Impact of land use / land cover changes on African Savannah elephant’s (loxodonta africana) use of the Red Volta valley corridor
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Date
2019-11
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KNUST
Abstract
The Savannah elephant (Loxodonta africana) is one of the threatened mammal species in
the world and listed as vulnerable by the IUCN Red lists criteria as its population has
drastically declined. Its population decline is largely as a result of habitat loss due to
agriculture extension and other human related land use changes. The Red Volta Valley is
one of the important migratory corridors established to connect the elephant ranges in
Ghana, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, and Togo. This study therefore aims to assess the
changes in land use/ land cover systems and its effects on the savannah elephants use of
the Red Volta Valley Corridor. Field survey and community participatory GIS methods
were used to mark locations of elephant’s presence. Using MaxEnt algorithm and 8
explanatory variables (), elephants habitat use within the corridor were modelled for 1988
and 2018. The study revealed a significant land use/land cover changes within the
thirtyyear period as bare soil increased by 174.9 km2
representing 233.8% followed by a
reduction of 169.1 km2
representing 26.6% in open savannah /Agricultural Land. Riverine
vegetation also reduced by 55.1km2
depicting 38%, with water indicating a reduction of
2.3 km2
that is 9%. Contrary, to expectations, Close Savana however increased by 51.3
km2
representing 32%. Suitable habitat predicted by MaxEnt in 1988 reduced by
155.54km2
. The study revealed a reduction in the suitable habitat of the elephant by 15%
as a result of the changes in land use / land cover types. Also, most suitable path used by
elephant across the frontiers of Togo, Ghana and Burkina Faso showed significant changes
in the vegetation cover types on it and increase in length by 1km from 1988 to 2018.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Wildlife and Range Management, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Kumasi in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geo-Information Science for Natural Resource Management