A new spatial analysis of Ghana’s forest cover between 2015 and 2024 has revealed a troubling shift from closed forests to open forests, indicating that the country is experiencing forest degradation rather than full-scale deforestation.
According to the findings, Ghana’s open forests expanded from 4,352,697 hectares in 2015 to 5,370,518 hectares in 2024.
Over the same period, closed forests — which represent the country’s most ecologically intact and biodiversity-rich areas — declined from 1,450,873 hectares to 1,020,422 hectares. Forestry experts say this pattern reflects increasing fragmentation and thinning of forest landscapes, largely driven by human activities.
The data also show a worsening impact of mining on protected areas. A total of 50 protected reserves, made up of 49 forest reserves and the Bui National Park, have been affected by mining operations in the last decade.
While illegal small-scale mining (galamsey) remains the major driver, officials say some impacts have also come from poorly regulated licensed operations.
At the beginning of 2025, nine forest reserves had been seized by armed miners who blocked access to the Forestry Commission and disrupted conservation work. By October, the number of reserves under armed control had reduced to five, but authorities warn that the threat remains significant.
Some of the most heavily affected reserves include the Apamprama Forest Reserve, Offin Shelterbelt Forest Reserve, Oda River Forest Reserve, Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, and Tano Nimri Forest Reserve. These areas, once known for their dense canopy cover, now show extensive signs of degradation, open patches, and abandoned mining pits.
