Ghana 🇬🇭
Climate warning
Climate warning
Edwin wangombe
34 w
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Ghana's forests are being wiped out: What's behind this, and why attempts to stop it aren't working
Ghana’s forests are under severe threat. The country, home to approximately 7.9 million hectares of forested land—comprising 35% of its total land area—has seen a dramatic rise in deforestation. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, 7.6 million hectares are primary or naturally regenerated forests, and around 297,000 hectares are planted forests. However, in 2022, Ghana lost 18,000 hectares of primary forest, marking a nearly 70% increase from the previous year, the largest spike in forest loss of any country in recent times.
Ghana's forests are being wiped out: What's behind this, and why attempts to stop it aren't working
Ghana has around 7.9 million hectares of forested land (35% of the total land area), according to the Food and Agriculture Organization. Around 7.6 million hectares are primary or naturally regenerated forest, and around 297,000 hectares are planted forest. In 2022, Ghana lost 18,000 hectares of primary forest, a nearly 70% increase from 2021. It was the biggest increase in forest loss of any country in recent years.
https://phys.org/news/2024-05-ghana-forests.html
This alarming trend necessitates urgent government intervention to implement policies that safeguard these crucial ecosystems. Here’s why immediate action is critical:
### The Devastating Consequences of Deforestation
#### 1. **Climate Change Acceleration**
Forests play a vital role in mitigating climate change by acting as carbon sinks. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, a significant greenhouse gas, and release oxygen. When forests are cut down, not only is this carbon absorption capacity reduced, but the carbon stored in trees is also released back into the atmosphere, exacerbating global warming. The 18,000 hectares of forest lost in 2022 alone resulted in the release of 78 million tons of CO₂, significantly contributing to climate change.
#### 2. **Increased Pollution**
Deforestation leads to soil erosion and the loss of vegetation cover, which can cause increased sedimentation in rivers and streams. This sedimentation can carry pollutants from agricultural activities, mining, and other sources into waterways, contaminating drinking water and harming aquatic life. Additionally, the reduction of tree cover limits the natural filtration of air pollutants, leading to poorer air quality.
#### 3. **Biodiversity Destruction**
Ghana's forests are rich in biodiversity, housing countless species of plants, animals, and microorganisms. Deforestation destroys these habitats, leading to a decline in species populations and, in some cases, extinction. The loss of biodiversity disrupts ecosystems and diminishes the genetic resources that are vital for resilience against pests, diseases, and changing climate conditions.
### Causes of Deforestation in Ghana
**Agricultural Expansion:** As Ghana's population surged from 11.87 million in 1980 to 32.18 million in 2020, there has been a massive expansion of farming, even into forest reserves. The demand for new agricultural land, particularly for cocoa production—where Ghana is the world's second-largest producer—has led to extensive forest clearing using slash-and-burn methods.
**Fuelwood and Charcoal:** Rural communities heavily depend on forests for firewood and charcoal, which are essential for household energy needs. This unsustainable extraction of wood significantly contributes to forest degradation.
**Mining Activities:** Ghana is rich in minerals like gold and manganese, with mining operations—both legal and illegal—leading to substantial deforestation. Over 13,000 hectares of forest land are under mining leases, and the activities of illegal miners (galamsey) further exacerbate forest destruction and water pollution.
**Illegal Logging:** Weak governance, corruption, and inadequate enforcement enable illegal logging activities. This exploitation of valuable timber resources is a persistent threat to Ghana's forests.
### The Need for Robust Policies
To combat these challenges, the government of Ghana must implement comprehensive policies that address both the direct and underlying causes of deforestation. Here are some key strategies:
**1. Promote Sustainable Agriculture:** Implement and support agroforestry practices where trees are integrated into farming systems. Encourage shade-grown cocoa and other sustainable farming methods that protect soil fertility and reduce the need to clear new forest land.
**2. Strengthen Law Enforcement:** Enhance the enforcement of existing laws against illegal logging and mining. Improve governance and transparency to reduce corruption, and ensure that offenders are held accountable.
**3. Community Involvement:** Engage local communities in conservation efforts. Provide education on the importance of forests, and offer alternative livelihoods to reduce dependency on forest resources. Empower communities to participate in and benefit from forest management and conservation initiatives.
**4. Improve Monitoring and Reporting:** Establish robust systems for monitoring deforestation and evaluating the effectiveness of conservation efforts. Use technology, such as satellite imagery, to track changes in forest cover and enforce regulations.
