Bauxite mining at Atewa Forest Reserve, Ghana: a political ecology of a conservation-exploitation conflict
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Bauxite mining at Atewa Forest Reserve, Ghana: a political ecology of a conservation-exploitation conflict Sebastian Purwins
Accepted: 15 September 2020 Ó The Author(s) 2020
Abstract Atewa Forest Reserve in the Eastern Region of Ghana represents one of only two reserves with upland evergreen forests in Ghana but is also a possible site for bauxite mining. The Government of Ghana deployed an infrastructure in anticipation for a refined bauxite agreement with China. Ghana’s Government seeks to develop an integrated BauxiteAluminum Industry; however, several NGOs try to protect the Atewa Forest and propose that the area should be upgraded to a National Park. In this study, this conservation-exploitation conflict is analyzed from a political ecology perspective elaborating on who are the involved key actors, their relations and what strategies are used. Political ecology is about recognizing the power that actors have at the moment of deciding what, how, and where to conserve nature. Based on interviews done during fieldtrips in 2018, 2019 and 2020 complemented by an analysis of political documents, the identified strategies the NGOs are using in this conflict, can be described as demonstration and upscaling. The aim of this paper is to draw attention on the politicization of nature, in particular Atewa forest reserve and its bauxite resources.
S. Purwins (&) Institute of Geography, University of Augsburg, 86159 Augsburg, Germany e-mail: [email protected]
Keywords Bauxite mining Atewa forest Political ecology Conservation-exploitation conflict Ghana
Introduction Extraction spaces, even without actually mining taking place yet, are spaces where power relations are destabilized, existing livelihoods are challenged, inequalities emerge and the territorial development is contested. Frequently, these spaces and the processes are marked by tension, friction and accelerated change. Pijpers and Eriksen (2019) point out, that just as the extractive sector is expanding, so is the interest among social scientists in the implications of this expansion. The recent growth in associated research indicates that there is considerable ongoing concern to seek a better understanding of extractive practices and their social, economic, political and environmental effects around the world. For political ecology, a research approach that specifically engages with the causes and consequences of uneven power relations over natural resources and the environment, understanding conflicts is a prime focus (Le Billion and Duffy 2018). In addition, political ecology explores the politicization of nature through conflicts. The struggle about bauxite mining at Atewa Forest is an example for a political ecology conflict, where
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different actors on different scales with different interests compete about a politicized resource. In 2018, China and Ghana entered a so-called resource-for-infrastructure swap that gained public attention: the Sinohydro Deal. This
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