Social-Ecological Landscape Sustainability in Ghana and Nigeria: An application of a DPSIR-SEL Framework

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluates the Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) dynamics and water quality in the Mankran landscape in Ghana (case study-1) and the Doma-Rutu landscape in Nigeria (case study-2) using the Drivers Pressure State Impact Response (DPSIR) for social ecological landscape (SEL) assessment framework (DPSIR-SEL). In the Mankran landscape, between 2008 and 2018, there was a notable shift in land utilization: cash crop cultivation surged to 30% in 2015 before receding to 14.5% by 2018, while subsistence farming was reduced. Water quality analysis revealed deviations from World Health Organization (WHO) standards, with parameters such as Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Pb (lead), and As (arsenic) signaling potential contamination risks. Conversely, in the Doma-Rutu landscape of Nigeria, LULC changes from 2000 to 2022 manifest as expanding residential and agricultural areas and alterations in natural water bodies and vegetation. Water quality concerns have arisen with high levels of electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, and salinity. Additionally, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) in Nigeria illuminated the deep-rooted herder-farmer conflicts, constraining crop cultivation due to historical and environmental factors. The intertwined challenges in the Mankran landscape and Doma-Rutu landscape necessitate sustainable and inclusive resource management, adaptive land-use practices, and proactive measures to ensure water quality. Land use land cover (LULC) and water quality evaluations, informed by the DPSIR-SEL framework, underscore the pressing need for integrated and inclusive solutions to address evolving land-use challenges and safeguard water resources in the Mankran and Doma-Rutu landscapes.