Ecosystem Services Derived by Farmers from Savannah Woodlands in Northern Ghana

There are limited local level studies on all four categories of ecosystem services in Sub-Saharan Africa, which limits knowledge on the influence these services on the well-being of the population studied. The over-reliance on the woodland ecosystem as a result of climate change in Sub-Saharan Africa has led to increased risk of desertification. Improved understanding of the influence of climate change on ecosystem services and local level changes in land use land cover, as well as the value placed on woodlands by local farmers will influence climate change adaptation and poverty alleviation efforts in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study generally sought to assess the benefits smallholder farmers derive from the woodland. It identified the household factors influencing access to different types of woodlands in the Nandom District as well as off-farm adaptation practices that influenced the economic wellbeing of smallholder farming households. The study also examined the relationship between knowledge of climate change and management practices employed by farmers to conserve the woodland. Additionally, the study identified shifts in land use and land cover in the district and assessed willingness to pay for the conservation of the woodlands. Lastly, the study assessed the decomposition of leaves of four common woodland species and their nutrients remaining. Four different research methods were employed due to the multi-disciplinary design, these were the Geographical Information System (GIS) approach, cross-sectional survey, contingent valuation method and leaf litterbag experiment. Land use land cover changes for Nandom district, the study area, were estimated using satellite imageries for 1986, 2001 and 2017. The cross-sectional survey and contingent valuation method involved 303 farming households. Four dominant woodland species, Parkia biglobosa, Vitelleria paradoxa, Cordia myxa and Lannea microcarpa were used for leaf litterbag experiment conducted from May to October of 2017. The results showed a decrease in dense woodland cover by (30%) and area under cultivation (2%), and increase in built environment (9%) over the period 1986 to 2017. The introduction of community laws in the Nandom District in 1985 contributed to the increase in dense woodland cover from 1986 to 2001 (20% increase). The modification of these laws and changes in local level dynamics led to the sharp decrease (42%) in dense woodland cover from 2001 to 2017. Household factors variably influence access to different categories of woodlands identified in the study area- reserve woodland, community woodland and family owned plantation. Sub-district (ρ = 0.002), settlement type (ρ < 0.001), ownership of agricultural land (ρ = 0.020) and bicycle (ρ = 0.017) were associated with access to community woodlands. Ninety-four percent, four percent and two percent of households prefer to contribute farm produce, cash and manpower respectively for woodland conservation in the district. Household minimum and maximum willingness-to-pay (WTP) median values, were 9.50 Ghana cedis ($2.15) and 20.00 Ghana cedis ($4.53) respectively. There was no difference in minimum WTP (ρ = 0.733) and maximum WTP (ρ = 0.725) in choice of conservation strategies- preservation, restoration or both. Results for the litter bag experiment showed C. myxa (0.803 g/g/day) as the fastest decomposing species followed by P. biglobosa (0.784 g/g/day), L. microcarpa (0.77g/g/day) and V. paradoxa (0.544 g/g/day). The same pattern applies to the initial nitrogen content of the species and could therefore be used by smallholder farmers as fertilizers trees or for composting. Households depended on multiple sources of woodland such as community or reserve woodland and family plantation for livelihood opportunities. Community laws play a significant role in preventing loss of woodland cover when well enforced by community chiefs, NGO and the District Assembly. Joint policies and programmes from NGO, Forestry commission, community leaders and the District Assembly to empower communities to use and manage resources are required to promote woodland conservation for sustainable use.