About this module
Level 1 taught you to know and protect nature. Level 2 teaches you to measure it, manage it with your community, and earn from it without harming it.
Who it is for. People who have finished Conservation and Wildlife (Level 1), or can show the same skills. National Proficiency II covers varied work, mostly routine, under limited supervision.
CTVET status. No CTVET conservation programme was found. This module is not a CTVET curriculum. It follows CTVET's format so it can be put forward later.
Law status. The Wildlife Resources Management Act (Act 1115) was passed in July 2023. It is titled 2023, but some reports date the President's assent to 1 March 2024, so ask the Wildlife Division which date to quote. The regulations that fix fees and licence details were not verified.
Bridge from Level 1: what you already know
- Field safety: boots, hat, water, snakebite first aid, never touching wild or dead animals
- Protected areas near Takoradi: Ankasa, Cape Three Points, Amansuri and Nzulezu, the turtle beaches
- The closed season, 1 August to 1 December
- Naming trees, birds and animals; recording with iNaturalist
- Raising and planting trees; survival counts
- Riverbank buffers, bush fires, clean-ups, turtle season
- Leading a walk; accessible paths; the guide licence
- A Google Business Profile and a one-page business plan
How the module works
Each unit has learning outcomes, performance criteria, the range and the evidence your assessor needs. You are judged Competent or Not Yet Competent. About 70% of the time is practical.
Unit 1 · The wildlife law in more detail
Level 1 gave you the closed season. Level 2 shows how the Act is built, what is allowed where, and the penalties.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 1.1 Explain the Act | names who enforces it and what is banned in a protected area |
| 1.2 Explain protection levels | tells fully from partially protected animals with examples |
| 1.3 Explain licences and penalties | states what needs a licence and the penalty ranges |
Range. Ankasa and Cape Three Points as examples; farm and forest edge. Evidence. Oral questions; law summary sheet.
Who enforces it
The Forestry Commission runs the Wildlife Resources Management Act (Act 1115), and its Wildlife Division looks after wildlife, protected areas and trade in endangered species (CITES). Wildlife officers may arrest without a warrant if a suspect gives no name or a false one, or may run away, and must take the person to a police station within 48 hours (section 33).
Inside a protected area
Section 11 bans, unless you are a wildlife officer or have written permission: carrying a weapon, trap or poison; hunting or holding an animal, or taking an egg or nest; bringing in a domestic animal or plant; removing any animal or plant; cutting trees; building a fence, structure or road; starting a fire; and mining. The penalty is 120 to 500 penalty units, or one to two years in prison, or both; a repeat offence is 1,000 to 2,500 units, or two to five years. The cedi value of a penalty unit was not verified.
It is not an offence to kill a dangerous animal in a protected area when needed to defend human life or stop injury (section 11(2)); that does not mean killing to "protect crops". Visitors enter with permission and a fee (section 10). In a Ramsar wetland such as Amansuri, section 11(1) does not apply except as local by-laws provide, so ask the Assembly which by-laws apply.
Two protection levels
- Fully protected (First Schedule): chimpanzee, elephant, leopard, crocodiles and all marine turtles. No hunting, capture, disturbance or possession, including parts, without written authority for conservation, research or captive breeding. Penalty 250 to 500 units, or one to two years, or both.
- Partially protected (Second Schedule): monkeys, bushbuck, duikers, porcupines, pythons, the giant pouched rat and others. Only with a licence or permit; banned 1 August to 1 December; a young animal, or an adult with young, is protected all year. The grasscutter was not found in the schedule text I could search (a scanned copy, possibly incomplete), so ask the Wildlife Division.
Licences
Hunting, keeping wild animals, trading in wildlife and using wildlife for science all need a licence or permit; applications go to the Forestry Commission in writing with the fee and reach the Wildlife Division within seven days. Licences cover hunting partially protected animals, trading their bushmeat, keeping a wild pet, and captive breeding; permits cover import and export, festival group hunts and propagating wild plants. Acting without one is an offence: 250 to 500 units, or up to two years, or both (sections 20-23). Fees were not verified.
