Mapping the expansion of artisanal and large-scale mining in Birim NorthDistrict, Ghana using land use land cover change and digitized mine sites

Authors: Aaron Tettey Tetteh, Lily Lisa Yevugah, Abdul-Wadood Moomen

Published in: Regional Science Policy & Practice (2026), Volume 18, Article 100325

Abstract

This study examines the expansion of artisanal and large-scale mining activities in Ghana’s Birim North District between 2010 and 2024 and their implications for land degradation. Using land use and land cover change (LULCC) analysis alongside digitized mine site mapping, the research identifies mining activities, deforestation, and rapid urbanization as key drivers of land degradation in the district.

The findings reveal substantial growth in artisanal small-scale mining, significant forest loss, and increasing land conversion associated with mining operations. The study provides valuable evidence to support sustainable land management, land degradation neutrality (LDN) planning, and informed decision-making by policymakers and stakeholders in mining regions.

Mapping the expansion of artisanal and large-scale mining in Birim NorthDistrict, Ghana using land use land cover change and digitized mine sites

Acknowledgements

This research was supported through the GEO-LDN Flagship.

Researcher: Aaron Tettey Tetteh (GEO-LDN International Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient, MPhil Land Degradation Neutrality, 2023–2025)

Supervisor: Dr. Lily Lisa Yevugah

Local Coordinator: Dr. Abdul-Wadood Moomen

Host Institution: University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), Ghana