Sustainable development has been on the international agenda since the 1970s and there is general agreement that this topic is of international concern for the global community, also with a view to its interlinks with and affects on poverty.
The demand for concrete objectives to tackle the many faces of poverty was met by the creation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which are intended to be met by the year 2015 and are expected to lift a large number of people out of poverty. A total of eight goals and eighteen targets address challenges such as nutrition, education, health, gender equality, environmental sustainability and global partnerships. Continuous progress has been achieved so far in most of the world’s regions except for Sub-Saharan Africa.
Many economies in Sub-Saharan Africa are dominated by extractive industries. With this background, MDG 7, ensuring environmental sustainability, in particular Target 9, concerned with reversing the loss of natural resources, is of particular relevance in this region.
West Africa, especially the former British colonies, has extensive natural tropical forest resources which need to be managed sustainably not only to prevent the extinction of biodiversity and species but also for their value to all stakeholders.
Among the multiple challenges which MDG 7 faces in Ghana and Liberia are corruption and illegal trade. National forest laws and land tenure systems, the absence of up-to-date data on forest resources and governmental decisions are being observed in Ghana and Liberia. Various initiatives with the potential to achieve sustainable forest management are outlined, such as collaborative forestry, the diversification in wood exports and the successful implementation of certification schemes in combination with the detection and avoidance of trans-national crime which can be achieved only in cooperation and through global partnerships. The role of international development cooperation and financial assistance for the achievement of MDG 7 will be analysed from the background of domestic preconditions.
The overall aim of this work is to reveal the linkages between poverty, the eight MDGs and their relevance for the viability of MDG 7, and to emphasize the necessity for strengthened international efforts especially in combating transnational crime to allow for the MDGs to be reached by 2015.
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS
1.1 Purpose
1.2 Hypothesis
1.3 Research design
2 EVOLUTION OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS
2.1 The interface of environmental sustainability and development
2.2 Linkages between human well-being and the environment
2.2.1 Environmental Sustainability Index
2.2.2 Human Development Index
2.3 Historic evolution of sustainable development
2.3.1 United Nations Environmental Programme
2.3.2 Note on the Kyoto Protocol
2.3.3 Introducing sustainability to economics
2.4 Defining corruption
2.4.1 Grand corruption
2.4.2 Petty corruption
2.4.3 Isolated and systemic corruption
2.4.4 Forms of corruption
2.5 Corruption and sustainable development in Africa
2.5.1 Primary causes for prevailing corruption
2.5.2 Additional options for the fight against corruption
3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC SETTING IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA
3.1 Developing countries
3.2 Least developed countries
3.3 Economic outline
3.3.1 Note on the Kimberley Process
3.4 International commitments to development
3.4.1 Combating corruption
3.4.2 Modes to financing
3.5 Political scene
4 WESTERN ANGLOPHONE AFRICA
4.1 Geography
4.2 Culture
4.3 Historic backgrounds
4.3.1 Slave trade and chieftaincy
4.4 Economy
4.5 Regional organizations
4.6 Present regional concerns
4.6.1 Promoting the implementation of anti-corruption institutions
5 COUNTRY SPECIFIC OVERVIEW
5.1 Republic of Ghana
5.1.1 History
5.1.2 Society
5.1.3 Politics
5.1.4 Natural resources and related international agreements
5.1.5 Economic overview
5.2 Republic of the Gambia
5.2.1 History
5.2.2 Society
5.2.3 Politics
5.2.4 Topical incidents
5.2.5 Natural resources and related international agreements
5.2.6 Economic overview
5.3 Republic of Liberia
5.3.1 History
5.3.2 Society
5.3.3 Politics
5.3.4 Natural resources and related international agreements
5.3.5 Economic overview
5.4 Federal Republic of Nigeria
5.4.1 History
5.4.2 Society
5.4.3 Politics
5.4.4 Natural resources and related international agreements
5.4.5 Economic overview
5.5 Sierra Leone
5.5.1 History
5.5.2 Society
5.5.3 Politics
5.5.4 Natural resources and related international agreements
5.5.5 Economic overview
6 INTERNATIONAL FORAS WITH FOCUS ON FORESTS
6.1 United Nations Forum on Forests
6.2 Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
6.2.1 18th session of the Committee on Forestry in 2007
6.3 Collaborative Partnership on Forests
6.4 International Tropical Timber Organization
6.5 African Timber Organisation
6.6 African Forestry and Wildlife Commission
7 SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
7.1 Evaluation
7.2 Importance of gender
7.3 Local systems of land appropriation
7.3.1 Land and related rights in Africa
7.3.2 Land reform
8 LAND TENURE AND THE FORESTRY SECTOR IN GHANA
8.1 IMF, World Bank and structural adjustment
8.2 Forestry sector and land rights
8.2.1 Post war period - ideological change
8.2.2 Structural adjustment in the forestry sector
8.3 Collaborative forestry
8.3.1 Swiss Lumber Company
8.3.2 Positive effects by this collaborative timber management
8.3.3 Ghana Primewoods Products Ltd.
8.3.4 Positive impact of the sustainable forest agriculture project
8.4 Trends in the new legislation
8.5 A summary of periodic changes in the land question
9 THE FORESTRY SECTOR IN LIBERIA
9.1 Legislation in the forest sector
9.1.1 Forest Policy Review: Towards Vision 2024
9.1.2 Strategic Commodities Act
9.1.3 The logging ban’s contribution to an augment in illegal operations
9.2 Progress in forest management
9.3 The Liberian selective logging system
10 LINKAGES BETWEEN ILLEGALITY AND CORRUPTION
10.1 Methods to achieve implementation and law enforcement in the forest sector
10.1.1 Enhancing the institutional capacity for forest law enforcement
10.1.2 Availability of data and knowledge
11 IMPLEMENTATION AND ACHIEVABILITY OF MDG 7
11.1 Development of productive capacities
11.1.1 United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
11.1.2 United Nations Industrial Development Organization
11.2 Diversification in wood exports
11.3 Development of a global partnership for development
12 CONCLUSION
12.1 Summarized observations
12.2 Globalization’s impact on the viability of MDG 7
Objectives & Core Topics
The work examines the relationship between political corruption and the viability of achieving Millennium Development Goal 7, which focuses on environmental sustainability through forest management in Western Anglophone Africa, specifically Ghana and Liberia.
