International Journal of
Biodiversity and Conservation

  • Abbreviation: Int. J. Biodivers. Conserv.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-243X
  • DOI: 10.5897/IJBC
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 679

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of human activities in and around protected areas (PAs): Case of Kakum conservation area in Ghana

Joseph K. Binlinla*
  • Joseph K. Binlinla*
  • Wildlife Division of Forestry Commission, Kyabobo National Park, P.O. BOX 65, Nkwanta, Ghana.
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Alexey Voinov
  • Alexey Voinov
  • Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC),University of Twente., The Netherlands.
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William Oduro
  • William Oduro
  • Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
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  •  Received: 07 February 2014
  •  Accepted: 16 April 2014
  •  Published: 30 July 2014

Abstract

This study was conducted around Kakum Conservation Area (KCA) to investigate the effect of human activities in 5 km belt of KCA on the ecological functioning and conservation of the PA, as well as effect of KCA on local livelihood. Supervised classification of multi-spectral ASTER imagery was used to determine land-use/cover types in the study area. Open ended questionnaires, group discussions and key informant interviews were conducted among 120 respondents from 40 sampled communities. Classification of the ASTER imagery provided a description of the dominant human activities around KCA. Regression analysis showed that distance was 20% responsible for variance in illegal activities in the PA. Correlation analysis further showed a positive but insignificant relationship between the size of population in communities and illegal activities in KCA. The major impact was from elephant raiding, whereas loss of access to important natural resources was considered as the other significant stressor.

Key words: Ecological functioning, conservation, fringe communities, imagery, classification, illegal activities, land-use/cover types, livelihood.

Copyright © 2024 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.

This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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