These changes have often affect areas with natural vegetation where in
some areas colonizers (mostly shrubs) colonize the area earlier occupied by natural vegetation. From the focus
group discussion, the primary forest serves as areas for extraction of Non-Timber Forest products (NTFPs)
while some undergo conversion from natural vegetation to cultivation of cocoa, the presence of Theobroma cocoa
in the outer plot which constitute 11.0 percent of the total trees species in the area point to the fact that encroachment
has taken place at the area bordering the buffer zone of the park especially at the cultivated area.