Land Degradation and Economic Activities Linkages and Impacts

Land Degradation and Economic Activities: Linkages and Impacts in the Talensi-Nabdam District (TND), Ghana By Peter Dok Tindan* Divine Odame Appiah

Outline of presentation q q q q Introduction Problem in context Theoretical basis of study Research methods Results and Discussions Conclusion Recommendations References

Introduction q. Sound and sustainable environmental management is a great challenge in this 21 st century (Gausset and Whyte, 2005). q. Land degradation is variedly understood (Eswaran et al. , 2001; Adams, 2009). q. Conventionally, argued as “decline in productivity of land” (Scherr and Yadav, 1996; Abass, 2007; UNEP, 2007).

Introduction cont’d q. Land degradation has affected economic activities worldwide (Global Environment Facility, 2003). q. Human economic activities are also argued to have caused decline in land quality (Eswaran et al. , 2001). q. We explore this complex interrelationship between land degradation and economic activities in

Problem statement q Land degradation is a social, economic and environmental problem in TND (Adams, 2009). q It is a real challenge in TND, because of the fragility of the environment and the connection with human economic activities (TNDA, 2010; UNEP) q Economic activities in rural districts are predicated on natural resources, land, (Mayers and Vermeulen, 2002; TEEB 2010), Our operational connotation of economic activities “predominant primary economic activities, are livelihoods and economic gain in study area”.

Problem statement cont’d qagriculture; wood fuel production; hunting; illegal mining (galamsey); gravel and sand wining, amongst others. q. Though extraction is important for human survival and maintenance, the increased human footprints (Mc. Carthy, 2009), particularly land degradation is a call for greater concern (TNDA, 2010).

Theoretical basis of the study q The complex interrelationships between environment, economy and society (Adams, 2009). q Malthusian theory, increased population (human activities) for the demise of natural resource (Gausset and Whyte, 2005). Environment q land Economy degradation Human activities Society

Research methods (profile of study area)

Research methods cont’d q. The cross-sectional design (Bryman, 2008). q. Mixed research strategy (triangulation) q. Both primary and secondary data types q. A purposive sample of 140 household pre-coded questionnaires in communities q Ten (10) Semi-structured interviews for district dept. of Food and Agriculture (MOFA q quantitative data analyzing (SPSS) and qualitative data, thematically (inferential

Results and Discussions q Perception of Land degradation in Talensi- Nabdam Table 1 Extent of land degradation Extent of degradation Percent (%) Very severe degradation 50 Severe degradation 48 No or less severe degradation 2 Source: Fieldwork, 2011 The severity, impact and prediction of Land degradation debated (Eswaran et al. , 2001), this is true in TND. That notwithstanding,

Results and Discussions cont’d Ø The perception of land degradation is highly linked with processes driven by the major land use types (economic activities) in the locality. Types of Land use N=140 Crop farming Rearing of livestock Wood fuel production Hunting Others Total Source: Fieldwork, 2011 103 18 8 4 7 Percent 74 12 6 3 5 100

Results and discussion cont’d Table 4. 1 Major processes of land degradation Major causes of land degradation Bush burning Deforestation Soil erosion Bad farming practice Others TOTAL N= 140 62 32 30 12 2 Percentage distribution 44 24 21 9 2 100 Source: Fieldwork 2011 Invariably, it is conclusive that, land degradation is directly linked with primary economic activities, (UNEP, 2007).

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Results and discussions cont’d q. Impacts: Ø Loss of soil fertility affecting crop yield. Table 4. 3 Cultivated areas against crop yield Commo dity type Cultivated area (Ha) Yield (MT/Ha) 2007 2008 2009 2010 Maize 429 1764 4718 1973 0. 96 1. 2 1. 30 Rice 828 1398 2033 1866 1. 28 4. 5 4. 0 3. 1 Millet 1591 3205 5063 1879 0. 47 1. 0 0. 7 0. 4 Sorghu m Soya bean Ground nut 4482 7866 5164 3044 0. 59 1. 1 1. 0 1021 864 1912 1199 0. 33 0. 8 1. 0 1. 1 4610 3927 2797 4294 0. 58 1. 2 0. 8 Source: Department of Food and Agriculture (MOFA, Talensi-Nabdam District)

Results and discussions cont’d Ø Low economic development; agriculture contributes 75% of LGDP (TNDA, 2010)- increased poverty and probably cause enhanced degradation Ø Lal (1999) 75 billion loss of soil and nutrient cost the world $400 billion per year. Ø Loss of surface cover (trees and grasses), economic trees like the Shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa); Dawadawa, Baobab (Andansonia digitata) and Acacia sp. ; Neem (Azadirachta indica) in the district.

Results and discussions cont’d Ø Compounds nutrients loss hence more dryness of the land (Waugh, 2005; Getis et al. , 2005). Ø Increased money cost and time of household energy supply (TNDA, 2010). Ø Changes and/or variation in local climate, (TEEB, 2010).

Conclusions Ø The land in TND is highly degraded and there is high incidence of continual degradation- loss of soil fertility and visual degradation Ø Degrading processes are linked with primary economic activities; livelihoods and economic development. Ø Loss of land it resources will have greater implications for sustainable development efforts in the district.

Recommendations Ø Appropriate application of organic manure and fertilizers, to restore loss and also prevent the depletion of soil nutrients. Ø Diversification of livelihoods; agroforestry. Ø Foster effective licensing for illegal mining; gravel and sand wining. Ø Collaborative efforts on sustainable land use at community level.

Some references Ø Eswaran, H. , Lal, R. and P. F. Reich (2001) Land degradation: an overview, available at: http: //www. soils. usda. gov/use/worldsoils/. . . /land-degradationoverview. ht Ø Global Environment Facility (2003) Operation Program on Sustainable Land Management, available at: www. unccd. int/Lists/Site. Document. Library/. . . 7_2003/annex 2 b. p df Ø Scherr, S. J. and Yadav, S. (1996); Land Degradation in the Developing World: Implications for Food, Agriculture, and the Environment to 2020, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, D. C, available at: http: //www. pdf. usaid. gov/pdf_docs/PNABY 622. pdf Talensi-Nabdam District Assembly (2010) Draft Strategic Environmental Report for the District Medium Term Development Plan under the Ghana Shered Growth and Development Agenda 2010 -2013, available at: http: //www. ghana. gov. gh/. . . /1455 -district-to-review-mediumterm- Ø

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