Act 917 (the Hazardous and Electronic Waste Act 2016) was repealed and consolidated into the Environmental Protection Act 2025 (Act 1124). Ask the Environmental Protection Authority about dumping and burning near water.
Law check
Say which protection level applies and whether a licence is needed: (a) a sea turtle nest, (b) a duiker in October, (c) a young duiker in March, (d) a visitor entering Ankasa.
Law sheet and role play
- Write a one-page sheet: who enforces, what is banned in a protected area, the two levels, three offences with penalty ranges.
- In pairs, role play a farmer asking "May I set a snare at my farm edge?" The other answers from the Act.
Ask the officer
Find the nearest Wildlife Division or Forestry Commission office. Write three questions about licences and fees.
Unit 2 · Community resource management areas
Wildlife outside the parks belongs to the community that lives with it. A CREMA gives that community the power, and the duty, to look after it.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 2.1 Explain a CREMA | states what it is and who runs it |
| 2.2 Explain the committee's duties | lists the duties of the executive committee |
| 2.3 Support a CREMA | takes minutes, draws a map, keeps record sheets |
| 2.4 Include everyone | explains how women, youth and elders take part |
Range. A community near Takoradi, or a mock committee. Evidence. Minutes; community map; oral questions.
What a CREMA is
A Community Resource Management Area is an area outside a protected area, rich in resources, where the community organises to manage them well. A locally elected Executive Committee, registered with the Wildlife Division, may be given authority for a set time to authorise and supervise hunting and capture and trade in certain wildlife products. Members come from the village Community Resource Management Committees, District Assemblies can back it with by-laws, and the Division advises on wildlife counts and off-take quotas (section 16). The idea began in Ghana in 2000. In March 2026 four more CREMAs were inaugurated in the Savannah Region and given Devolution Certificates. The total number of CREMAs was not verified. Near Akwidaa: eleven communities around the Cape Three Points Forest Reserve and its mangroves, including Akwidaa, Akyinim, Princess Town and Cape Three Points, form the Cape Three Points–Princess Town CREMA. Talk to its executive committee as well as the Wildlife Division before starting any wildlife, tourism or rearing project there; a CREMA's bye-laws do not replace a Wildlife Division licence.
What the committee does (section 17)
It controls access to harvestable wildlife; regulates hunting and other use while keeping protected species safe; advises the Division on trade permits; monitors and reports wildlife numbers, off-take and trade; works with neighbouring CREMAs and the protected-area committee; helps settle conflicts over problem animals; and raises awareness. Traditional authorities play a central role: they keep land decisions in line with the CREMA, help settle disputes and promote traditional wildlife knowledge (section 18). Each protected area's seven-member Advisory Committee includes a CREMA member, an Assembly member, a traditional authority and a women's group member (section 12).
A trainee's job
Under limited supervision you draw the community map, take minutes, keep the Unit 3 record sheets and help with school talks. Choose meeting times when women can come, discuss in Fante, and write decisions on a board.
Mock CREMA meeting
- Hold a 40-minute committee meeting. Agenda: a farmer reports a crop-raiding animal; a hunter asks for a permit; decide under the Act.
- Take minutes: date, who attended, decisions, who does what by when.
- Draw a community map with farms, forest, river and boundary.
Elders and wildlife
Ask an elder what the community rules were for hunting and sacred places. Which still help conservation?
Unit 3 · Monitoring: transects, birds, cameras and turtles
If you do not count it, you cannot show it is going down, or up. Good records prove that conservation works.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 3.1 Walk a transect | marks a line and records what is seen |
| 3.2 Count birds | does a timed count and enters it in eBird |
| 3.3 Use a camera trap | sets, checks and logs a camera |
| 3.4 Help with turtle monitoring | records a nest or track without disturbing it |
| 3.5 Keep clean data | uses a sheet and checks it |
Range. Farm, forest edge, wetland, beach. Evidence. Field observation; data sheets.
Field safety at Level 2. All Level 1 rules apply, including never touching wild or dead animals.
Snakes. Carpet vipers, puff adders, cobras and mambas live here. After a bite keep the person calm and still, splint the limb, take off rings and go to a hospital with antivenom; no tourniquet, cutting, sucking or herbs. Antivenom is the best treatment.
