Authors :
Aline Mwintome Naawa; Fousseini Folega; Amos Kabobah; Kangbéni Dimobe; Kperkouma Wala
Volume/Issue :
Volume 9 - 2024, Issue 6 - June
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/mse85kry
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/5s7yfars
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/IJISRT24JUN452
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
Understanding the interplay between wildfire
management strategies and ecosystem resilience is crucial
in the context of climate change, especially in vulnerable
regions like Ghana's savannah ecological zone. This
systematic literature review aims to synthesize the
existing body of work on wildfire management strategies,
assess the state of ecosystem resilience, and explore the
impact of climate change on these dynamics within the
savannah ecological zones of Ghana. A comprehensive
search yielded 371 studies from Google Scholar, Scopus,
and other indexed journals, of which 54 were selected for
in-depth analysis. The review identifies three main
categories of wildfire management strategies:
community-based efforts, policy and regulatory
frameworks, and technology interventions. A significant
observation is the distinction often made between natural
and human-induced fires, which oversimplifies the
complex nature of wildfires and underscores the need for
a more integrated approach to wildfire management and
ecosystem resilience. This study highlights critical gaps
and challenges in current strategies, offering a foundation
for further research aimed at enhancing wildfire
management and ecosystem resilience in the savannah
ecological zone of Ghana.
Keywords :
Wildfire Management, Ecosystem Resilience, Savannah, Climate Change, Ghana.
References :
- Acheampong, F. (2013). Bushfires In the Savannah: A Case Study of Osramani in The Krachi District Of Ghana.
- Adiku, S. G. K., MacCarthy, D. S., Hathie, I., Diancoumba, M., Freduah, B. S., Amikuzuno, J., Traore, P. C. S., Traore, S., Koomson, E., Agali, A., Lizaso, J. I., Fatondji, D., Adams, M., Tigana, L., Diarra, D. Z., N’diaye, O., & Valdivia, R. O. (2015). Climate Change Impacts on West African Agriculture: An Integrated Regional Assessment (CIWARA). https://doi.org/10.1142/9781783265640_0014
- Amoako, E. E., & Gambiza, J. (2019). Effects of anthropogenic fires on soil properties and the implications of fire frequency for the Guinea savanna ecological zone, Ghana. Scientific African, 6(October 2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2019.e00201
- Amogu, O., Descroix, L., Yéro, K. S., Breton, E. Le, Mamadou, I., Ali, A., Vischel, T., Bader, J. C., Moussa, I. B., Gautier, E., Boubkraoui, S., & Belleudy, P. (2010). Increasing river flows in the Sahel? Water (Switzerland), 2(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/w2020170
- Anane A P, & Antwi-Agyei P. (2021). Effect of wildfire on plant species composition and some soil physico-chemical properties of Bomfobiri wildlife sanctuary, Ghana.
- Antwi, E. K., Otsuki, K., Saito, O., Obeng, F., Gyekye, K., Boakye-Danquah, J., Boafo, Y., Kusakari, Y., Yiran, G. A. B., Owusu, A., Asubonteng, K., Dzivenu, T., Avornyo, V., Abagale, F. K., Jasaw, G., Lolig, V., Ganiyu, S., Donkoh, S. A., Yeboah, R., … Takeuchi, K. (2014). Developing a Community-Based Resilience Assessment Model with reference to Northern Ghana. Journal of Integrated Disaster Risk Management, 4(1), 73–92. https://doi.org/10.5595/idrim.2014.0066
- Appiah, F. (2021). Enhancing Resilience to Drought and Ecosystem Change in Drylands: Assessing Principles of Building Social-Ecological Resilience in Northern Ghana. April, 1–228. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.10035.35360
- Awuni, S., Adarkwah, F., Ofori, B. D., Purwestri, R. C., Huertas Bernal, D. C., & Hajek, M. (2023). Managing the challenges of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies in Ghana. Heliyon, 9(5), e15491. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15491
- da Veiga, R. M., & Nikolakis, W. (2022). Fire Management and Carbon Programs: A Systematic Literature Review and Case Study Analysis. Society and Natural Resources, 35(8), 896–913. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2022.2053618
- Dahan, K. S., & Kasei, R. A. (2022). Overview of Researches on Bush Fires for Natural Resources and Environmental Management in Ghana: A Review. Environment and Natural Resources Research, 12(1), 48. https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v12n1p48
- Dahan, K. S., Kasei, R. A., & Husseini, R. (2023). Contribution of remote sensing to wildfire trend and dynamic analysis in two of Ghana’s ecological zones: Guinea-savanna and Forest-savanna mosaic. Fire Ecology, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-023-00198-z
- Dahan, K. S., Kasei, R. A., Husseini, R., Said, M. Y., & Rahman, M. M. (2023). Towards understanding the environmental and climatic changes and their contribution to the spread of wildfires in Ghana using remote sensing tools and machine learning (Google Earth Engine). International Journal of Digital Earth, 16(1), 1300–1331. https://doi.org/10.1080/17538947.2023.2197263
- Diemont, R., & Wanders, T. (2023). Shifting Responsibility- A Community-Based Approach to Wildfire Outbreak Prevention. International Association of Wildland Fire.
