Land use-land cover changes and river basin degradation: A case study of the Densu River in Ghana

Abstract

Land use-land cover (LULC) changes over time trigger local climatic and geological changes. Recent earth tremors around the Densu River Basin (DRB) in Weija near Accra Ghana, provided the motivation for this study. Using Landsat 8 and Landsat 9 OLI/TIRS imageries, this paper maps the various LULC change trends in the basin over 20 years (2003-2023) and discusses the impact on the Densu River basin. Land cover changes identified include shrinking water bodies, farmlands, and closed forests. These changes were linked to human encroachment through both direct and indirect means. The paper concludes with a discussion of policy implications and lessons for land use planning and river basin management.