Night patrols. Go in a team of at least three with a leader and a phone, tell someone your route and return time, use a red light, watch the tide. Never approach a suspected poacher or miner: step back and report (Unit 4).
A line transect
A transect is a straight line you walk slowly, recording what you see. Repeating it shows change. Mark a 500 m line with pegs and note the GPS point; walk early in the morning, one person looking and one writing; for each sighting record species, number, distance along the line, and seen, heard or signs (tracks, droppings, nests); and use the same line, time and effort every visit.
A timed bird count
Count every species seen or heard for a fixed time, such as 20 minutes. eBird works this way: a checklist records when, where and how you looked, the free app works offline and experts review unusual records. Use iNaturalist for plants and animals you photograph.
Camera traps
A camera trap is a weatherproof camera that photographs passing animals. Start small: two to four cameras at knee height on trees beside trails, grass cleared in front, each logged with number, date, GPS point and card, checked every two weeks, locked and agreed with the landowner. In a protected area you need written permission to fix anything (section 11). Trail-camera prices in Ghana were not verified.
Turtle nesting patrols
Olive ridley, green and leatherback turtles nest on 23 km of beach at Cape Three Points, Beyin and Akwidaa, where community groups protect nests. Nesting is about August to March. All marine turtles are fully protected. Do not touch a turtle or eggs without trained supervision and permission. Record date, time, beach section, track or nest, disturbance (nets, dogs, lights, people), and a photo without flash.
Clean data
Use pencil on a printed sheet; check every row at the end of the trip; copy to a spreadsheet the same day; keep the original. If unsure, write "unknown" and add a photo.
Transect sums
On a 500 m line you count 12 birds in January and 30 in July. (1) What is the percentage increase? (2) Can you say the forest improved?
Transect, count and sheet
- Walk a 500 m transect with a partner and fill in the sheet.
- Do a 20-minute bird count and enter an eBird checklist.
- Set a camera (or a mock one) and fill in its log.
- In daylight, rehearse a beach patrol: tide, route, what you would record.
- Copy the sheets to a spreadsheet and check for mistakes.
Same time, same place
Count birds for 10 minutes from one spot at home on three days at the same hour. What changed?
Unit 4 · Conflict, bushmeat and wildlife crime
Hungry farmers and wild animals share the same land. Good ideas keep both alive; the law is for those who ignore them.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 4.1 Reduce crop raiding | explains at least three safe methods |
| 4.2 Explain the bushmeat law | states the closed season, licences and disease risks |
| 4.3 Offer alternatives | compares rearing with hunting |
| 4.4 Report wildlife crime safely | follows a safe reporting plan |
Range. Farms near forest and wetlands. Evidence. Role play; reporting plan; oral questions.
Crop raiding
Elephants raid farms around the Kakum and Bia Conservation Areas as farms spread into forest, and some communities turn to poaching. Methods:
- Chilli-and-grease fences: the smell irritates an elephant's nose, but it fades and must be renewed, costs labour, and needs training to build well.
- Chilli as a buffer crop: gives a supply of chilli and something to sell.
- Beehive fences: promising in East Africa and Southeast Asia, but proof was lacking for West Africa, so a trial was set up near Digya National Park. Ghana results were not verified. In Kenya, a nine-year study of 26 farms near Tsavo East National Park found that beehive fences turned back on average 76% of elephants over all seasons, and 86% in the peak crop season; a drought in 2017 cut the number of occupied hives by 75% and weakened the fences.
CREMA committees help settle problem-animal conflicts. Never trap, poison or shoot a protected animal; report a raid to the CREMA committee or the Wildlife Division.
Bushmeat: law and risk
Between 1 August and 1 December, hunting, capturing or trading wildlife without a permit is illegal, with fines and up to two years in prison. Trading bushmeat of partially protected species needs a licence. Do not touch or eat animals found dead or acting strangely.
Alternatives to hunting
Grasscutter rearing. Grasscutter is the most popular bushmeat in chop bars, demand is higher than supply, and dealers need Forestry Commission and Wildlife Division licences to sell game meat. An old Graphic report gave live prices of GH¢30 to GH¢50 and GH¢5 to GH¢10 a piece in a chop bar, but prices have changed; check today's. Reared animals eat cassava, which raises costs. Whether rearing needs a licence was not verified. Snails and bees: see the hub's Snail Rearing and Beekeeping manuals; beekeepers have helped protect forests from fire.
