Analyzing Spatio -Temporal Trend of the Vegetative Cover of the Adansi South Cluster of Forest Reserves in Ghana

Variations in forest growth are assumed to be within certain limits due to natural causes such as rainfall and temperature, but not to the extent to which the forest reserve is being exhausted. This study investigated the spatial variations in government forest reserves within the Adansi South District of the Ashanti Region, Ghana, using Landsat images covering a 34-year period at ten-year intervals. The findings indicate a consistent decline in Close Forest (from 29.5% in 1986 to 21.5% in 2020) and Water bodies (from 0.17% in 1986 to 0.14% in 2020), alongside a continuous increase in Open Forest (from 64.7% in 1986 to 66.6% in 2020), Galamsey (small scale illegal mining) (from 0.0% in 1986 to 2.6% in 2020), Built Up Environment (from 0.33% in 1986 to 3.0% in 2020), and Bare Land (from 3.4% in 1986 to 6.5% in 2020). The spatial integrity index for the Adansi South Forest reserve was 57.8%, indicating disturbance from human activities, with 8887 patches detected in the reserve. Shannon's Diversity Index analysis yielded a value greater than 0. Expected land use and land cover patterns for 2025, 2030, and 2040 indicate a persistent increase in Galamsey, bare lands, built-up areas, and open forest, accounting for approximately 81.1% of total land use coverage over the next 30 years, with a decrease in close forest and water bodies (18.9%) in the Adansi South District. It is recommended that illegal mining within protected forest areas be discouraged, and laws regarding illegal entry into protected areas be rigorously enforced.