Wildfire Management Strategies and Ecosystem Resilience in Ghana’s Savannah Ecological Zone Amidst Climate Change: A Systematic Review of Literature

Abstract

Understanding the interplay between wildfire management strategies and ecosystem resilience is crucial in the context of climate change, especially in vulnerable regions like Ghana's savannah ecological zone. This systematic literature review aims to synthesize the existing body of work on wildfire management strategies, assess the state of ecosystem resilience, and explore the impact of climate change on these dynamics within the savannah ecological zones of Ghana. A comprehensive search yielded 371 studies from Google Scholar, Scopus, and other indexed journals, of which 54 were selected for in-depth analysis. The review identifies three main categories of wildfire management strategies: community-based efforts, policy and regulatory frameworks, and technology interventions. A significant observation is the distinction often made between natural and human-induced fires, which oversimplifies the complex nature of wildfires and underscores the need for a more integrated approach to wildfire management and ecosystem resilience. This study highlights critical gaps and challenges in current strategies, offering a foundation for further research aimed at enhancing wildfire management and ecosystem resilience in the savannah ecological zone of Ghana.