Report wildlife crime safely
A national Wildlife Law Enforcement Task Force runs hotlines so anyone can report crime without fear of reprisals. The number was not found: ask the Wildlife Division.
Never confront. Do not argue with, chase, block or openly photograph hunters, loggers or miners. Step away, note details from a distance and report to the Wildlife Division, police or hotline: where, when, what, how many people, vehicles. Never post names or faces on social media.
Reporting plan and conflict talk
- Write a one-page reporting plan: who to call first, second, third; details to note; where records are kept.
- Role play a farmer with a night-raiding animal; offer three safe actions.
- Make a poster in English and Fante: closed season dates and "Report, never confront".
One farm, one problem
Ask a farmer which animals cause problems and what has been tried. Which method above might help?
Unit 5 · Mangroves, wetlands, invasive plants and climate
Wetlands, mangroves and the beach hold the coast together. When they are cut, fish disappear and floods come.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 5.1 Explain mangrove value | states what mangroves do and what harms them |
| 5.2 Help restore | takes part in a nursery and planting plan |
| 5.3 Spot invasive plants | names one invasive plant and a control step |
| 5.4 Link to climate | explains the climate link simply |
Range. Estuary, wetland edge or mock site. Evidence. Restoration record; oral questions.
Mangroves
Ghana has about 13,000 to 14,000 ha of mangrove, mainly at the Volta Delta, Keta, Songor, Densu, Muni and the Ankobra Estuary. Fuelwood and fish smoking, salt mining, building, pollution and climate change harm them; they are fish breeding grounds, and over 60% of Ghana's coast is exposed to erosion and flooding.
At Sanwoma on the Ankobra, 115 ha were lost, mostly to firewood for smoking fish and building huts. A restoration committee formed with Hen Mpoano and a USAID-supported fisheries project aimed to restore 45 ha, and 20 ha were replanted in three years. Seeds were collected, nursed for three months and planted, men digging and women planting, with small payments and village savings groups; a by-law bans harvesting trees within 50 m of the river. Stop the cause first (for example, a fuel-saving fish-smoking oven), involve women, youth and elders, record numbers planted and count survival at three and twelve months. Do not plant or cut in a protected area without written permission.
Invasive plants
An invasive species comes from elsewhere, spreads and harms local nature. Chromolaena odorata, called Acheampong weed, threatens Ghana's forest reserves and corridors, and was recorded in the Ankasa-Bia-Krokosua landscape in 2011-2016. Control ideas: pull young plants before seed, then replant the patch with local trees. The best method for Ghana was not verified. An East African weed guide advises digging out the roots, because the plant grows back from the base if they stay; acting while patches are small; and, if herbicide is used at all, spraying young sprouts and always following the label.
Rivers and climate
Keep the 10 to 60 m buffer strips on major rivers. Forests and mangroves hold carbon, so keeping them can pay: Ghana's Cocoa Forest REDD+ programme received World Bank payments for cutting emissions.
Nursery and field visit
- Visit a wetland edge with an adult leader (low tide, boots, no deep water). Sketch what you see and any cutting or dumping.
- Run a mock seedling nursery: 30 pots, labels, watering log.
- Write a one-page restoration plan: cause, partners, actions, count dates.
- Find one invasive plant on a farm edge and write a control plan.
Fuel for fish
Ask a fish smoker which fuel she uses and what it costs per week. What cleaner option could cut mangrove cutting?
Unit 6 · Licensed guiding and community engagement
A guide turns visitors into friends of the forest. A good talk turns neighbours into protectors.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 6.1 Explain licensing | lists the steps to a guide licence |
| 6.2 Lead a themed walk | leads a bird, mangrove or turtle walk safely and honestly |
| 6.3 Include everyone | adapts a walk for disabled visitors |
| 6.4 Engage the community | gives a short talk and gets feedback |
Range. Farm edge, wetland, beach (daylight). Evidence. Observed walk; talk; feedback sheet.
