global warming: maintaining our ecosystem
DESCRIPTION
The cumulative effect of the volume of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere annually from clearing and burning of forests in Ghana over the last century has surely had devastating effects on the world's climate. when forest are burnt, the carbon stored in trees are released into the atmosphere via carbon dioxide gas coming from the burning of biomass. TARGET AUDIENCE The target audiences are policy makers, farmers and citizens of Ghana who are directly connected in one way or the other with deforestation. The impact of climate change in Ghana is becoming more and more felt especially as the deforestation is concerned. On can effectively say the rainfall in Ghana is seriously affected thus agriculture sector production which is cause the construction of irrigation systems to support it.TRANSCRIPT
Clear More ForestCause More Climate Change
Overall, the world's forest ecosystems are estimated to store more carbon than the entire atmosphere(Greenfacts, 2007).
Daya Tete Lacle
Turn Down The Heat
By acting now, acting together and acting differently, we will be able to transition to a low emissions, climate resilient development path and hold warming below 2°C.
Source: WDR 2010: Development and Climate Change
Clearing More Forest Will Cause More Climate Change...
Clearing More Forest
Cause More
Climate Change
Deforestation in Ghana has undoubtedly had an effect
on greenhouse gas emission contributions from
Ghana. The cumulative effect of the volume of carbon
dioxide emitted into the atmosphere annually from
clearing and burning of forests in Ghana over the last
century has surely had devastating effects on the
world's climate. when forest are burnt, the carbon
stored in trees are released into the atmosphere via
carbon dioxide gas coming from the burning of
biomass.
When our forest are allowed to stand, carbon is
removed from the atmosphere and absorbed in
wood, leaves and soil. Due to the ability of forests
to absorb and store carbon over an extended
period of time, they serve as “carbon sinks”. In
effect, when forests are removed, this unique role
that they play to keep carbon dioxide
concentrations in the atmosphere at normal levels
is lost and rather the carbon stored in them is
released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide
gas, upon burning. Overall, the world's forest
ecosystems are estimated to store more carbon than the
entire atmosphere (Greenfacts, 2007).
From 1990 to 2000 and to 2004, carbon dioxide emissions in
Ghana have increased steadily from 0.2419 to 0.3075 and to
0.326 metric tonnes per capita, respectively (UNEP, 2008). This
is not surprising considering the deforestation rate and how
“slash and burn” method of farmland preparation is widely
practised all over Ghana. Unfortunately, as we contribute to
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climate change through deforestation, Climate change will in turn affect the remaining forests
profoundly through increasing damage to forest health through proliferation of forest fires, pests
and diseases (FAO, 2007).
Unfortunately, both the “1948 Forest Policy” and the “1994 Forest and Wildlife Policy” had no real
policy direction on climate change. Let's assume that at the time these policies were developed.
climate change was not a 'major issue'. This means at it stands now these policies can not help in
mitigation and/or adaptation to climate change which is a major environmental issue. At this
juncture, I think a review of Ghana's forest and wildlife policy is long overdue
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