Land-cover change assessment in Ejisu –Juabeng district in Ghana

Year 2018, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 1 - 8, 24.02.2018

Edward D. Wiafe George Asamoah

https://doi.org/10.31195/ejejfs.429741

Cited By: 5

Abstract

This study was conducted to analyse the changes in land-cover structure from 2002 to 2010 at a peri-urban district in Ghana namely Ejisu-Juabeng District. Satellite images were obtained from Landsat ETM+ for 2002 and compared to 2010 to identify the magnitude of change, causes for change and their impact on ecosystem services and human livelihood. The images were processed, classified and assessed for accuracy in ERDAS imagine version 2010. ArcGIS10 was used for GIS operations and Excel software for statistical analysis. In addition, GPS (Garmin 12) was used for field navigation and collection of ground truth data and interviews were conducted in the communities to determine the causes of change and its impact on livelihoods. It was found out that the about 74% of the forest cover has been changed to non-forest landuse types. The farmlands and fallow lands  have increased to 53.6% and 103.67% respectively from 2002 to 2010. However, grassland, marshy area and built-up/bare areas have reduced in sizes to 56.51%, 35.31% and 94.66% respectively. Recommendations for sustainable landuse management have been made.

Keywords

Land cover, Forest, sustainability, ecosystem services, livelihoods, Land use types

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