Nat Owusu-Prempeh

• Ph.D.
• Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Cocoa agroforestry system is a form of permanent agriculture where cocoa grows in association with different tree species. This study assessed forest trees assemblages in six aged cocoa agroforests (CAFs). Trees were inventoried on 88 CAF plots (25 × 25 m) of aged 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years. MacArthur Broken Stick model, Chao-1 estimates, and...

In Ghana, large-scale commercial farming is one of the strategies for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1 and 2). However, large-scale commercial farms have negative environmental consequences that undermine the attainment of SDGs13 and 15 at different scales. This study examined the effects of large-scale commercial farms on woody...

Cotton is the main cash crop in northern Côte d’Ivoire, where intensive cultivation along with low external inputs has led to a decline in crop yields due to soil degradation. The present study aims to assess the evolution of soil fertility during the 2013 and 2021 periods in the cotton basin area of Côte d’Ivoire. More specifically, the study (i)...

The study analysed the contamination status and potential ecological risk of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cd, As and Hg) in soils from un-reclaimed illegal artisanal and small-scale gold mine (‘galamsey’) sites at the Atewa forest landscape. Composite soil samples (48) were collected from topsoil (0–20 cm) and subsoil (20–50 cm) across eight c...

Climate change represents a major potential threat to the viability of rural households’ livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa. This study focused on the perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies of local cotton farmers in Côte d'Ivoire, identified as particularly vulnerable to climate change. A survey was conducted among 355 smallholder...

Knowledge on tree species abundance and diversity is critical for sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation. The aim of the study was to assess tree species abundance and diversity across different land uses and sites in the Sudan savannah ecological zone of Ghana, a total of 64 plots of 3600 m2 (60 m x 60 m) were laid out in three...

Knowledge on tree species abundance and diversity is critical for sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation. The aim of the study was to assess tree species abundance and diversity across different land uses and sites in the Sudan savannah ecological zone of Ghana, a total of 64 plots of 3600 m2 (60 m x 60 m) were laid out in three...

The role of forest plantations in carbon sequestration and biodiversity conservation is a topical issue among researchers and policymakers globally. This study compares understorey floristic diversity and carbon stock of a 15-year-old monoculture Tectona grandis plantation under intensive and poor management in a dry semideciduous ecological zone o...

Adoption of smallholder plantations in off-forest reserve among farmers has always been a challenge. Using the qualitative methods and survey among 193 smallholder plantations farmers through simple random sampling from six communities in the Tano North District, the study aimed at exploring the drivers for smallholder plantation forestry in the Ta...

The study investigated the growth performance and decontamination potential of two plant species on hydrocarbon concentration levels in petroleum polluted soils. A 2x2x3 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design with 3 replications was adopted. Compost amended Jatropha curcas (JC) treatment caused 78.8 and 82.2% while Ve...

The study investigated the growth performance and decontamination potential of two plant species on hydrocarbon concentration levels in petroleum polluted soils. A 2x2x3 factorial arrangement of treatments in a completely randomized design with 3 replications was adopted. Compost amended Jatropha curcas (JC) treatment caused 78.8 and 82.2% while Ve...

The study applied multi-temporal optical remote sensing and spatial analytical techniques to assess the status of the eight (8) forest reserves in the tropical high forests of Ghana under the management of the Goaso Forest District. Landsat data of 1990 (Thematic mapper [TM]), 2013 (Enhanced Thematic Mapper [ETM+]) and 2017 Operational Land Imager/...

The study evaluated the fish community assemblage in the sections of the Subri river, the Ankobra river, and the "galamsey" pond within the Prestea community as impacted by alluvial mining activities. Gill nets of length 10 m and mesh size 1.27 cm were used to trap fish of average length 25.25 cm whilst cane baskets were used to trap fish of averag...

The study evaluated the fish community assemblage in the sections of the Subri river, the Ankobra river, and the “galamsey” pond within the Prestea community as impacted by alluvial mining activities. Gill nets of length 10 m and mesh size 1.27 cm were used to trap fish of average length 25.25 cm whilst cane baskets were used to trap fish of averag...

The study assessed the conservation status and the diversity of the floristic components of the UENR's wildlife sanctuary using the Geostatistical tools and Genetic Heat Index (GHI). Twenty-nine (29) sampling plots were randomly located using the "create random points" algorithm in ArcGIS 10.4. A three-nest sampling plots of 10m x 10m, 5m x 5m and...

Mining is a crucial component of local and global economies, but it inevitably leads to substantial environmental disturbance. Reclamation ensures that a disturbed land is rehabilitated for a specified end land-use. The study examined the nutrient levels and risks status of a twelve-year old reclaimed site to ascertain its suitability for agricultu...

Land use and land cover changes, especially deforestation and forest degradation and its driving factors, are key factors hindering sustainable forest management. Currently, there is limited knowledge concerning the detection of the extent and interpretation of the spatial and temporal pattern of forest cover dynamics in the Bounfum Forest Reserve,...

The study assessed the functional status of the University of Energy and Natural Resources' (UENR) bat sanctuary by examining its floral species diversity and carbon stocks. Twenty-nine sampling points (plots) were randomly generated by using the ArcGIS random sampling algorithm. Using a three-nest sampling plot of 100 m 2 , 25 m 2 , and 1 m 2 quad...

Ghana's economic development relies largely on the mining industry, but the ecological cost is very high, particularly for the small-scale sector. To ascertain and give an account of the ecological pressures from the small-scale gold mining sector, we quantified and appraised the ecosystems (land cover types) degradation due to mining land use alon...

A study to quantify soil respiration (SR) across predominant land-uses in the Vea catchment, a semi-arid Savannah ecosystem of Ghana, was carried out using the closed static chamber method and CO2 transmitter (GMD 20, Vaisala). The goal was to determine the magnitude of the contribution of soil CO2 flux from predominant land-uses to the global carb...

The assessment of pollution levels of heavy metals soil contamination is crucial to human health and environmental management. This study seeks to assess the concentration and spatial variability of heavy metals using Principal component analysis, cluster analysis, geostatistics and pollution indices in a reclaimed mining area in AngloGold concessi...

This paper presents the performance of Terminalia superba and Triplochiton scleroxylon seedlings in enrichment planting in different forest canopy types or disturbance types (Skid trail, landing bay and undisturbed area). An area of 0.05ha (50m x 10m) plot each was purposively selected and demarcated in landing bay, skid trails and undisturbed area...