An assessment of Ghana’s preparedness to meet the deforestation target under the Millennium Development Goal 7

Date

2010-04

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Abstract

Due to the quest to attain economic development, Ghana is rapidly developing but this has come at the expense of natural resources in the country. Ghana has lost majority of its forests due to agricultural activities, mining and lumbering. There is a school of thought that are of the opinion that forests are essential for the mitigation of climate change. Due to the severity of the negative effects of climate change such as change in rainfall patterns and increase droughts, there has been rallying calls to reduce deforestation all over the world; as a result reducing deforestation is one of the targets under the goal on environmental sustainability for the Millennium Development Goals. This study assesses Ghana's readiness to meet the deforestation goal under the MDG on environmental sustainability, MDG 7. The study analyzed data on the Ghana's deforestation rates from 1990 to 2007 alongside information from government agencies and programmes or interventions are taking place to reduce deforestation in the country. The forest transition theory influenced the method for study; the study states that development has an effect on deforestation and therefore the need to manage forests sustainably. The study concluded that Ghana cannot meet the deforestation target by 2015 but can meet the target of at least 35% of land covered by forests on a later date. It also recommended a study that would develop a formula to predict the rate of deforestation in the future

Description

Thesis submitted to the Department of Business Administration, Ashesi University College, in partial fulfillment of Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, April 2010

Keywords

Ghana, MDG goal 7, deforestation, development

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