Analysis of the Social-Ecological Causes of Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Ghana: Application of the DPSIR Framework

Globally, forests provide several functions and services to support humans’ well-being the mitigation of greenhouse gases (GHGs). The that enable forest-dependent people communities meet their livelihood needs well-being. Nevertheless, world’s face a twin environmental problem deforestation forest degradation (D&FD), resulting in ubiquitous depletion biodiversity ecosystem eventual loss cover. Ghana, like any tropical developing country, is not immune these human-caused D&FD. This paper reviews Ghana’s D&FD driven by plethora pressures, despite many policies interventions ensure sustainable management use. review important as Ghana experiencing an annual rate 2%, equivalent 135,000 hectares Although some studies have focused on causes Ghana’ forests, they failed show chain causal links drivers cause fills knowledge practice gap adopting Driver-Pressures-State-Impacts-Responses (DPSIR) analytical framework analyse literature-based sources Ghana. Specifically, analysis identified agriculture expansion, cocoa farming illegal logging, mining, population growth policy failures lapses key study uses DPSIR lead country’s highlights numerous required reverse halt perpetual trend Similar countries will find most useful curtail menace.