The guide licence
The Ghana Tourism Authority trains, registers and licenses guides. An unofficial guide lists these steps: apply with a form and documents, pay the fee, train and pass an exam, with 30 to 45 days to process and documents that may include ID, a first-aid certificate and photos. Fees and documents were not verified: ask the Ghana Tourism Authority.
Honest guiding. Do not call yourself licensed until you hold the licence. Never offer to show hunting, handle turtles or eggs, or enter a protected area without permission. A turtle walk is watching only: no flash, no touching, no crowding, no lights on the beach.
Leading a themed walk
Plan the story first: why this place matters, what visitors will see, one thing they can do. Give a safety briefing, count heads at every stop, carry the first-aid kit and snakebite plan, keep to about eight visitors per guide, and take nothing. Community sites such as Nzulezu have grown visitor numbers and created jobs, and turtle tourism has helped pay for nest protection.
Include everyone
Plan a short, flat, firm route: paths at least 1.2 m wide, gentle slopes and seats every 50 to 100 m work well. Describe what you see aloud for blind visitors, let them touch safe objects like bark, face deaf visitors when you speak, and use pictures and notes.
Community engagement
Give short talks at schools, churches and markets in Fante; tell stories, not just rules; show your counts ("birds went from 12 to 30"); ask what people need; invite farmers to join the CREMA. A feedback sheet needs three questions: what did you learn, what will you do, what was unclear?
Themed walk and a talk
- Plan a 45-minute walk on one theme (birds, mangroves, or "turtle night" in daylight): story, five stops, safety briefing.
- Lead classmates and count them at every stop.
- Give a 5-minute talk "Why we protect turtles" and collect feedback.
- Adapt the route for a wheelchair user and write the changes.
Talk to a neighbour
Explain one law or idea from this manual to a neighbour. What did they ask?
Unit 7 · Funding, location, business and brand
Conservation needs money. Show your results, find partners and build a small business that protects what it uses.
Competency standard
| Learning outcome | Performance criteria — the trainee… |
|---|---|
| 7.1 Find funding | names three funder types and how to approach them |
| 7.2 Price a service | prices a walk or nursery order with a margin |
| 7.3 Choose a location | links an idea to a site and its customers |
| 7.4 Market yourself | sets up WhatsApp Business and Google Business Profile |
Range. Western Region. Evidence. Quote; business plan; profile screenshots.
Funding and partners
- Small grants: the Rufford Foundation funds small projects in Ghana, such as turtle, elephant and beehive-fence work. The Rufford Foundation (UK) lists four grant stages: a first Rufford Small Grant of up to £7,000, a second of up to £8,000, a Booster Grant of up to £12,000 and a Completion Grant of up to £18,000. Eligibility rules were not verified: read the funder's guidance.
- NGOs: Hen Mpoano on the coast and turtle groups at Cape Three Points. Ask about volunteering.
- Government: the Wildlife Division supports CREMAs.
- Carbon: REDD+ payments need large landscapes and formal programmes.
- Visitors, school fees and the District Assembly.
A funding note is one page: the problem, what you will do, who benefits, cost, and how you will count results (use your Unit 3 data).
Location settings that give good returns
- Cape Three Points, Beyin, Akwidaa: turtle walks, August to March
- Ankasa and Nini-Suhien: forest and bird guiding, with permission
- Amansuri and Nzulezu: canoe and wetland visits
- Ankobra and other estuaries: mangrove tours and nurseries
- Takoradi schools and hotels as customers; Butre as a site to consider (not verified)
Business ideas and ingenuity
- Eco-guide for birds, turtles and mangroves (licensed)
- Tree or mangrove nursery for cocoa farmers' shade trees
- Homestay with local food; binocular hire; picture field guides
- School nature club and field-trip packages
- Beekeeping and honey at the forest edge
- Monitoring work for a CREMA, NGO or researcher: counts, mapping, data entry
- Fuel-saving fish-smoking ovens, such as the FAO-Thiaroye design (idea)
Advertised on Jiji Ghana, 7 October 2026 (asking prices, mostly Accra): binoculars from GH¢400 (pocket) to GH¢8,000; a Tasco 10x50 for GH¢450; a 10x50 low-light for GH¢700. Trail-camera and homestay prices were not verified.
