Application of GIS to create social media awareness to the effects of illegal mining on natural resources in the Tano North District of Ghana

Abstract

Decisions pertaining to the maintenance and sustainability of natural resources are vital in every national development agenda. Water resources and forests are essential for humanity’s survival. Nevertheless, Ghana has recently seen a lot of destruction in these resources due to "Galamsey" activities. Most communities depending on these resources for survival have been deprived of their livelihood. It therefore becomes prudent to create management tools that can help regulate the exploitation of these resources. The aim of this study was to apply Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Systems to map the catchment area of River Tano in Ghana and disseminate the results via social media. Landsat ETM imagery of the study area for two different dates (2003 and 2013) was acquired and exported into ArcGIS and geo referenced. Resource database of the study site was then generated to evaluate the changing pattern of the river and forest around it between the two dates. The study revealed that about 7% of forest vegetation has been lost between 2003 and 2013. The river course has been channeled onto portions of land around it creating pockets of waterlogged areas (about 6% increases in water areas) in the vicinity of the river. The extent of forest cover deterioration as calculated from NDVI values has also been mapped. A map showing the status of the land area around the river was displayed in a web map application as a social media to create awareness to the effects of illegal mining on vegetation.