DEFORESTATION AND BIODIVERSITY LOSS IN THE ATEWA FOREST RESERVE IN GHANA

Abstract

Protected forests are significant areas for ecological, economic, and social reasons. They usually depict a region's native flora and wildlife. Notwithstanding their importance, anthropogenic disturbances seriously threaten Ghana's protected forest conservation. In Ghana, the Atewa Range Forest Reserve is a Globally Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA) and an Important Bird Area, but illegal agricultural and mining operations are destroying the reserve's vegetation which can affect its land cover. This study aims to identify the causes and consequences of the forest loss on its biodiversity (Humans, animals, and plants) and understand the land cover changes under different disturbance mechanisms. To examine these changes, the study uses both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Traditional leaders, governmental and non-governmental agencies, (Forestry Commission, AROCHA Ghana), and Indigenous people were interviewed. Landsat satellite images were obtained and subjected to analysis using Geographic Information System tools (QGIS software) to monitor changes in land cover for the study period. The analysis of land use and the land cover map indicates that from 1999 to 2021, there was a decline in forest cover and water bodies but a significant increase in Bare Lands and evidence of Built-up Areas. The interviews revealed that human activities including illegal timber logging, illegal mining of Bauxite, hunting, farming, domestic firewood collection and charcoal production, human settlement, and development are the main drivers of the loss of the biodiversity of the forest, which several plant and animal species are endangered, and others are extinct. The research additionally indicated that the conservation management policies were yielding very little results due to a number of shortcomings including the lack of logistics, low staff strength, and lack of the right types of equipment for forest monitoring. The Government of Ghana under the Forestry Commission, with Traditional authorities and relevant stakeholders, should strengthen the law enforcement of anthropogenic exploitation to help safeguard the reserve.