Analysis of the relationship between forest patch degradation, land uses, and terrain variables in a protected landscape in Ghana

Abstract

Due to the implications of deforestation on global climate and environmental changes, concerns for forest patch degradation have grown in recent times. Recent studies have concentrated on assessing general land use and land cover changes, but in this study, we are interested in modeling the association between degraded patches of forest cover, land uses, and landscape's terrain characteristics. We use methods from landscape ecology, remote sensing, geo-information systems, and statistics to predict the association between degraded forest patches and related factors. Our findings show that forest patches within 1 km from agricultural land use are more likely to be degraded (AOR = 1.42, C.I. = 1.141–1.760, p = 0.002). Similarly, our results further reveal that forest patches within 1 km from human settlement footprints have a higher likelihood of being degraded (AOR = 1.38, C.I. = 1.083–1.768, p = 0.009). Our results demonstrate a need for the creation and enforcement of sound land use planning and management strategies that would adequately protect forest patches from the influence of agricultural land use and human settlement development.