Nexus between Savannah Woodland Degradation and Climate Change in Northern Ghana

Abstract

The Savannah woodland and forest ecosystems are considered as fragile ecosystems in Ghana. They are located in pro-poor areas of the country. They serve as livelihood support systems for the poor in those areas. In the midst of climate change, the same woods are expected to provide mitigation support against climate change. These woodland and forest ecosystems are in a state of dilemma: providing adaptation support to humans and at the same time providing mitigation support against climate change in the midst of climatic and seasonal challenges: low rainfall, excessive heat, harmattan and annual bushfires. The sustainability of these ecosystems depends on the net effect resulting from the pressures of adaptation, efforts of mitigation, resilience of the ecosystems and other natural support systems. This chapter explores the relationship among woodland, adaptation and mitigation activities. In this relationship, the human face has played a central role, thus influencing the direction of the net effects of the pressures on woodland ecosystems. Adaptation is over-emphasised, misunderstood and decoupled from mitigation resulting in maladaptation. This has contributed to the worsening impacts of climate change. Climate change adaptation needs to be re-emphasised to ensure mitigation is considered in every adaptation measure.

Temporal analysis of the state of the Gbele Resource Reserve in the Upper West Region, Ghana

“…By 2020, the declining trend of the open woodland had reversed, and its extent appreciated to 73.6% while the shrubs and grass declined to 25.8%. The decline in the open woodland in the reserve from 1990 to 2010 is attributable to multiple factors, namely charcoal production in the fringe districts (Aabeyir et al, 2023), excess exploitation of rosewood in the middle and northern parts of the country and management issues (Yahaya and Venkateswar, 2016;Osumanu and Atia, 2017). For instance, Aabeyir et al (2023) noted that the majority of the charcoal transported out of the region was produced at Hain, Zini, Jeffesi, Gwollu, which are fringe communities of the GRR and could have accounted for the decline in the woodland cover in the Reserve.…”