Effects of hydroelectric dam construction on spatio-temporal changes of land use land cover in Bui National Park, Ghana

Abstract

Over the years, construction of hydroelectric dams has become part of the several initiatives to provide solution for the high demand of electricity in most countries. However, the construction of hydroelectric dams in forest reserves has become a matter of concern for policy and decision makers as well as biodiversity conservationists. Visibly among which is the potential to cause changes in land cover and subsequently affect fauna and flora composition. We analyzed the spatial-temporal changes of land use and cover in the Bui National Park using indices calculations of the landscape based on land cover maps obtained from Landsat satellite images at ten years intervals from 2000 – 2020. Land use indices calculation was done to assess the effects of pre-and post-dam construction. We found significant changes in land cover following the dam construction, notably, the built-up areas and water body, which recorded an increase of 315.64% and 4593.43% respectively due to the impoundment from 2010-2020, while the forest and grassland decreased. The largest size of land conversion during the study was from open forest to grassland. Increased human activities such as illegal mining, indiscriminate tree fell, uncontrolled cattle grazing and charcoal production within the reserve as a result of the dam construction could likely compound the changes in land cover.

Synthesizing environmental, epidemiological and vector and parasite genetic data to assist decision making for disease elimination

“…A composite resistance surface map was prepared, which showed high resistance around the western parts of the study area, which are characterized by low soil moisture (i.e. Bui National Park in the west, a woodland Savannah zone (Bempah & Boama, 2021)) and higher elevation. The areas around Lake Volta also have high resistance.…”

Synthesising environmental, epidemiological, and genetic data to assist decision making for onchocerciasis elimination

“…The resistance to gene flow was lowest (< 30% of the total resistance) in areas with an elevation range of 90-150 m and in areas with soil moisture of 60-190 mm (Figure 5). A composite resistance surface map was prepared, which showed high resistance around the western parts of the study area, which are characterised by low soil moisture (i.e., Bui National Park in the west, a woodland Savannah zone [96]) and higher elevation. The areas around Lake Volta also have high resistance.…”