The Impact of Urbanization on Vegetation in Accra Metropolis

Research Paper (undergraduate) from the year 2020 in the subject Geography / Earth Science - Cartography, Geographic Information Science and Geodesy, grade: 80%, University of Ghana, Legon (Humanities), course: GIS and Remote Sensing, language: English, abstract: The main objective of this research is to assess the extent to which urbanization is impacting vegetation in Accra Metropolis from 2002, 2008 and 2020. There has been a rapid urbanization growth in Ghana, according to the Ghana Statistical Service there has been an increase in the urban population from about 23% in 1960 to about approximately 44% in 2000 and there has been a further increase to about 50% in the year 2010. This abrupt change in population signifies an increase in the urban settlement. Inevitably, urbanization is seen as an outcome of economic growth and increase in population growth. An increase in these factors exert external problems on the land cover. This increase has led to the depletion of vegetation, pollution of water bodies and poor sanitation in Ghana. The development of Ghana has neglected the long term impact of urban expansion on vegetation. Accra is noted to be an economic centre dominated by the buying and selling of goods and services on open streets. This threatens the green pastures in the city centres.