Analysing Land Reclamation and Ecosystem Services in SmallScale Surface Mining in the Asante Akim Central Municipal, Ashanti Region of Ghana

This study was conducted in the Asante Akim Municipality using GIS and remote sensing to ascertain the extent of reclamation activities and their impacts on the ecosystem services of the forest in the Asante Akim Central Municipal. The study used satellite data from Landsat between the period of 20 years (2002-2022) and other essential data. The LULC analysis was carried out in QGIS software and pixel recalcination was performed to identify the mined areas. The Invest computer software was used to assess the ecosystem services. The results from the study showed that within the 20 years period in the study area, LULC constitutes Close Forest (21606.46 ha), Open Forest (71751.74 ha), Agricultural lands (22617.90ha), Water (2174.833ha), Bare Soil/mining site (19431.908 ha) and Built-up (10063.869 ha). It was found from the study that the major land use conversion was from Close Forest to open forest (5620.8 ha), open forest to Agricultural lands (14212.642 ha), and Agricultural lands to either bare soil (1686.726 ha) or Built-up (9902.859 ha). Moreover, the extent of reclamation activities over the ten (10) year period was approximately 2461.7025 ha representing 1.7% of total landscape. The reclamation activity was marginal with little or no effects on the improvement on the ecosystem. Finally, five ecosystem parameters assessed (Phosphorus export, Carbon Storage, Nitrogen export and Sediments export.) showed that the reclamation activity was insignificant to warrant a change in the ecological services. It is recommended that The Ministry of Lands and Natural resources in collaboration with Environmental Protection Agency in Ghana should intensify their campaign against small-scale miners who do not comply with the compulsory reclamation of mining site policy in Ghana.