Ghana has designated certain trees and plants as legally protected, meaning they cannot be felled, cut down or significantly harmed without proper authorisation under national forestry and environmental laws. These protections aim to conserve valuable species, support biodiversity and safeguard important environmental resources for current and future generations.
Among the trees and plants that are protected from felling under Ghana’s forestry laws are widely recognised species that are economically, culturally or ecologically important. The list includes cocoa trees, which are central to Ghana’s economy; shea trees, known for their nuts that produce shea butter; and dawadawa trees, valued for their fermented seeds used in cooking and traditional medicine. Baobab trees and tamarind trees are also on the protected list due to their cultural significance and the ecological roles they play in local ecosystems.
The protection of these species is supported by legal instruments such as the Trees and Timber Act of 1974, which makes it an offence to cut or fell certain trees without proper permits or registration and outlines penalties for unauthorised harvesting.
Under this legal framework, no person may fell or export growing trees in log form without first registering a property mark or obtaining the required licence from forestry authorities. This ensures that the exploitation of forest resources, especially valuable or threatened tree species, is regulated and sustainable.
Environmental bodies and experts also stress that even on private land, individuals may need permits to cut or prune many tree species, as the state retains authority to protect trees for environmental and ecological reasons. This approach reflects Ghana’s broader efforts to balance economic use with conservation of forests and valuable plants across the country