**5. Invest in Renewable Energy:** Promote the use of renewable energy sources to reduce the reliance on firewood and charcoal. Support the development and distribution of affordable and sustainable energy alternatives for rural communities.
### Conclusion
The rapid rate of deforestation in Ghana poses severe threats to the environment, climate, and biodiversity. Immediate and decisive action by the government is essential to protect these vital ecosystems. By implementing comprehensive policies that address the root causes of deforestation and promote sustainable practices, Ghana can safeguard its forests for future generations and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.
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32 w
It's like the authorities are turning a blind eye while natural resources are pillaged.
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34 w
The rapid deforestation in Ghana, driven by agricultural expansion, fuelwood extraction, mining, and illegal logging, drastically reduces forest cover. This not only accelerates climate change but also leads to biodiversity loss and increased pollution, endangering ecosystems and human health. Very poor by Ghana
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34 w
@munene_mugambi I wish they had a sobber mind to advise them on the dangers of deforestation ... the government needs to start implementing the policies that they already have to prevent such madness
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34 w
This is very sad. Whereas countries are trying there best to do reforestation, Ghana is employing all efforts to destroy existing forests.I call upon Ghana authorities to put up strict measures to curb this practice
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34 w
@rukia_ahmed_abdi And this will incredibly affect the current ecosystems and habitats that have been forming for generations hence putting animals and plants at risk of losing their homes and going extinct even.
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34 w
@rukia_ahmed_abdi This needs to end immediately
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34 w
@munene_mugambi Deforestation will lead to every bad thing you can think of... soil erosion, loss and damage of biodiversity, land, and mudslides, lack of clean breathable air, etc...
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34 w
Urgent action is needed to address the root causes of deforestation and implement effective conservation measures.
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34 w
@princess_nel_268 They already have good enough policies on place to stop such atrocities from occuring but corruption and greed certainly gets in the way and stops good policies from being implemented.
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34 w
@princess_nel_268 i support your sentiments... they should know that we don't have time
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34 w
@munene_mugambi I could not have said it better than this... greed and corruption will be the end of Africa with Ghana serving as a good example.
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34 w
Ghana, we need to see strong action from your government. Implement those sustainable practices ♻️ and invest in renewables.
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34 w
@george_kariuki African leaders and government need to step out of their backwardness and join the rest of the world in transitioning to renewable energy and prevent the destruction of the environment
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34 w
This is disappointing, deforestation has so much negative impacts on the environment and the government of Ghana must wake up to this truth and do something about this before it is too late.
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34 w
@joseph_githinji It is disappointing indeed and they need to do something effective fast
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34 w
this is absolutely absurd ... something needs to be done ASAP
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34 w
@videlis_wanjiru Absurd is an understatement. There is no right word to explain what this is. Shame on them
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34 w
This is sad, the Ghana government is not doing enough to protect the forest, it has to wake up and take immediate action and prevent further destruction
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34 w
@elizbeth_gathigia this is why leadership positions should be given to people who care about the people and not profits... its clear that the government does not care about its people and the well being of the country's ecosystem
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34 w
@elizbeth_gathigia Destruction of the ecosystem should not be happening in this time and era... we should be talking about conservation and restoration
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34 w
@videlis_wanjiru The Ghanian government is so backward and needs a reality check... they should know that the world is grappling with climate change and we need every bit of green space we can get
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34 w
This is very discouraging....the government should take relevant measures to ensure that the forests are protected.
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34 w
@jane_wangui I agree with you totally... the Government of Ghana is failing and its time for them to wake up
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34 w
@jane_wangui The people in leadership positions in Ghana do not deserve those positions if all this is happening on their watch... Forests need to be conserved, protected and restored not this madness
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34 w
@videlis_wanjiru It's a shame and they really need to wake up
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34 w
It's very sad to read this!
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34 w
@sarah_chabane_874 i is sad indeed... when others are working hard to restore and conserver the green spaces left on the planet Ghana is here Destroying theirs... shame on the government..
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34 w
@videlis_wanjiru it's saddening to see people and governments especially in Africa still fuelling the devastation of the ecosystem and climate change... it's worse, especially when they are putting their own life at stake...
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34 w
@sarah_chabane_874 it is saddening, to say the least... this is the start of worse things that Ghana is about to experience if they do not change
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34 w
where is the government?
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34 w
@annett_michuki its unfortunate to see all this happening in the presence of the government... its time to put an end to this madness... Wake up Ghana!!!
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34 w
@annett_michuki it's unfortunate that all this is being done under the government's nose and they are doing nothing
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34 w
@videlis_wanjiru well said... this madness has to stop ASAP