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1 Jan 2025

Ghana Grapples with Deforestation: A Look at the Impact on Tree Cover
Ghana Grapples with Deforestation: A Look at the Impact on Tree Cover

Ghana has experienced significant changes in its tree cover over the years. With an area of approximately 23.80 million hectares, the country has a tree cover extent of nearly 7 million hectares. However, the nation has faced a net loss in tree cover, which has seen a decrease of 5.09% due to various factors, primarily shifting agriculture.

Shifting agriculture has been the predominant driver of tree cover loss, accounting for the vast majority of the hectares lost over the years. Urbanization, while contributing to the loss, remains a relatively minor factor in comparison. The impact of these losses is not just limited to the reduction in tree cover but also to the significant amount of gross emissions of CO2 equivalent, which has been steadily increasing.

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The latest incident data from 2025-01-01 indicates a fire alert in the Northern Region of Ghana, adding to the challenges faced by the country in managing its natural resources. Although the number of incidents is low, the consistent trend of tree cover loss over the years suggests a need for closer attention to the environmental changes occurring in the region.

The net change in tree cover reveals that while there have been gains and areas of stability, the losses and disturbances have led to an overall decline. This trend highlights the importance of sustainable land management practices to mitigate the negative impacts on Ghana's environment.

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