Price a turtle walk and a binocular hire
(a) A night turtle walk for 8 guests (example figures). Costs: 2 guides at GH¢120 each, nest-protection contribution GH¢15 per guest, torch batteries GH¢20, transport GH¢100. Add a 30% margin. What is the total price and the price per guest? A 50% deposit is how much? (b) You buy binoculars for GH¢450 and hire them at GH¢25 a day. After how many days do you get your money back?
Market yourself
- WhatsApp Business is free, with a business profile, a catalogue and automatic greeting and away messages. Add your area, tours, prices, how to book, and your licence number once you have one.
- Google Business Profile is free and shows your tours on Google Maps with photos and reviews. Ask happy visitors for a review.
- Signboard and portfolio: a sign at your nursery or meeting point; photos (with permission), a species list, count charts, planted trees and visitor comments.
- Referrals: leave cards at hotels, schools and the Assembly; partner with turtle groups.
- Register with the Assembly: every Sekondi-Takoradi business must; unregistered ones pay a 30% penalty.
- Never claim a licence, permit or sighting you do not have.
Accessibility
Ghana's Disability Act requires accessible public places and bans job discrimination. The Assemblies' disability fund rose to 5% in 2026 for skills, devices and capital. Include disabled people as guides, nursery workers and data recorders, and ask your Assembly about help with tools or training.
Funding note and business plan
- Write a one-page funding note for a community project.
- Price a service (walk, nursery order or school visit) on a quote sheet with a margin.
- Set up, or mock up, a WhatsApp Business profile and a Google Business Profile.
- Write a one-page plan: service, location, customers, price, partners, licences needed.
First enquiry
Ask one NGO, school or hotel what conservation help or activity they would welcome or pay for.
Glossary
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Act 1115 | The Wildlife Resources Management Act |
| CREMA | Community Resource Management Area, outside a protected area, run by a community committee |
| Fully protected | May not be hunted, captured or held without written authority |
| Partially protected | Hunted only with a licence, never 1 August to 1 December |
| Penalty unit | The unit used to set fines; cedi value not verified |
| Transect | A line walked repeatedly to count animals or signs |
| Camera trap | A camera triggered by passing animals |
| Propagule | A mangrove seed or seedling ready to plant |
| Invasive species | A species from elsewhere that spreads and harms local nature |
| REDD+ | Payments for reducing forest loss |
| Competent / Not Yet Competent | The two possible results of a CBT assessment |
Logbook
Copy these pages into an exercise book. Your logbook is part of your assessment evidence.
- Unit 1: law summary sheet
- Unit 2: minutes; community map
- Unit 3: transect sheet; eBird checklist; camera log; patrol notes
- Unit 4: reporting plan; poster
- Unit 5: restoration plan; nursery log; invasive plant plan
- Unit 6: walk plan; feedback sheet
- Unit 7: funding note; quote; business plan; profile screenshots
- Every homework, dated
Self-check quiz
- Which body runs the Wildlife Resources Management Act?
- Name two things banned inside a protected area.
- Can you kill an animal to protect crops inside a protected area?
- Name the two protection levels with an example of each.
- When is the closed season, and which animals are protected all year?
- What is a CREMA, and who runs it?
- Name three duties of a CREMA executive committee.
- Why use the same line, time and effort on a transect?
- Which turtles nest near Akwidaa, and when?
- Name two ways to reduce elephant crop raiding.
- How do you report wildlife crime safely?
- Can you call yourself a licensed guide before you have the licence?
Further reading and sources
Best next reads: the full text of Act 1115; the Wildlife Division and Forestry Commission; the Ghana Tourism Authority; eBird and iNaturalist training pages; Hen Mpoano and the turtle groups at Cape Three Points.
What this module does not cover: hunting, handling or rescuing wildlife, tagging animals, working in a protected area without written permission, boat and canoe safety, the Act 1115 regulations and fees (ask the Wildlife Division), and current guide licence fees (ask the Ghana Tourism Authority).
Every source used in this manual is listed, with links, in the Teacher Copy.