Assessing local drivers influencing Land Use Cover Change (LUCC) in
Southwestern Ghana: A Mixed-Method Approach (MMA) Analyses.
Abstract
Changes in land cover have persisted throughout the history of mankind,
and are the direct and indirect consequence of human actions to secure
essential resources. Understanding direct and indirect factors that
influence land use cover change (LUCC) is essential for modelling future
LUCC in developing countries. The study analyses local drivers of LUCC
in Southwestern Ghana using the mixed-method approach. The approach
aided in identifying key drivers of LUCC, using different research
strategies for comparisons through confidence level analysis and
Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). We used expert interviews, literature
review and geostatistical tools to ascertain causative factors
triggering such unprecedented changes. Geospatial analysis depicted a
decline in forests (-1.65 km2yr-1.) and areas covered by water bodies
(-0.55 km2yr-1.). A remarkable increase in built-up (+25.77 km2yr-1.)
and farmlands/shrubs (+7.4km2yr-1.) areas were also observed. Population
growth, expansion of settlements and infrastructure, coupled with
agricultural expansion are at the centre of the LUCC-environment nexus,
based on the confidence level table. A steady increase in surface
temperature can be attributed to the unprecedented LUCC over the past 50
years. Socio-economic development in Southwestern Ghana is fuelling
interest in the relation between LUCC and environmental change.
Biophysical, cultural and technological factors are also considered key
drivers despite the “medium-to-very low confidence” in results
generated. They could potentially impact climate-sensitive sectors that
significantly modify land-use systems from the pessimists and optimist’s
perspective. We, therefore, propose further analyses of LUCC drivers
with medium to very low confidence levels.