- The link between corruption and sustainable forest management.
- Political instability and economic management in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Assessment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the West African region.
- Case studies on land tenure and forestry sectors in Ghana and Liberia.
- Strategies for enhancing governance and sustainable resource management.
Excerpt from the book
2.4 Defining corruption
In this part, several definitions on corruption will be provided with the aim to generate a clear picture of social endemic disease. The categorization of corruption suggests ‘high-level’, ‘grand’ or ‘political’ corruption as well as ‘petty’, ‘administrative’ or ‘bureaucratic’ corruption. (AfDB (2005)) This variety of categories will be described in the following.
While grand corruption refers in general to corrupt acts with the involvement of senior government officials, senior judges, legislators, the police, cabinet ministers, the military and even heads of governments and states. (Moody-Stuart (1997) and Tanzi (1998) in AfDB (2005)) Furthermore, grand corruption is also brought into relation with international business transactions involving both bureaucrats and politicians.
In contrast to grand corruption, petty, administrative or bureaucratic corruption is rather exercised by individuals and lower-level officials, for instance policemen, immigration officials and agency bureaucrats to mention but a few. Bureaucratic corruption mainly occurs in the execution phase. A regular experience of corruption by firms and individuals when seeking a governmental service is perceived as pervasive. From a general point of view, the higher a government’s involvement in economic management, the higher the probability of corrupt acts due to the state apparatus being perceived as the main contributor to economic advancement and capital accumulation for the ones in power. (AfDB (2005)) The denomination petty corruption entails grease money or speed payments and bribing, to mention a few ways of how it occurs.
Summary of Chapters
1 INTRODUCTORY REMARKS: Introduces the thesis's purpose, research design, and core hypothesis linking environmental and political challenges in West Africa.
2 EVOLUTION OF THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS: Discusses the emergence of the MDGs, sustainable development concepts, and the role of corruption in obstructing development.
3 SOCIO-ECONOMIC SETTING IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA: Analyzes the economic, political, and institutional landscape of the region, including international development commitments.
4 WESTERN ANGLOPHONE AFRICA: Details the geography, culture, historical backgrounds, and current regional concerns of the selected countries.
5 COUNTRY SPECIFIC OVERVIEW: Provides detailed data on Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone regarding their history, politics, and natural resources.
6 INTERNATIONAL FORAS WITH FOCUS ON FORESTS: Outlines the roles of various international organizations dedicated to forest policy and management.
7 SUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT: Examines principles of sustainable forestry, including the roles of gender and land tenure systems.
8 LAND TENURE AND THE FORESTRY SECTOR IN GHANA: Evaluates the historical and current land rights and forestry policies in Ghana.
9 THE FORESTRY SECTOR IN LIBERIA: Reviews the legislative and management framework for forestry in Liberia.
10 LINKAGES BETWEEN ILLEGALITY AND CORRUPTION: Discusses the connection between illegal timber trade, forest crime, and corruption mechanisms.
11 IMPLEMENTATION AND ACHIEVABILITY OF MDG 7: Analyzes the feasibility of achieving the environmental targets of the MDGs by 2015.
12 CONCLUSION: Summarizes findings and provides final observations on the viability of sustainable development in the region.
Keywords
Sustainable development, Millennium Development Goals, Corruption, West Africa, Ghana, Liberia, Forestry, Land tenure, Environmental policy, Economic growth, Governance, Resource management, Illegal logging, Poverty reduction, International agreements
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this thesis?
The thesis investigates the intersection of corruption and environmental management, specifically focusing on the viability of Millennium Development Goal 7 in Western Anglophone Africa.
Which countries are analyzed in the case studies?
The work provides detailed case studies on Ghana and Liberia, with a broader regional overview covering The Gambia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.
What is the primary goal regarding MDG 7?
The primary goal is to examine how environmental sustainability—specifically in forest management—is hindered by corruption and weak institutional frameworks.
What research methodology is applied?
The research utilizes a hermeneutic approach, combining extensive primary and secondary literature with the author's firsthand observations in the region.
What are the major thematic pillars discussed?
Key themes include the evolution of global development goals, socio-economic and political challenges in Africa, forest sector governance, land tenure systems, and the impact of corruption on economic and environmental outcomes.
Which concepts are used to define the nature of corruption in this context?
The work categorizes corruption into types such as grand, petty, isolated, and systemic, while also exploring various forms like bribery, embezzlement, and extortion.
How did the 1992 UNCED impact current environmental forestry discussions in the region?
The UNCED placed forests on the international agenda, but the region still struggles with implementing these international norms due to lack of local capacity and institutional corruption.
What is the specific role of 'invented traditions' in the context of land tenure?
The author argues that leaders and elites often invoke or reinvent "traditions" regarding land ownership and chiefdom powers to maintain control over resources to the detriment of local populations and forest sustainability.
- Quote paper
- Erika Machacek (Author), 2007, Sustainable Development in Western Anglophone Africa, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/165041
