Analysis of Trends in Land Utilization and Land Cover Dynamics in the Kwahu West Municipality, Ghana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36777/jag2024.3.1.6Keywords:
Land Utilization, Land Use Land Cover Change, Trend Detection, Geospatial, Kwahu WestAbstract
The relationship between human activities and the environment has contributed significantly to changes in land use and land cover (LULC). Understanding the magnitude, drivers, and implications of LULC changes is essential for effective sustainable development planning and environmental management. This study aimed to generate LULC maps for Kwahu West Municipality, Ghana, and to detect, quantify, and analyse the spatial and temporal patterns of LULC changes in the area. Remote sensing techniques were employed to assess LULC changes over a 22-year period using Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) imagery from 2001 and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) and Thermal Infrared Sensor (TIRS) imagery from 2015 and 2023. ArcGIS 10.8 and ERDAS Imagine 13 were used for data preprocessing and analysis. The results revealed substantial increases in built-up and bare land between 2001 and 2023. Built-up land increased by 10.675 km² (2%) between 2001 and 2015 and by 18.421 km² (5%) between 2015 and 2023, while the overall increase in bare land was 29.096 km² (7%) over the study period. The findings also revealed significant changes in forest vegetation, which were associated primarily with population growth, urbanisation, and infrastructure development. These LULC changes may contribute to biodiversity loss, land degradation, and water pollution, thereby posing challenges to sustainable environmental management. The study recommends that the Municipal Lands Commission strengthen public education on sustainable land management and facilitate the development and implementation of local planning schemes, particularly in undeveloped and rapidly developing areas. Such measures would help regulate land conversion, protect natural ecosystems, and promote sustainable development within the municipality.
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