Balancing Development and Ecology: Land Use Change, Biodiversity Loss, and Ecosystem Services in Ghana

Abstract

Land use change is one of the significant drivers of ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss, with widespread consequences on ecosystem services essential for human livelihood. The role of land use change on biodiversity and ecosystem services is equally vital in Ghana. Forest reserves, wetlands, and savanna ecosystems of the country are vanishing at a high rate as a result of urbanisation, illegal mining (galamsey), agribusiness farming, and infrastructural development. This paper explores the effects of land use change on biodiversity and ecosystem services, based on a case study in Ghana. An extensive search was carried out on major academic databases, such as Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar, Through a systematic review of literature between 2005 and 2024, the paper demonstrates how agricultural development, urbanisation, and artisanal mining have all contributed to habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and wetland degradation, and in the process, endangered species diversity and ecological resilience. The findings indicate that these transformations disrupt important ecosystem services such as pollination, water filtration, and climate regulation and eventually undermine food security, livelihoods, and cultural values. The paper underscores the urgent need for integrated land-use planning and biodiversity conservation policy that balances socio-economic development and ecological sustainability. It is recommended to strengthen environmental governance, encourage sustainable agriculture, and rehabilitate degraded ecosystems to safeguard biodiversity and enhance the supply of ecosystem services for generations to come.