A decade of poaching trends and law enforcement in Kakum Conservation Area, Ghana

Protected areas play a critical role in biodiversity conservation, but they are increasingly threatened by poaching. This study provides the first long-term analysis of poaching trends and law enforcement effectiveness in Kakum Conservation Area, Ghana’s most visited protected area. Drawing on ranger patrol data collected between 2012 and 2021, we analysed trends and seasonal variations in poaching indicators and enforcement effort and the relationship between enforcement effort and poaching activity. Twelve indicators of poaching were identified, with poachers’ paths, gunshots, footprints, snares and gin traps and empty cartridges being the most frequent. Trend analysis revealed a general decline in most indicators, including snares, cartridges, footprints and poachers’ camps, suggesting that consistent patrol of defined areas of the Park contributed to reduced poaching pressure. However, the rise in poachers’ paths points to hunters adapting their strategies to avoid detection. Seasonal analysis showed no significant difference in most indicators between the open and closed hunting seasons, highlighting gaps in compliance with Ghana’s wildlife regulations. Patrol effort, measured as Patrol Man-Days, was relatively high and consistent between 2012 and 2016 but declined sharply after 2017, reaching its lowest levels between 2019 and 2021. Weak positive correlations between Patrol Man-Days and most poaching indicators suggest that more patrols improved detection but did not necessarily reduce incidents in the short term. The decline in patrol effort during the COVID-19 pandemic illustrates how enforcement is vulnerable to resource constraints and external shocks. Although the recorded poaching decreased during periods of reduced patrols, illegal activity remains ongoing and responsive to enforcement conditions. Conservation implications: Sustained law enforcement probably reduced poaching in Kakum Conservation Area, but illegal activities persist and adapt. Strengthening community participation, ensuring consistent patrol funding across the entire reserve, and using technology can enhance effectiveness. Adaptive management and stronger regulation are essential to sustain biodiversity conservation and reduce wildlife exploitation in protected areas.