- Dwomoh, F. K., & Wimberly, M. C. (2017). Fire regimes and their drivers in the Upper Guinean Region of West Africa. Remote Sensing, 9(11). https://doi.org/10.3390/rs9111117
- Dwomoh, F. K., Wimberly, M. C., Cochrane, M. A., & Numata, I. (2019). Forest degradation promotes fire during drought in moist tropical forests of Ghana. Forest Ecology and Management, 440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2019.03.014
- Egyir, I. S., Ofori, K., Antwi, G., & Ntiamoa-Baidu, Y. (2015). Adaptive capacity and coping strategies in the face of climate change: A comparative study of communities around two protected areas in the coastal savanna and transitional zones of Ghana. Journal of Sustainable Development, 8(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.5539/jsd.v8n1p1
- Government Republic of Namibia. (2016). Fire Management Strategy for Namibia’s Protected Areas. November, 1–134.
- Husseini, R., Aboah, D. T., & Issifu, H. (2020a). Fire control systems in forest reserves: An assessment of three forest districts in the Northern region, Ghana. Scientific African, 7, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2019.e00245
- Husseini, R., Aboah, D. T., & Issifu, H. (2020b). Fire control systems in forest reserves: An assessment of three forest districts in the Northern region, Ghana. Scientific African, 7, e00245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2019.e00245
- Kosoe, E. A., Osumanu, I. K., & Barnes, V. R. (2015). Wildfire Management in the Tain II Forest Reserve of Ghana: An Evaluation of Community Participation. OALib, 02(10), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.4236/oalib.1101964
- Kusimi, J. M., & Appati, J. W. (2012). Bushfires in the Krachi District: the Socio-Economic and Environmental Implications. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XXXIX-B8(September), 39–44. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprsarchives-xxxix-b8-39-2012
- Laris, P., Foltz, J. D., & Voorhees, B. (2015). Taking from cotton to grow maize: The shifting practices of small-holder farmers in the cotton belt of Mali. Agricultural Systems, 133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2014.10.010
- Lignule, E. (2017). Self-mobilization for wildfire prevention in the Goziri community, Upper West Region, Ghana. United Nations University Land Restoration Training Programme [final project]. Final Project. http://www.unulrt.is/static/fellows/document/lignule2017.pdf%0A%0A
- Mabe, F. N., Sienso, G., & Donkoh, S. A. (2014). Determinants of Choice of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in Northern Ghana. Research in Applied Economics, 6(4), 75. https://doi.org/10.5296/rae.v6i4.6121
- Mensah, F., Adanu, S. K., & Adanu, D. K. (2015). Remote sensing and GIS-based assessment of land degradation and implications for Ghana’s ecological zones. Environmental Practice, 17(1), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1466046614000465
- MESTI. (2013). Ghana National Climate Change Policy Ministry.Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI). Atemwegs- Und Lungenkrankheiten, 1–88. https://www.otago.ac.nz/economics/otago642357.pdf%0Ahttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-018-0209-x%0Ahttp://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/file/RuralLivelihoodsFoodSecurityRuralTransformation.pdf
- Minia Z. (2004). Climate scenarios developed for climate change impacts.
- Ministry of Environment Science Technology and Innovation. (2016). CBD Strategy and Action Plan - Ghana. November, 158.
