The desire exists within Governments to provide for those who are on the fringes of society. Therefore, indigenous approaches seem relevant in the redistribution of resources among citizens. This book is therefore not only essential, but also timely. Indigenous Social Security Systems in Southern and West Africa (ISSS) contributes to human service literature for Africa, Southern Africa and West Africa in particular. The richness of the book lies within the variety of contributions that encourage its origin. The book’s value is extensive and captures many essential and current topics that have an appeal to academicians, policy-makers, analysts and practitioners in the field of social welfare and social security. Ultimately, the book serves as a pragmatic and expedient tool for human service practitioners and any enthusiast of social security systems.

Research Paper from the year 2008 in the subject Forestry / Forestry Economics, Vrije University Brussel (Human Ecology Department), 52 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: The role of medicinal plants in traditional health care delivery in Ghana cannot be overemphasized. More than 250 indigenous trees and plants with healing properties have been scientifically catalogued in Ghana. Unfortunately, the very foundation upon which the medicinal plant species and the traditional health care system survive is threatened by deforestation. The rate of deforestation has increased by 50% over the last ten years, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The current area of intact forest is now estimated at between 10.9 and 11.8% of the original cover and 6.9% of the country's total area. Deforestation is changing the habitats of disease-carrying insects and creating conditions that may help to spread malaria, river blindness and other devastating illnesses. Moreover, since the majority of the rural poor in Ghana depends on traditional medicine for their health care needs, the present high rate of deforestation will have a detrimental effect on the heath care delivery system in the country. Important plant species will be lost to deforestation unless urgent measures are taken. This paper examines the impact of deforestation on medicinal plants in Ghana.

Scientific Study from the year 2008 in the subject Environmental Sciences, grade: none, Vrije University Brussel (Human Ecology Department), 32 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: An ethonobotanical study was conducted to document the traditional use of plants and to find out the potential economic value of plants used by the indigenous 'Bankariya' people of Central Nepal. Personal interviews and group discussions were conducted to gather information on the indigenous knowledge of this ethnic group. A checklist of 'categories of plant use' was developed and used to identify, categorize and document plant species in the Twanrakhola community. Altogether, 109 plant species belonging to 49 families and 84 genera used for a wide range of purposes in the community are recorded. The people are highly dependent on forest and forest products. Because of their long experience with forests, the 'Bankariya' people have acquired rich knowledge about the utilization of plant resources in various ways. The Twanrakhola community harbours a high diversity of medicinal plants and wild edible plants. Despite the gradual economic and socio-cultural transformation in the life style of the community members because of globalisation, the Bankariya people still possess substantial knowledge of plants and their uses. Sustainable harvesting of and trade in medicinal and wild edible plants could be a significant source of subsistence and income generation for the local population.

Project Report from the year 2008 in the subject Forestry / Forestry Economics, grade: -, - (Human Ecology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel ), course: Human Ecology, 38 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Food insecurity and poverty are the greatest global challenges facing the world today. Their redress is an indispensable requirement for sustainable development in developing countries, particularly in Africa. Poverty continues to be pervasive, intractable and inexcusable in the developing world particularly Sub-Saharan Africa. Extreme poverty ravages the lives of one in every four in the developing world (i.e. 1.2 billion people). The farming of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) is being promoted as a potential solution to the current high rates of malnutrition and poor health of the rural population, the degradation of tropical forests and the spread and intensification of poverty. However, the role of NTFPs in rural development in Ghana remains largely undervalued and understudied. This paper examines the contribution of NTFPs farming in enhancing poverty reduction, food security, sustainable forest management, and livelihoods improvement in the Sefwi Wiawso District (SWD) of the Western Region of Ghana. An exhaustive literature review and analysis of field data collected through administration of questionnaires, interviews and stakeholder consultations indicate that NTFPs are an important tool for addressing poverty amongst marginalised, forest-dependant communities in Ghana. 86% of farmers in SWD depend on NTFPs for income, food and medicine. The results of the study support the call on decision makers and development actors to put NTFPs management on national, regional and district development agendas.