Stakeholders’ perceptions of land degradation and rehabilitation efforts in mining communities: A case study of the Birim North mining district, Ghana

Land degradation in Ghana’s mining communities threatens agricultural productivity, ecosystem services, and livelihoods. This study examines stakeholder perceptions of land degradation and rehabilitation efforts in the Birim North District, a hotspot for artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and large-scale gold mining. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 100 randomly selected respondents from twelve communities, representing diverse occupations and at least five years of local residence to assess the perceived causes, effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts, barriers, and potential measures to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). Statistical analysis using a three-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) showed uniform perceptions of land degradation across demographic groups, suggesting that the problem is widely recognized within the community. Findings reveal that mining, particularly ASM, is widely viewed as the dominant cause of land degradation. This has led to deforestation, water pollution, and reduced agricultural yields. Although rehabilitation laws exist in principle, their implementation is weak, with most efforts limited to partial pit refilling or natural regeneration. These findings were validated through field surveys, which revealed extensive land degradation at ASM sites, with natural regeneration being the only observed form of rehabilitation. Major hindrances include corruption, weak enforcement of environmental laws, and limited technical expertise. However, stakeholders expressed strong willingness to participate in training, public sensitization, and collaborative rehabilitation The study points to the importance of participatory assessment of rehabilitation measures in achieving Ghana’s LDN targets.