An Assessment of the Implications of Deforestation and Climate Change on Rural Livelihood in Ghana: A Multidimensional Analysis and Solution-Based Approach

Abstract Ghana is endowed with an abundance of natural resources, including vast tracts of natural forest and other vegetation biomes, which serve as livelihood sustenance for a significant number of the population. However, managing these resources sustainably to achieve environmental and economic growth and alleviating poverty remains a significant challenge. Deforestation driven by agriculture, lumbering, mining, infrastructural development, and urban expansion has reduced the forest ecosystems by over 60% over the past three decades. This has threatened the sustainable livelihoods to most of the population, exacerbated by increasing climate irregularity and its devastating consequences. Using data collected through methods inspired by the tradition of quantitative and qualitative research approaches, this paper explores and discusses how the combination of climate change and deforestation, are compromising the livelihood options of poor and vulnerable communities in Ghana. We further argue that the poor are not passive actors but are actively involved in identifying systems and processes through which to build their adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change induced environmental changes. Despite this, we argue that the ability of the poor and vulnerable communities to adapt comprehensively to climate change induced challenges is being hampered by institutional and policy weaknesses as well as a lack of meaningful engagement and collaboration between different and interested stakeholders. In view of this, we argue for an evidence-based and inclusive approaches which will propagate the participation of marginalised and vulnerable groups of people in the design and co-production of solutions in order to develop policies and strategies that are more transformative and towards achieving sustainable communities. These themes have been argued within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly goal number 8.