Abstract:
Deforestation in Ghana is
primarily caused by agriculture, and as such,
there is a need to explore agricultural
systems that promote forest and
environmental conservation. Studies on
decision support frameworks that can help
farmers and landowners make informed
optimal land use choices are limited in the
country. This study attempts to fill the gap.
We used survey questionnaire and focus
group discussion to gather data from farmers
and other stakeholders. Multi-Criteria
Decision Analysis (MCDA) technique was
employed to analyse the data. The results
showed that agroforestry, with the highest
ranking (probability of 0.98), is the optimal
land use option. Coconut and oil palm land
use options were perceived to be
contributing to the degradation of the
periphery of the Ankasa Conservation Area
(ACA). Intensifying education and training
will increase the uptake of agroforestry as an
integrated multifunctional land use strategy
in the ACA.
