By

Peter Dok Tindan*Divine Odame Appiah

Land Degradation and Economic Activities: Linkages and Impacts in the Talensi-Nabdam District (TND),

Ghana

Outline of presentation Introduction Problem in context Theoretical basis of study Research methods Results and Discussions Conclusion Recommendations References

IntroductionSound and sustainable environmental

management is a great challenge in this 21st century (Gausset and Whyte, 2005).

Land degradation is variedly understood (Eswaran et al., 2001; Adams, 2009).

Conventionally, argued as “decline in productivity of land” (Scherr and Yadav, 1996; Abass, 2007; UNEP, 2007).

Introduction cont’d

Land degradation has affected economic activities worldwide (Global Environment Facility, 2003).

Human economic activities are also argued to have caused decline in land quality (Eswaran et al., 2001).

We explore this complex interrelationship between land degradation and economic activities in the Talensi-Nabdam District.

Problem statement

Land degradation is a social, economic and environmental problem in TND (Adams, 2009).

It is a real challenge in TND, because of the fragility of the environment and the connection with human economic activities (TNDA, 2010; UNEP)

Economic activities in rural districts are predicated on natural resources, land, (Mayers and Vermeulen, 2002; TEEB 2010), Our operational connotation of economic activities “predominant primary economic activities, are livelihoods and economic gain in study area”.

Problem statement cont’dagriculture; wood fuel production;

hunting; illegal mining (galamsey); gravel and sand wining, amongst others.

Though extraction is important for human survival and maintenance, the increased human footprints (McCarthy, 2009), particularly land degradation is a call for greater concern (TNDA, 2010).

Theoretical basis of the study The complex interrelationships between

environment, economy and society (Adams, 2009).

Malthusian theory, increased population (human activities) for the demise of natural resource (Gausset and Whyte, 2005).

land degradation

Human activities

Environment Economy

Society

Research methods (profile of study area)

Research methods cont’d The cross-sectional design (Bryman, 2008). Mixed research strategy (triangulation) Both primary and secondary data types A purposive sample of 140 household pre-

coded questionnaires in communities Ten (10) Semi-structured interviews for

district dept. of Food and Agriculture (MOFA quantitative data analyzing (SPSS) and

qualitative data, thematically (inferential and descriptive statistics).

Results and Discussions Perception of Land degradation in Talensi-

Nabdam

Table 1Extent of land degradation

Source: Fieldwork, 2011

The severity, impact and prediction of Land degradation debated (Eswaran et al., 2001), this is true in TND. That notwithstanding,

Extent of degradation

Percent (%)

Very severe degradation

50

Severe degradation 48

No or less severe degradation

2

Results and Discussions cont’d The perception of land degradation is

highly linked with processes driven by the major land use types (economic activities) in the locality.

Source: Fieldwork, 2011

Types of Land use N=140

Percent

Crop farming 103 74Rearing of livestock 18 12Wood fuel production

8 6

Hunting 4 3Others 7 5Total   100

Results and discussion cont’d

Source: Fieldwork 2011

Invariably, it is conclusive that, land degradation is directly linked with primary economic activities, (UNEP, 2007).

Major causes of land degradation

N= 140 Percentage

distribution

Bush burning 62 44Deforestation 32 24Soil erosion 30 21Bad farming practice

12 9

Others 2 2TOTAL   100

Table 4.1 Major processes of land degradation

Pictures

Results and discussions cont’d

Impacts: Loss of soil fertility affecting crop yield.

Table 4.3 Cultivated areas against crop yield

Source: Department of Food and Agriculture (MOFA, Talensi-Nabdam District)

Commodity type

Cultivated area (Ha) Yield (MT/Ha)

2007 2008 2009 2010 2007 2008 2009 2010

Maize 429 1764 4718 1973 0.96 1.6 1.2 1.30

Rice 828 1398 2033 1866 1.28 4.5 4.0 3.1

Millet 1591 3205 5063 1879 0.47 1.0 0.7 0.4

Sorghum

4482 7866 5164 3044 0.59 1.1 1.1 1.0

Soya bean

1021 864 1912 1199 0.33 0.8 1.0 1.1

Groundnut

4610 3927 2797 4294 0.58 1.2 0.8 0.8

Results and discussions cont’d Low economic development; agriculture

contributes 75% of LGDP (TNDA, 2010)- increased poverty and probably cause enhanced degradation

Lal (1999) 75 billion loss of soil and nutrient cost the world $400 billion per year.

Loss of surface cover (trees and grasses), economic trees like the Shea butter (Vitellaria paradoxa); Dawadawa, Baobab (Andansonia digitata) and Acacia sp.; Neem (Azadirachta indica) in the district.

Results and discussions cont’d Compounds nutrients loss hence

more dryness of the land (Waugh, 2005; Getis et al., 2005).

Increased money cost and time of household energy supply (TNDA, 2010).

Changes and/or variation in local climate, (TEEB, 2010).

Conclusions The land in TND is highly degraded

and there is high incidence of continual degradation- loss of soil fertility and visual degradation

Degrading processes are linked with primary economic activities; livelihoods and economic development.

Loss of land and it resources will have greater implications for sustainable development efforts in the district.

Recommendations Appropriate application of organic

manure and fertilizers, to restore loss and also prevent the depletion of soil nutrients.

Diversification of livelihoods; agro-forestry.

Foster effective licensing for illegal mining; gravel and sand wining.

Collaborative efforts on sustainable land use at community level.

Some references

Eswaran, H., Lal, R. and P.F. Reich (2001) Land degradation: an overview, available at: http://www.soils.usda.gov/use/worldsoils/.../land-degradation-overview.ht

Global Environment Facility (2003) Operation Program on Sustainable Land Management, available at: www.unccd.int/Lists/SiteDocumentLibrary/...7_2003/annex2b.pdf

Scherr, S. J. and Yadav, S. (1996); Land Degradation in the Developing World: Implications for Food, Agriculture, and the Environment to 2020, International Food Policy Research Institute, Washington, D.C, available at: http://www.pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNABY622.pdf

Talensi-Nabdam District Assembly (2010) Draft Strategic Environmental Report for the District Medium Term Development Plan under the Ghana Shered Growth and Development Agenda 2010-2013, available at:

http://www.ghana.gov.gh/.../1455-district-to-review-medium-term-

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!

Hmmm, is sustainable environment management possible in the light of increasing poverty?