Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 3
MATERIALS AND ARTEFACTS PRODUCTION IN WOODWORK INDUSTRY IN GHANA
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MATERIALS AND ARTEFACTS PRODUCTION IN WOODWORK INDUSTRY IN GHANA
Download the Lessonotes Mobile Ghana app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.
Subject: Applied Technology
Class: SHS 3
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 6
Grade code: 3.4.2.LI.2
Strand code: 4
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 3.4.2.CS.1
Indicator code: 3.4.2.LI.2
Theme: WOOD TECHNOLOGY
Subtheme: MATERIALS AND ARTEFACTS PRODUCTION IN WOODWORK INDUSTRY IN GHANA
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Welcome, future innovators and artisans! Look around our classroom. The desks you sit at, the door to this room, the roofing beams above us—many of these are products of Ghana's vibrant woodwork industry. From the local carpenter in our community to large sawmills in Takoradi and Kumasi, this industry provides jobs, builds our homes, and creates beautiful artefacts. However, every tree that is cut, every piece of wood that is shaped, has an effect on our environment. Today, we will explore this relationship, known as the environmental impact of the woodwork industry.
A. What is the Woodwork Industry in Ghana? This industry includes all activities related to converting timber into finished or semi-finished products. It is a long chain: Logging: Felling of trees in forests (e.g., in the Ahafo, Western, and Ashanti regions). This is regulated by the Forestry Commission of Ghana. Sawmilling: Processing logs into usable lumber (planks, beams). Major sawmills are located in hubs like Takoradi, Kumasi, and Samreboi. Manufacturing/Carpentry: Creating final products like furniture, doors, windows, roofing trusses, and decorative items. This happens in large factories and thousands of small, local workshops across the country. B. What is 'Environmental Impact'? Environmental impact refers to any change to the environment, whether harmful or beneficial, that is wholly or partially resulting from an organisation's activities, products, or services. For the woodwork industry, this means looking at how its actions affect our air, water, soil, forests, and even our health. C. Negative Environmental Impacts of the Woodwork Industry
This is the most critical area we need to understand. The negative effects can be severe if not managed properly. Deforestation and Loss of Biodiversity: Explanation: This is the large-scale removal of trees. When timber is harvested faster than forests can regenerate, we face deforestation. Illegal logging ("chain-sawing") makes this problem worse. Impact in Ghana: Climate Change: Trees absorb carbon dioxide (a greenhouse gas). Fewer trees mean more CO2 in the atmosphere, leading to a hotter climate and more erratic rainfall. Soil Erosion: Tree roots hold the soil together. Without them, heavy rains wash away the fertile topsoil, making the land useless for farming and leading to choked rivers. Loss of Habitat: Our forests are home to countless animals, insects, and medicinal plants. Deforestation destroys their homes, threatening species like the Diana monkey and various birds with extinction. This is a loss of our natural heritage, our biodiversity. Pollution: The woodwork industry generates pollution at various stages. Air Pollution: Sawdust: Fine wood dust particles suspended in the air can cause serious respiratory problems (like asthma) for workers and people living near workshops. VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds): Varnish, lacquer, and certain glues release harmful fumes (VOCs) as they dry. Breathing these in can cause headaches, dizziness, and long-term health issues. Smoke: Burning wood offcuts and waste in the open releases smoke, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants, contributing to poor air quality. Water Pollution: Chemical Runoff: Wood treatment chemicals (preservatives) used to prevent rot and insect attack can be washed by rain into nearby streams, rivers, and groundwater, poisoning aquatic life and contaminating drinking water sources. Sawdust Clogging: When sawdust is dumped near drains or rivers, it clogs waterways, leading to flooding and de-oxygenating the water, which kills fish. Soil Pollution: Spills of chemicals like finishers, thinners, and preservatives can contaminate the soil, making it difficult for plants to grow and potentially poisoning underground water. Waste Generation: Explanation: A significant amount of a tree log does not end up in the final product. Waste includes: Sawdust and Shavings: The most common waste product. Offcuts: Small, unusable pieces of wood. Bark and Slabs: The outer parts of the log removed at the sawmill. Impact in Ghana: This waste is often dumped indiscriminately or burned, leading to the pollution problems mentioned above. It represents a waste of a valuable natural resource. D. Positive Environmental Impacts & Potential Solutions
It's not all negative. A well-managed woodwork industry can be part of the environmental solution. Sustainable Forest Management: Explanation: This involves harvesting timber in a way that allows forests to regrow and maintain their biodiversity. Methods: Reforestation and Afforestation: Planting new trees to replace those cut down. Ghana's "Green Ghana Day" is a great national example. The industry can lead this effort. Selective Logging: Only cutting mature trees and leaving younger ones to grow. Using Plantation Timber: Sourcing wood from farms where trees like Teak and Cedrela are grown specifically for harvesting, which reduces pressure on natural forests. Carbon Sequestration: Explanation: As a tree grows, it absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. When it is converted into furniture or a building component, that carbon is locked away (sequestered) for the entire life of the product. Wood is essentially a carbon storage material. This is a significant positive impact. Waste Valorisation (Turning Waste into Value): This is a key solution to the waste problem. Sawdust: Can be compressed into briquettes to be used as a clean-burning fuel, replacing charcoal and firewood. It can also be used to make particle boards or as bedding for poultry. Offcuts: Small pieces of wood can be joined together (finger-jointing) to make larger, usable boards. They can also be used to create smaller items like toys, chopping boards, or decorative art.
Guided Practice (With Solutions)