An assessment of the current scenario of biodiversity in Ghana in the context of climate change

Climate change poses a significant threat to global biodiversity, with sub-Saharan Africa being one of the most vulnerable regions. Ghana, a biodiversity hotspot, faces increasing pressure from climate change, which threatens its diverse ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, and coastal areas. This study assessed the current state of biodiversity in Ghana using ten (10) biodiversity indicators. The study adopted a descriptive research design with a quantitative approach. Additionally, the study employed a convenience sampling technique to select 50 respondents, and the data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was validated using Cronbach’s Alpha to ensure reliability, and the results were presented using minimum, maximum, mean, and standard deviation values for the assessed biodiversity indicators. The study revealed a generally low to moderate level of health across the assessed biodiversity indicators, with significant concerns highlighted in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems due to forest degradation, habitat loss, and climate change. Forest degradation emerged as a critical concern, with a mean score of 2.55 and a high standard deviation of 1.472, indicating significant variability across the country. The low mean scores for the remaining indicators suggest that Ghana’s ecosystems were under considerable stress. The study proposes the strengthening and enforcement of policies to curb overexploitation of natural resources, particularly illegal logging and unsustainable mining practices, and the development and implementation of coherent climate policies that will integrate biodiversity conservation with climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in Ghana.