The impact of entrepreneurial activities on the environment

The impact of entrepreneurial activities on the environment in the Upper East Region, Ghana Presented By Dr Z. K. M BATSE DEPARTMENT OF STATISTICS BOLGATANGA POLYTECHNIC 4 th July 2005

BACK GROUND OF THE UPPER EAST REGION n History and location Location: North Eastern part of Ghana. Boundaries: North (Burkina Faso) , West (Upper West Region) , South ( Northern Region) East ( Republic of Togo) History: Carved out of Northern Region In 1960 as Upper Region Split into Upper East and Upper west Regions In 1983.

Natural environment n n n Vegetation Climate Soil Vegetation: Savannah Woodland, short scattered Trees. Climate: Very hot, single Rainy season ( May-Oct) Rainfall erratic spatially And in duration. Long Spell of dry season (Nov to Feb), cold dry dusty Harmattan winds. Soils: Bole=sand, Tanga ( rocks} Bolgatanga

Highlights of Population ( general characteristics) n n Population size 920, 089 Males : 442, 492 Females : 477. 597 About 4. 9% of national population of 19 million. Density is 104 Persons per sq km. Higher than national average of 79. 3 persons

Highlights of Population ( general characteristics) n Population distribution

Highlights of Population ( general characteristics) n Age structure Large dependent population below 15 years. Large potential labour force

Highlights of Population ( general characteristics) n Literacy and school attendance Education not introduced Into the north early , A deliberate colonial policy Literacy and school Attendance levels therefore Very low Three out of every Four persons aged three years And over have never attended School.

Highlights of Population ( general characteristics) Main source of drinking water Pipe borne water and bore hole Water considered safe water. 56% have access to safe water

Highlights of Population ( general characteristics) n Main source of lighting Only about one out of every twelve Households have access to electricity

Highlights of Population ( general characteristics) n Main source of cooking fuel 78. 2% of house holds use firewood Or charcoal

Highlights of Population ( general characteristics) n Toilet facilities Environmental sanitation Is very poor. Three out of Every four households Have no toilet facility

Highlights of Population ( general characteristics) n About 55. 0% dump solid Waste anywhere Solid waste disposal

Highlights of Population ( general characteristics) Liquid waste disposal About 55. 0% pour liquid Waste into the street/gutter Or in the compound.

Main Entrepreneurial Activities n Agriculture, hunting and forestry n n n Farming methods/practices Types of crops farmed Livestock raring (free range)

Main Entrepreneurial Activities Quarrying Large-scale commercial quarrying Small-scale quarrying

small scale mining Large-scale capital intensive mining Small- scale mining ( galamsey)

Entrepreneurial Activities and Environmental Degradation (Vegetation and soil) n Fuel wood harvesting and charcoal manufacturing Extent of use of firewood and charcoal Sources of wood fuel supply

Impact of Fire Wood and Charcoal Reduction in forest canopy Manufacturing Greater threat of fire damage Genetic depletion

Entrepreneurial Activities and Environmental Degradation (Vegetation and soil) n Impact of farming activities Reduction in vegetation Reduction in soil fertility Removal of the top soil

Entrepreneurial Activities and Environmental Degradation (Vegetation and soil) n Impact of small-scale mining: Destruction of Vegetation

Entrepreneurial Activities and Environmental Degradation (Vegetation and soil) n Impact of small-scale mining: Creation of un-reclaimable land

Entrepreneurial Activities and Environmental Degradation (Vegetation and soil) n Impact of quarrying Destruction of vegetation Creation of difficult to Reclaim land areas

Entrepreneurial Activities and Environmental Degradation (Vegetation and soil) n Bush fires

Causes of Bush Fires n n n n Farming methods ( slash and burn) Herdsmen Charcoal production Hunting Honey tapping Cigarette smoking Long distance vehicle drivers Fire festivals

Extent of Bush Fires n n Fifty percent of Ghana’s vegetation cover lost in 1982 -83 dry season 28 major or extensive outbreaks recorded in the Upper East region between December 1995 and may 1996 Fifty percent of vegetation cover destroyed 164 Ha of forest reserves in the region denuded

Impact of bush fires n n n Soil impoverished Increase in wind and water erosion Changes in structure and composition of vegetation Impedes recovery of burnt vegetation Raises surface temperatures at soil level Exasperates food security problems ( 35% of standing crops or stored cereals are lost to bush fires annually)

Re-forestation Programmes n n Navrongo (The Gia/Nabio Agro forestry Development Organization) Bongo (Anti-bush fire education: A Success story)

Summary and conclusion Main factors responsible for vegetation and soil degradation in the Upper East Region can be Attributed to the increased demand for agricultural land, cutting of trees for fuel wood and Charcoal and bush fires. Small scale mining and quarrying have created very intensive Damages in a few uncultivated lands and communities. Tree planting seems to be the way out , but creates monocultures.