Multi-Level Land Cover Change Analysis in the Forest-Savannah Transition Zone of the Kintampo Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

Change detection Multi-level analysis Land cover Forest-Savannah Ghana KeywordsThis study presents a multi-level analysis of land cover change in the Kintampo Municipality of Ghana using Landsat TM, ETM + and Landsat 8 images from 1986, 2001 and 2014, respectively. The expected and observed annual rates of land cover change for the periods 1986 to 2001 and 2001 to 2014 were analyzed at temporal and intra and inter-land cover levels using post-classification change detection. The results reveal that the expected annual rate of land cover change for the time intervals is 2.55 %. The observed annual rate of change from 2001 to 2014 is 2.63 %, which is greater than the expected value. This shows that land cover changed faster than expected in this period. The observed intra-land cover gains and losses for woodland is 2.49 % which is less than expected for the change periods. This suggests that the observed gain and loss in woodlands are attributable to random changes. The inter-land cover level changes for both periods reveal that when woodland gained or lost, it did not target shrub/grassland. This shows that the process of gain or loss in woodland in both periods was random. This is an indication that woodland cover is sustained by a slow, natural regeneration process and not by anthropogenic activities. The findings highlight the relevance of multilevel land cover analysis in land cover assessment. The temporal level highlights the need to relate changes in land cover to anthropogenic activities for a better understanding of the changes. The study also revealed that multi-level land cover analysis can facilitate management decisions on whether to reduce loss in woodland or increase gain in woodland cover from shrub land.Land cover change arises from both natural and anthropogenic causes. In general, the former is progressive and gradual while the latter is often rapid and sudden due to increasing population pressure The objective of this study is to assess the temporal, intra and inter-land cover transitions in the Kintampo Municipality of Ghana for the period between 1986 and 2014. The Municipality is known for commercial charcoal production and farming in Ghana [24]. Woodland degradation in the Municipality is largely attributed to commercial charcoal production and farming [24]. Therefore, increasing charcoal production and farming activities is currently exerting undue pressure on the already stressed woodlands [25]. As observed in a similar charcoal producing and farming community, charcoal production and farming have dictated and continue to dictate the state of land cover due to economic desperation and a need to meet immediate income needs [26]. This raises questions about changes in land cover over time in the municipality.Thus, assessment of temporal, intra and inter-land cover change is relevant for identifying the interval within which these changes are fast, the land cover types that are gaining or losing more than what is expected under a random process of change, the sources and destinations of th...

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