The main objective of this research is to assess the extent to which urbanization is impacting vegetation in Accra Metropolis from 2002, 2008 and 2020.
There has been a rapid urbanization growth in Ghana, according to the Ghana Statistical Service there has been an increase in the urban population from about 23% in 1960 to about approximately 44% in 2000 and there has been a further increase to about 50% in the year 2010. This abrupt change in population signifies an increase in the urban settlement.
Inevitably, urbanization is seen as an outcome of economic growth and increase in population growth. An increase in these factors exert external problems on the land cover. This increase has led to the depletion of vegetation, pollution of water bodies and poor sanitation in Ghana. The development of Ghana has neglected the long term impact of urban expansion on vegetation. Accra is noted to be an economic centre dominated by the buying and selling of goods and services on open streets. This threatens the green pastures in the city centres.
Table of Contents
1.0 CHAPTER ONE
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Problem Statement
1.3 Research Objectives
1.4 Research Questions
1.5 Organization of the study
2.0 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Urban Vegetation act as Carbon Sink
2.3 Urban Vegetation as Urban Air Filtering
2.4 Urban Vegetation Influence Air Temperatures
3.0 CHAPTER THREE: STUDY AREA AND METHODOLOGY
3.1 STUDY AREA
3.2 Secondary Data Type
3.3 Data Source
3.4 Data Pre‐processing
3.5 Layerstacking
3.6 Data Processing and Analysis
4.0 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS
4.1 Vegetation Cover
4.2 Proportion of Available Land Cover
4.3 Statistical Change Analysis of Vegetation and Urban Areas
5.0 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1 Conclusion
5.2 Recommendation
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary aim of this research is to evaluate the impact of rapid urbanization on vegetation cover within the Accra Metropolis across the periods of 2002, 2008, and 2020 through the application of remote sensing technologies.
- Analysis of land cover changes in the Accra Metropolis over an eighteen-year timeframe.
- Evaluation of the correlation between urban population growth and vegetative loss.
- Utilization of Landsat satellite imagery for longitudinal environmental monitoring.
- Assessment of the ecological consequences of urban sprawl on local climate and environmental quality.
- Development of recommendations for sustainable urban planning and green space integration.
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1.1 Introduction
Urban communities are growing economically by providing vast opportunities for several developing countries across the world. Urban growth and development has led to an increase in social service infrastructural development including basic health facilities, educational infrastructures, accessibility to portable drinking water, improved and enhanced transport systems connecting urban centres to peripheral communities (Desa, 2014). All of these infrastructures are necessary for commercial, economic and social development. Despite the essence of urban development and growth, studies have shown that, current development settings and patterns have contributed to the disruption of vegetation, soil, and water bodies (Gillis et al., 2001). The disruption of the natural surface is as a result of the increasing population in order to create available spaces to absorb the human population. According to (Rodriguez et al., 2007), it is projected that, there will be about 20% increase in population with almost about 470 million population residing in about 143 urban centres across West Africa who will further cause more destruction to vegetation.
The role of vegetation in the urban has been down played or overlooked, currently several institutions have agitated for urban gardening and greening. Urban vegetation is essential to sustainability, water conservation, animal habitat, and urban planning processes of a given city. Vegetation in the urban crescent helps promote in trapping infrared energy, serves as shades during hot sunny days, promote air circulation and also promote water conservations and city beautification. In view of these essential beneficiaries of urban vegetation, it is therefore important to incorporate vegetation growth and development in urban planning. The developing countries are expanding their cities without incorporating urban vegetation growth and development as compared to the advanced worlds who have better understanding of the essential of urban vegetation growth. Indeed, our cities need trees and water, actually, nothing less.
Summary of Chapters
1.0 CHAPTER ONE: Introduces the background of rapid urban growth in developing countries and defines the specific research objectives and questions regarding vegetation loss in the Accra Metropolis.
2.0 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW: Discusses the theoretical importance of urban vegetation as a carbon sink, air filter, and its role in modulating local microclimates.
3.0 CHAPTER THREE: STUDY AREA AND METHODOLOGY: Details the satellite data acquisition, remote sensing preprocessing techniques, and the maximum likelihood classification method used to analyze the study area.
4.0 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS: Presents the statistical findings and visual maps demonstrating the decline of vegetation and the simultaneous expansion of urban built-up areas between 2002 and 2020.
5.0 CHAPTER FIVE: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Concludes that unchecked industrialization has caused significant vegetative loss and suggests the adoption of sustainable green policies for future urban development.
Keywords
Urbanization, Accra Metropolis, Vegetation Cover, Remote Sensing, Landsat, Land Use Change, Carbon Sink, Urban Planning, Environmental Sustainability, Satellite Imagery, Air Temperature, Urban Growth, Ecological Impact, Deforestation, GIS
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on quantifying the loss of green vegetation in the Accra Metropolis due to rapid urbanization and the associated environmental impacts from 2002 to 2020.
What are the primary themes explored by the author?
The key themes include the socio-economic drivers of urban expansion, the ecological functions of urban vegetation, satellite-based change detection, and the necessity of incorporating green spaces into urban infrastructure.
What is the main research objective?
The objective is to calculate the extent of vegetative change in the Accra Metropolis over three distinct time intervals and to estimate the direct impact of urban sprawl on land cover.
Which methodology is employed in the study?
The study utilizes remote sensing, specifically processing Landsat 7 ETM+ satellite imagery through ENVI 5.0 software using a supervised maximum likelihood classification approach.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers a literature review on urban ecosystem services, a detailed methodology for spatial data analysis, and the presentation of results showing land cover trends and their statistical significance.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The work is characterized by terms such as Urbanization, Remote Sensing, Landsat, Accra Metropolis, Vegetation Cover, and Environmental Sustainability.
What specific role did Landsat data play in this research?
Landsat data provided the multispectral satellite imagery necessary to identify and classify land use types like urban areas, vegetation, soils, and water over nearly two decades.
What is the author's primary conclusion regarding Accra?
The author concludes that 21st-century industrialization and urban expansion have drastically reduced vegetative cover, leading to increased urban heat islands and reduced air quality in the metropolitan area.
- Quote paper
- Prince Boateng (Author), 2020, The Impact of Urbanization on Vegetation in Accra Metropolis, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1245141
