FARMER MANAGEMENT OF LAND DEGRADATION: THE CASE OF ASUNAFO NORTH MUNICIPAL AND SOUTH DISTRICTS, GHANA

Abstract

This study was conducted to verify whether conversion of the dense forest cover of Asunafo to cultivated land and other opportunistic land covers has resulted in land degradation. If so, there is the need to enhance the knowledge of how local people, particularly farmers, manage forest land degradation. The aim of the study is to investigate how local people in Asunafo, particularly farmers, manage forest land degradation. The specific objectives included the examination of: 1). the historical background of land cover and land use of the study area, 2). the manifestations of the land degradation, 3). the management strategies used to prevent, restore and mitigate land degradation and 4). the effectiveness of the management strategies of land degradation. In terms of methodology, the study followed a case study approach with great emphasis on triangulation. Primary data collection techniques were community meetings, questionnaire survey, key informant interviews, transect drive, personal observation, farm visits and photography. Secondary data were also gathered from relevant State institutions. The major findings were that: 1 ). there is greater manifestation of biological land degradation than chemical and physical degradation, 2). there is better demonstration of chemical than physical land degradation, 3). there is documentation of 67 indicators of land degradation with 59 (88%) examined in detail, 4 ). farmers use 25 adaptive strategies to manage land degradation and 60% of these strategies show higher benefits than costs, 5). study results are compatible with Driving Forces-Pressures-State- Impact-Responses framework and 6). linkages between poverty and land degradation is shown by socioeconomic indicators of land degradation. The biological degradation is indicated by reduction in forest reserves and secondary or fallow forest by 26.5% (-417,839.4 km2) and 34.6% (-624,630.6 km2), respectively. Presently, grass cover is the dominant land cover type in Asunafo. It increased at about one fold (1,001,507.4 km2) between 1986 and 2003. Chemical