Livelihood, carbon and spatiotemporal land-use land-cover change in the Yenku forest reserve of Ghana, 2000–2020

• DOI: 10.1016/j.jag.2022.102938
• Publication Date: 2022-08-03T12:13:17Z
• Authors: Joseph Ofori Ache...; Emmanuel Morgan A...; Michael Mensah; Benedicta Y. Fosu...; Roland Akuka Apam...; Eric Kofi Doe
• Keywords: Deforestation; Land Cover; Shifting cultivation

Tropical forests are important sources of securing basic human needs (livelihoods) for both the deprived and well-endowed but also critical reducing metric tonnes carbon (tC) emitted from deforestation land degradation. However, inequalities population land-use land-cover change (LULCC) existential threats to sustainable tropical forest reserve management their aboveground biomass stock (AGBCS) in Africa. This study examines extent LULCC, AGBCS perception livelihood effects on Yenku Forest Reserve (YFR) Central Region Ghana. Google Earth Engine remotely sensed Landsat data analysis using supervised classification, detection, mixed with qualitative individual in-depth interviews focus group discussions inhabitants were used. The overall classification accuracy was 89.1%, 90.8% 89.8% LULC 2000, 2010 2020 respectively. Farming, charcoal production, hunting harvesting non-timber products main activities impacting LULCC reserve. Open degraded estimated at 1627ha, 1764ha, 1784ha out 2293ha, corresponding 36,349.6tC, 39,395.70tC, 39,840.0tC respectively 2020. Dense cover yielded least 938.6tC compared less dense cover. These findings would aid policy decisions toward achieving United Nations degradation neutrality development goals (SDGs) one, ten fifteen while ensuring YFR sustainability. Deprived forest-fringe communities, traditional authorities other relevant stakeholders need actively adopt gendered objectives achieve SDGs, neutralities within YFR.