Mining-induced changes in ecosystem services value and implications of their economic and relational cost in a mining landscape, Ghana.

ABSTRACT: The surge in mining operations to meet the global demand for mineral resources adversely impacts ecosystem services and dependent households, but the issue barely attracts attention. This study evaluated the dynamics of mining-induced changes in the value of ecosystem services (ES) and the consequent economic and relational cost to rural households in the Ahafo region of Ghana. Face-to-face structured interviews with 200 householders were conducted in three mining communities. We determined relational values in the landscape through focus group discussion and the economic cost of the ecosystem services lost by applying replacement and contingency cost estimations. Old-growth forests, degraded forests, teak plantations, cultivated land, wetlands, and grassland were ecosystems identified in

SUBMITTER: Kumi S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10622645 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature