Publications by authors named "Dorcas Peggy Somuah"
This study examines the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) between Ghana and the European Union (EU) within the Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade Initiative (FLEGT). The VPA aims to enhance forest governance, reduce deforestation, combat illegal practices, and improve livelihoods of forest fringe communities. The research focuses on the implementation of social responsibility agreements (SRAs) under the VPA framework and identifies factors contributing to their success or presenting challenges.
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- The study analyzes land use and land cover changes in the Owabi catchment in Ghana from 1991 to 2021, highlighting a significant loss of high-density forests and an increase in built-up areas.
- The research utilized remote sensing, GIS, and participatory methods involving 200 participants, revealing that human activities, driven by demand for housing and trade, are main contributors to biodiversity loss in the region.
- The paper recommends stricter measures from various stakeholders, including government agencies, to protect remaining forests and monitor ongoing LULC changes in the community.
Although deforestation rates are declining, protected forest areas remain under threat. While the importance of spatialized ('mapped') community knowledge for conservation planning is acknowledged in scientific literature, the integration of such knowledge in forest governance and conservation planning remains scarce, particularly in Ghana. This paper aims to make clear how participatory spatial knowledge tools and geographic information systems can be used to assess the threats to forest conservation in Ghana's high forest zone.
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