Ecological responses to anthropogenic stress: Restoring degraded landscapes from galamsey activities in Ghana – A review

Illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) in Ghana has caused severe ecological degradation, including deforestation, soil depletion, biodiversity loss, and water contamination. This review synthesizes existing literature on the environmental impacts of galamsey and evaluates restoration strategies employed in affected landscapes such as the Atewa Range and Offin River Basin. Using a systematic narrative review methodology, peer-reviewed articles, government reports, and grey literature were analyzed to assess degradation patterns, restoration interventions, and implementation challenges. Empirical findings indicate that major rivers, including the Pra and Ankobra, are heavily polluted with mercury and cyanide, exceeding WHO safety limits. Deforestation rates in mining zones have significantly reduced carbon sequestration, contributing to climate vulnerability. Restoration strategies—such as afforestation, biochar application, and phytoremediation—have had mixed success due to weak policy enforcement, financial constraints, and low community engagement. The novelty of this study lies in its integration of global best practices, such as China's policy-driven land reclamation and Brazil's agroforestry-based restoration, into a localized framework for sustainable rehabilitation in Ghana. The findings emphasize the need for adaptive restoration techniques, stronger regulatory mechanisms, and community-inclusive approaches to enhance ecological resilience. Limitations include the reliance on secondary data, highlighting the need for field-based validation of restoration outcomes. Future research should explore long-term ecological monitoring and innovative restoration models specific to Ghana’s socio-environmental conditions.