Relational Losses and Ecosystem Service Decline in a Ghanaian Mining Landscape

Environmental degradation associated with mining activities is not merely a biophysical disruption; it reconfigures community relationships with nature, erodes governance trust, and dislocates cultural meanings. This study examines how communities in Ghana’s Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality perceive mining-related changes in ecosystem services (ES), drawing on a justice-oriented framework integrating ES theory with political ecology. Using a mixed-methods design comprising 191 household surveys, four focus group discussions, and 12 key informant interviews, the study documents widespread perceptions of decline in both provisioning (water, fuelwood, medicinal plants) and non-provisioning services (flood regulation, sacred groves, landscape aesthetics). Participants described these losses as emotional ruptures and cultural disorientation. Community narratives highlight institutional betrayal, the erosion of ecological governance, and inadequate livelihood restoration measures. The study demonstrates that mining-related ecosystem change is experienced not only as environmental degradation but also as relational loss, governance exclusion, and cultural disruption.