G.A.B. Yiran

A synthesis of remote sensing and local knowledge approaches in land degradation assessment in the Bawku East District, Ghana

Abstract A greater percentage of Northern Ghana is under threat of land degradation and is negatively impacting on the well-being of the people owing to deforestation, increasing incidence of drought, indiscriminate bush burning and desertification. The problem is becoming severe with serious implications on the livelihoods of the people as the land is the major resource from which they eke their living. Reversing land degradation requires sustainable land use planning which should be based on detailed up-to-date information on landscape attributes. This information can be generated through remote sensing analytical studies. Therefore, an attempt has been made in this study to collect data for planning by employing remote sensing techniques and ground truthing. The analysis included satellite image classification and change detection between Landsat images captured in 1989, 1999 and 2006. The images were classified into the following classes: water bodies, close savannah woodland, open savannah woodland, grassland/unharvested farmland, exposed soil, burnt scars, and settlement. Change detection performed between the 1989 and 1999 and 1989 and 2006 showed that the environment is deteriorating. Land covers such as close savannah woodland, open savannah woodland and exposed soil diminished over the period whereas settlement and water bodies increased. The grassland/unharvested farmland showed high increases because the images were captured at the time that some farms were still crops or crop residue. Urbanization, land clearing for farming, over grazing, firewood fetching and bush burning were identified as some of the underlying forces of vegetal cover degradation. The socio-cultural beliefs and practices of the people also influenced land cover change as sacred groves as well as medicinal plants are preserved. Local knowledge is recognized and used in the area but it is not properly integrated with scientific knowledge for effective planning for sustainable land management. This is due to lack of expertise in remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in the area.

Managing Threats and Opportunities of Urbanisation for Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture in Tamale, Ghana

Urbanisation involves growth and transformation of settlements into increasingly large spatially sprawling cities. By encroaching upon agricultural land, taxing water resources and enticing rural people away from farming, urbanisation poses a threat to agriculture within both the built-up and peri-urban areas. Growing climate variability, an apparent sign of climate change, exacerbates the threat. At the same time, through an increased demand for food, the potential for affordable organic manure from urban waste and a need for efficient intensive land use urbanisation may encourage agricultural production and, thereby, enhance urban food security. Preliminary findings of an on-going inter-institutional, inter-disciplinary assessment focused on Tamale, a rapidly growing city in Ghana, show that farmers seek to manage the agricultural threats and opportunities by various ingenuous survival strategies, notably livelihoods diversification, new cultivars, and land use intensification. This paper highlights the strategies and argues that if they are nurtured and integrated into policy they would positively inform sustainable urban development planning.

Application of geographical information system (GIS) technology in the control of Buruli ulcer in Ghana

BackgroundBuruli ulcer (BU) disease is a chronic debilitating skin disease caused by Mycobacteriumulcerans. It is associated with areas where the water is slow-flowing or stagnant. Policy makers take the necessary strategic and policy decisions especially where to target interventions based on available evidence including spatial distribution of the disease. Unfortunately, there is limited information on the spatial distribution of BU in Ghana. The aim of the study was to use Geographical Information System (GIS) technology to show the spatial distribution and hot spots of BU in Greater Accra and Eastern Regions in Ghana. The information could then be used by decision makers to make the necessary strategic and policy decisions, especially where to target intervention.MethodsWe conducted a community case search and spatial mapping in two districts in Eastern region (Akuapem South and Suhum- Kraboa-Coaltar) and two districts in Greater Accra region (Ga West and Ga South Municipalities) of Ghana to identify the spatial distribution of BU cases in the communities along the Densu River. These municipalities are already known to the Ministry of Health as having high case load of BU. Structured questionnaires on demographic characteristics, environmental factors and general practices were administered to the cases.Using the E-trex Garmin Geographical Positioning System (GPS), the location of the case patient was marked along with any important attributes of the community. ArcGIS was used to generate maps showing BU distribution and hot spots.ResultsTwo hundred and fifty-seven (257) probable BU patients were enrolled in the study after the case search. These cases and their houses (or homes) were located with the GPS. The GIS maps generated showed a varying distribution of BU in the various communities. We observed clustering of BU patients downstream of the Densu River which had hitherto not been observed.ConclusionsThere is clustering of BU in areas where the river was most contaminated. The identified hot spots for BU should be targeted for interventions by policy makers to ensure effective control of BU in Ghana.

