THE PROBLEMS OF DEFORESTATION IN AFRICA: GHANA AS A FOCUS

Ghana's forest has been lessening quickly at such a disturbing rate throughout the most recent couple of years. A 2019 report by Global Forest Watch demonstrates that there was a 60% increment in forest loss in Ghana somewhere in the range of 2017 and 2018. As indicated by the report, this is the most elevated on the planet followed by Togo at a pace of 26%. Nevertheless, the loss of Ghana’s forests did not start only recently. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), between 1990 and 2010 Ghana lost an average of 125,400 ha or 1.68% per year. This number has risen over the years till this date.

The data from FAO indicates that in total, between 1990 and 2010, Ghana lost 33.7% of its forest cover, which is around 2,508,000 ha.

There is global recognition of the need for improved protection of the world’s forests but diverse voices must be integrated.

Forest loss has always been a cause for concern for environmentalists and other well-meaning Ghanaians. For this reason, there is an urgent need to advocate massively for working assiduously to curtail forest loss in the country, Africa, and the world at large. 

The forest land of Ghana is divided into three basic zones, these are:

• High forest zone
• Transition zone
• Savannah zone

The forest belts in Ghana are rich with natural resources which include minerals, timber, and lots of animal species. These natural resources have been improperly used or abused, making a crippling impact on the nature of the environment. The current rate of forest depletion, if not solved could trigger a serious ecological crisis in the nation which will influence agriculture, the economy, water resources, and the general well-being of the citizens since it is estimated that the sector's contribution to the Gross Domestic Product of the nation is 6%.

The impacts of the climate crisis are disproportionately experienced by those who are the least responsible. The most common pressures causing deforestation and severe forest degradation are agriculture, unsustainable forest management, mining, infrastructure projects, and increased fire incidence and intensity.

Some infrastructure activities, such as road building, have a large indirect effect by opening up forests to settlers and agriculture. Poor forest management and unsustainable fuelwood collection degrade forests and often instigate a "death by a thousand cuts" form of deforestation. 

Conversion of forests for other land uses, including pulp, palm, and soy plantations, pastures, settlements, roads and infrastructure.

Forest fires: Each year, fires burn millions of hectares of forest worldwide. Fires are a part of nature but degraded forests are particularly vulnerable. These include heavily logged rainforests, forests on peat soils, or where forest fires have been suppressed for years allowing unnatural accumulation of vegetation that makes the fire burn more intensely. The resulting loss has wide-reaching consequences on biodiversity, climate, and the economy.

Illegal and unsustainable logging: Illegal logging occurs in all types of forests across all continents  – destroying nature and wildlife, taking away community livelihoods, and distorting trade. Illegally harvested wood finds its way into major consumption markets, such as Africa, to other parts of the world, which further fuels the cycle. 

Fuelwood harvesting: Over-harvesting for domestic use or for commercial trade in charcoal significantly damages forests.

Mining: The impact of mining on tropical forests is growing due to rising demand and high mineral prices. Mining projects are often accompanied by major infrastructure construction, such as roads, railway lines and power stations, putting further pressure on forests and freshwater ecosystems. 

Climate change: Forest loss is both a cause and an effect of our changing climate. Climate change can damage forests, for instance by drying out tropical rainforests and increasing fire damage in boreal forests. Inside forests, climate change is already harming biodiversity, a threat that is likely to increase.