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Scenarios for cultural ecosystem services in southwestern Ghana’s coastal landscapes

The scenarios were aimed at exploring future pathways for potential increases in the supply of relevant cultural ecosystem services (CES), notably, health, science/education, tourism, nature-based spiritual experiences and recreational benefits.

Situated in the Upper Guinean Forests of West Africa, the coastal landscapes of Southwestern Ghana support impressive levels of biodiversity and provide ecosystem services upon which the wellbeing of the regional population depend. However, sustainable supply of cultural ecosystem services in this region is threatened by mining, oil and gas development, agriculture expansion and weak land use governance.

Working with regional and local land management stakeholders, four alternative future land use scenarios were developed and compared to a business-as-usual scenario. Additionally, environmental conditions that influence the potential supply of cultural ecosystem services (CES) in the region, such as slope, elevation, soil and tidal regime were also considered in the assessment of scenario impacts on CES supply. All scenario outcomes illustrate synergies and trade-offs in the preferences and perceptions of future CES supply in the region.

Project facts

Ghana

Western region

2020

Submitted by:

Stephen Kankam

Project leader

20 september 2021

How to cite this page:

Stephen Kankam

Scenarios for cultural ecosystem services in southwestern Ghana’s coastal landscapes

Resources

Kankam, S., Inkoom, J.N., Koo, H. et al. Envisioning alternative futures of cultural ecosystem services supply in the coastal landscapes of Southwestern Ghana, West Africa. Socio Ecol Pract Res (2021).

Project images

biofutures_graphics.png

Stephen Kankam

biofutures_graphics.png

Stephen Kankam

biofutures_graphics.png

Stephen Kankam

biofutures_graphics.png

Stephen Kankam

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