forest trees provides a multi- based on the Simpsons Index ( Table 3). The strata and multi-species systems that function two farms are more of a monoculture cocoa like the forest (FAO, 2002; Sonwa et al., plantation, hence makes limited contribution 2008), mimicking a forest habitat and serving to biodiversity conservation. Consequently, as faunal refuges (Griffith, 2000). cocoa on these farms may lack the benefits enjoyed by cocoa agroforestry such as suppression of weeds, pest control, nutrient Conclusion enrichment, provision of shade, creation of microclimate etc. They many have followed The study evaluated the potential of using the practice of the low shade cocoa farming in cocoa agroforestry for the conservation of the area. biodiversity, by comparing tree species count and abundance, diversity, evenness, dominance Similarities and similarity using quantitative measurement Species such as Blighia sapida, Nesogordonia of cocoa agroforestry farms and a protected papaverifera, Aningeria robusta (Asanfena), forest. For species count and abundance, there Albizia ferruginea, Triplochiton scleroxylon, were substantial variations among the cocoa and Amphimas pterocarpoides were found farms. There should be further investigation in both the forest and cocoa farms. Others of the management types that resulted in the like Cola gigantea, Ceiba petandra, Carapa variability. The forest recorded higher values procera though present in the forest were of species count and abundance than all the absent in the cocoa farms. Wiafe (2016), in cocoa farms. However, some cocoa farms his study of the Kakum Conservation Area, recorded almost half the abundance and counted about the same species on one of his species count of the forest species. sample plots in Adiembra. These are known Though the protected forest recorded the forest trees present in the Kakum conservation highest measurement for the Shannon index, area. Pappoe et al. (2010), found Sterculiaceae some cocoa agroforest recorded values that and Meliaceae as the most common families were quite similar. For dominance by the in a study of the Kakum Conservation area. Simpson index, however, some cocoa farms They found species such as Carapa procera, recorded higher values than the protected Entandrophragma candollei, Khaya ivorensis, area (see AP1, AP2 and BP2 in table 3), Trichilia monadelpha, Trichilia prieureana, indicating a relatively high dominance in Cola gigantea, Cola nitida, Ivingia gabonensis, the protected area. This implies that though Nesogordonia papaverifera and Sterculia higher abundance of trees was found in the oblonga as some of the most common trees. protected forest, hence may be good for carbon According to the Sorensen’s index of sequestration capacity, they are not necessary similarity, averagely, the cocoa plots were the same for biodiversity conservation. This much dissimilar to the forest (19%). However, indicates a high potential for using the cocoa the similarity between the forest and BP1 agroforestry farms for biodiversity protection was relatively high (33.8%), an indication of since there is a good representation of the BP1being a candidate farm that may be further different species present. Obviously, the study studies for sustainable cocoa production. In provides indication of the potential for the use contrast, KP2 and the forest were the most of cocoa agroforestry for plant biodiversity dissimilar (4.3%). These wide variations may conservation. Yet, given the high variations in 53 West African Journal of Applied Ecology, vol. 31(1), 2023 the tree biodiversity indicator values for the Asare, R., Afari-Sefa, V., Osei-Owusu, Y. cocoa farms, it will be important to do further and Pabi. O. (2014). 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