- MLFM. (2006). National WildFire Management Policy. 1–17. http://gfmc.online/intro/2015/update-1054/Ghana-Wildfire-Policy-2006.pdf
- N’Datchoh, E. T., Konaré, A., Diedhiou, A., Diawara, A., Quansah, E., & Assamoi, P. (2015). Effects of climate variability on savannah fire regimes in West Africa. Earth System Dynamics, 6(1), 161–174. https://doi.org/10.5194/esd-6-161-2015
- Nieman, W. A., Van Wilgen, B. W., & Leslie1, A. J. (2021). A review of fire management practices in African savanna-protected areas. Koedoe, 63(1). https://doi.org/10.4102/koedoe.v63i1.1655
- Nyadzi, E., Ezenwa, M. I. S., Nyarko, B. K., Okhimamhe, A. A., Bagamsah, T. T., & Okelola, F. O. (2015). Assessment of Trace Gas Emissions From Wild Fires in Different Vegetation Types in Northern Ghana: Implications for Global Warming. Environment and Natural Resources Research, 5(2), 37. https://doi.org/10.5539/enrr.v5n2p37
- Pereira, P., Mierauskas, P., Ubeda, X., Mataix-Solera, J., & Cerda, A. (2012). Fire in Protected Areas - the Effect of Protection and Importance of Fire Management. Environmental Research, Engineering and Management, 59(1). https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.59.1.856
- Sackey, I., & Hale, W. (2008). Effects of Perennial Fires on the Woody Vegetation of Mole National Park, Ghana. Journal of Science and Technology (Ghana), 28(2). https://doi.org/10.4314/just.v28i2.33092
- Sub-committee, B. C., Conservator, T. C., Game, C., Officer, W., Act, T., Law, B., & Law, B. F. (1990). P.N.D.C.L.229 Control and Prevention of Bushfires Act. 1990(1), 901–904.
- UNEP, & UNDP. (2019). National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy. Global Environmental Change, 5(1), 1–11. http://www.adaptation-undp.org/sites/default/files/downloads/ghana_national_climate_change_adaptation_strategy_nccas.pdf%0Ahttp://isites.harvard.edu/fs/docs/icb.topic1239113.files/WaterSecurityWhatDoesitMean.pdf%5Cnhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.20
- UNFCC. (2011). Report of the Global Environment Facility To the Seventeenth Session of the Conference of the Parties To the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Framework Convention on Climate Change, September.
- Valea Francoise &Ballouche Aziz. (2012). Les feux de brousse en Afrique de l ’ Ouest : contraintes environnementales ou outil de gestion environnementale ? L ’ exemple du Burkina Faso . Bushfires in West Africa : environmental constraints or environmental management tool ? The example of Burkina. Researchgate.Net, 3(June), 36–47. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Aziz-Ballouche/publication/257298202_Les_feux_de_brousse_en_Afrique_de_l’Ouest_contraintes_environnementales_ou_outil_de_gestion_environnementale_L’exemple_du_Burkina_Faso/links/0c96052531715e42de000000/Les-feux-de-bro
- Yahaya, A. K., & Amoah, S. T. (2013). Bushfires in the Nandom district of the Upper West Region of Ghana: perpetual threat to food crop production. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 3(7), 10–14. http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.875.3490&rep=rep1&type=pdf
Understanding the interplay between wildfire
management strategies and ecosystem resilience is crucial
in the context of climate change, especially in vulnerable
regions like Ghana's savannah ecological zone. This
systematic literature review aims to synthesize the
existing body of work on wildfire management strategies,
assess the state of ecosystem resilience, and explore the
impact of climate change on these dynamics within the
savannah ecological zones of Ghana. A comprehensive
search yielded 371 studies from Google Scholar, Scopus,
and other indexed journals, of which 54 were selected for
in-depth analysis. The review identifies three main
categories of wildfire management strategies:
community-based efforts, policy and regulatory
frameworks, and technology interventions. A significant
observation is the distinction often made between natural
and human-induced fires, which oversimplifies the
complex nature of wildfires and underscores the need for
a more integrated approach to wildfire management and
ecosystem resilience. This study highlights critical gaps
and challenges in current strategies, offering a foundation
for further research aimed at enhancing wildfire
management and ecosystem resilience in the savannah
ecological zone of Ghana.
Keywords :
Wildfire Management, Ecosystem Resilience, Savannah, Climate Change, Ghana.