Mapping vulnerability to multiple hazards in the savannah Ecosystem in Ghana

The interior savannah ecosystem in Ghana is subjected to a number of hazards, including droughts, windstorms, high temperatures and heavy rainfall. The frequency and intensity of these hazards are projected to increase during the twenty-first century as a result of climate variability and change. Vulnerabilities to these hazards vary, both spatially and temporally, due to differences in susceptibilities and adaptive capacities. Many mapping exercises in Ghana have considered the impacts of single hazards on single sectors, particularly agriculture. But the hazards often occur concurrently or alternately and have varying degrees of impacts on different sectors. The impacts also interact. These interactions make mapping of the vulnerabilities of multiple sectors to multiple hazards imperative. This paper presents an analysis of the spatial dimension of vulnerabilities by mapping vulnerability of sectors that support livelihood activities at a single point in time, using the Upper East Region of Ghana as a case study. Data collected to develop the maps were largely quantitative and from secondary sources. Other data drew on fieldwork undertaken in the region from July to September 2013. Quantitative values were assigned to qualitative categorical data as the mapping process is necessarily quantitative. Data were divided into susceptibility and adaptive capacity indicators and mapped in ArcGIS 10.2 using weighted linear sum aggregation. Agriculture was found to be the most vulnerable sector in all districts of the Upper East Region and experienced the greatest shocks from all hazards. Although all districts were vulnerable, the Talensi, Nabdam, Garu-Temapane and Kassena-Nankana West Districts were most vulnerable. Findings highlight the need for more targeted interventions to build adaptive capacity in light of the spatial distributions of vulnerabilities to hazards across sectors.

Mapping Social Capital for Adaptation to Climatic Variability in a Savannah Ecosystem of Ghana

In view of current climate variability and change and the projected increase in extreme events, adaptation to climate risks is vital. For effective adaptation, all resources (economic, social and environmental) have to be utilised. However, not much of social capital is captured in adaptation policy and planning. The under utilisation of social capital exacerbated by inadequate data documentation has created a knowledge gap which this chapter addressed by mapping. This was done by examining the variables used by the people to adapt to climate variability and change and then quantifying them for mapping. A household survey, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were used to identify the variables of social capital and how they are used in the adaptation process. About 10 variables were identified and verified from existing literature before quantification. Some of the variables were quantified using secondary data while others were scored. The resultant map shows spatial variation of social capital, with Builsa North and South and Bongo Districts possessing the highest social capital while Bawku Municipality possesses the lowest. This social capital can be enhanced for adaptation with policy support. It is therefore recommended that state agencies tasked with adaptation policy formulation should consider social capital as a policy option. Also, the variables of social capital perceived to be weakening should be revitalised through sensitisation by local authorities and NGOs.

Adaptation to Climatic Hazards in the Savannah Ecosystem: Improving Adaptation Policy and Action

People in Ghana’s savannah ecosystem have historically experienced a range of climatic hazards that have affected their livelihoods. In view of current climate variability and change, and projected increases in extreme events, adaptation to climate risks is vital. Policies have been put in place to enhance adaptation across sub-Saharan Africa in accordance with international agreements. At the same time, local people, through experience, have learned to adapt. This paper examines current policy actions and their implementation alongside an assessment of barriers to local adaptation. In doing so it links adaptation policy and practice. Policy documents were analysed that covered key livelihood sectors, which were identified as climate sensitive. These included agriculture, water, housing and health policies, as well as the National Climate Change Policy. In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were also held with key stakeholders in the Upper East Region of Ghana. Analyses were carried using thematic content analysis. Although policies and actions complement each other, their integration is weak. Financial, institutional, social, and technological barriers hinder successful local implementation of some policy actions, while lack of local involvement in policy formulation also hinders adaptation practice. Integration of local perspectives into policy needs to be strengthened in order to enhance adaptation. Coupled with this is a need to consider adaptation to climate change in development policies and to pursue efforts to reduce or remove the key barriers to implementation at the local level.

Assessing Land and Ecosystem Management at the Local Level in the Savannah Ecological Zone and the Implications for Sustainability

Biodiversity remains valuable life-supporting resources for mankind. However, in the semi-arid Savannah ecological zone of West Africa, our understanding of the stock, utilization, and management of biodiversity is less understood. This study seeks to (1) profile the distribution, management, and utilization of woody plant species under different land uses; (2) identify factors affecting plant biological resources; and (3) assess the state of a community’s ecological vulnerability. Both quantitative and qualitative research strategies including surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions were used to collect data. Field assessments were undertaken in purposively selected major land use types. The Sorensen index was used to assess species similarity levels and family importance value was used to determine the most important plant families. The Shannon–Weiner index was used to determine species diversity and evenness, whereas the ecological vulnerability index was used to estimate the communities’ vulnerability levels. Total of 67 woody plant species belonging to 27 families and 55 genera were identified, with Fabaceae and Compositaceae being the most important plant families. Species diversity was highest in sacred groves followed by fallow fields, crop fields, and grazed fields. The most resilient ecological communities were found to be Zagua and Kpalgun, whereas Daboshe emerged as the most vulnerable ecological community. In all communities, we found that species overexploitation for productive purposes and loss of traditional values contribute to biodiversity loss. Ecological resilience could be enhanced through the enforcement of taboos, implementation of afforestation, and educational programs. The study contributes to address the rarity of plant species distribution–assessment in the semi-arid areas of West Africa.