This article empirically explores the environmental impact of agricultural, residential and commercial land uses in the Bawku municipality.
Questionnaires, researcher’s observation, individual and group Interviews as well as focus group discussions were the survey instruments used to collect the primary data for the study from 150 respondents comprising farmers, home builders, hunters, shop keepers and stakeholders.
The study established that most of the inhabitants questioned - 147 or 98% - are not aware of the necessity of environmental permission for a certain size and quantity of land uses. The study also established that nearly all the inhabitants did not understand the negative environmental impact of their land use activities. The study also attributed the unhealthy environmental practices of the inhabitants to indiscipline on the part of the land users.
The study identified that the negative environmental impact of the various land uses included threat to the ecosystem, depletion of the ozone layer, destruction of rare plant, tree and aquatic species and the general extinction of some rare plant and tree species. The resulting social and economic effect of the environmental destruction included threat to human survival, drought, harsh weather and climatic conditions and health related problems.
In response to the causes of the unhealthy environmental practices, the study accordingly presents a number of recommendations including creating awareness of the need to acquire an environmental permit before commencing particular land uses and educating the inhabitants on the need to conserve the environment.
Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS
3.0 PROFILING THE STUDY AREA
4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
4.1 Bio-Data of the Respondents
4.2 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DEMOGRAPHIC FEATURES AND STATUS OF ENVIRONMENTAL PERMIT AWARENESS
4.2.1 Location, Educational Status and Gender of the Respondents and Status of Environmental Permit Awareness
4.3 Stakeholders’ perspective of the Causes of the environmentally undisciplined Activities
4.4 THE ASSOCIATED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF THE VARIOUS LAND USES
4.4.1 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FROM AGRICULTURE LAND USES
4.4.2 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FROM RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT
4.4.3 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF COMMERCIAL LAND USES
5.0 THE REFLECTIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION
6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this research is to empirically investigate the negative environmental impacts resulting from agricultural, residential, and commercial land uses within the Bawku Municipality, while examining the underlying socioeconomic factors and the lack of regulatory awareness among inhabitants.
- Empirical analysis of environmental degradation caused by major land use activities.
- Assessment of the inhabitants' level of awareness regarding environmental permit regulations.
- Examination of socioeconomic drivers such as poverty, unemployment, and chieftaincy disputes affecting land use.
- Identification of social and economic consequences of environmental destruction, including health risks and desertification.
- Provision of policy interventions and practical recommendations for local government implementation.
Excerpt from the Book
4.4.1 THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT FROM AGRICULTURE LAND USES
The unsustainable use of the land for agriculture is driving land degradation. This degradation of the land lead to the substantial loss of biodiversity in the municipal leading to threat plants and animals habitat, society and food security. The long term effect of this that land degradation impacts difficult or impossible to recover due to a neglect which lead to a cumulative addition to a long historical legacy of degradation.
The clearing of the trees without corresponding replacement leads to deforestation, desertification and the consequent depletion of the ozone layer. Because the area has two seasons comprising a long dry season and a short rainy season, when the trees are fell, the action of the winds increases desertification of the affected area. Sometimes, the farmers engage the expertise of the chain-saw operators to cut down rare species of trees just to provide space for farming. This has particularly threatened a number of rare species. When the trees are also fell, the carbon dioxide (CO2) content increases and when it attacks the ozone on a global scale, it depletes the layer.
In addition to the above, most farmers as part of their farming practices often burn the bush to hunt for games or undertake charcoal farming this expedite the depletion of the ozone layer as a result of the release of carbon mono-oxide. The chemical equation below best explains the effect of burning to the environment.
Summary of Chapters
1.0 INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides an overview of global land use issues and highlights the specific environmental degradation challenges currently faced by the Bawku Municipality.
2.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND MATERIALS: This section details the case study research design, covering the sampling techniques, data collection instruments (questionnaires and interviews), and the analytical methods used for the 150 respondents.
3.0 PROFILING THE STUDY AREA: This chapter describes the geographical, demographic, and climatic characteristics of the Bawku Municipal District to provide context for the study.
4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS: This comprehensive section presents the analyzed data regarding respondent demographics, the lack of awareness of environmental permits, and the specific environmental impacts associated with agriculture, residential development, and commercial land uses.
5.0 THE REFLECTIVE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL DESTRUCTION: This chapter explores the broader consequences of land misuse, including health threats, desertification, and the links between environmental damage and increased local poverty.
6.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The final chapter summarizes the research findings and proposes actionable policy recommendations for local authorities to curb environmental destruction.
Keywords
Negative Environmental Impact, Major Land Uses, Empirical Investigation, Bawku Municipality, Land Degradation, Environmental Permit, Biodiversity Loss, Deforestation, Sustainability, Socioeconomic Effects, Land Use Planning, Agricultural Practices, Residential Development, Environmental Awareness, Ecosystem Conservation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this study?
The study focuses on empirically exploring the negative environmental impacts of agricultural, residential, and commercial land uses within the Bawku Municipality in Northern Ghana.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Central themes include the environmental consequences of land use, the role of human activity in biodiversity loss, the lack of regulatory awareness among the local population, and the socio-economic drivers behind destructive land practices.
What is the core research objective?
The objective is to identify the critical environmental impacts of current land use practices and to propose practical policy interventions at the local government level to mitigate these issues.
Which scientific methods were employed?
The research utilized a case study design, employing a mixture of quantitative and qualitative data collection through questionnaires, individual interviews, focus group discussions, and researcher observation.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the demographic profile of respondents, the relationship between socio-economic status and environmental awareness, the causes of environmentally undisciplined activities, and detailed impacts of agriculture, housing, and commercial sectors.
Which keywords characterize this research?
Key terms include Negative Environmental Impact, Major Land Uses, Empirical Investigation, Land Degradation, and Biodiversity Loss, among others related to environmental sustainability in the region.
How does poverty influence environmental destruction in the Bawku Municipality?
Poverty is identified as a major driver, as inhabitants engage in charcoal burning and deforestation as survival mechanisms due to lack of alternative employment, a situation worsened by historical chieftaincy disputes.
What role does the local government play according to the research findings?
The research concludes that the local government has failed in the enforcement of planning permissions and in raising awareness, and it recommends that authorities take a more proactive role in educating the public and enforcing environmental regulations.
- Citar trabajo
- Bsc. Wuni Ibrahim Yahaya (Autor), 2016, Major Land Uses and Associated Negative Environmental Impact. An Empirical Investigation in the Bawku Municipality, Ghana, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/341711
