Land Use and Landscape Characteristics Are Associated with Core Forest Patches in Ghana

Land uses and terrain characteristics would likely influence the types and spatial arrangements of forest patches, and generally, forest fragmentation. Whereas prior research has focused mainly on direct land use-induced forest fragmentation, this study models the relationship between the spatial distribution of core forest patches, land uses, and terrain variables. Relying on Landsat images from the Atewa Range Forest Reserve (ARFR) in Ghana, we use machine learning geospatial techniques and statistical methods to process satellite images and model the relationship between core forest patches and associated variables. The study finds that a unit reduction in elevation would significantly likely reduce by 0.995 times the possibility of forest patches being core forests, implying that on lower slopes, core forests are less likely to occur. Additionally, we find that a unit increase in slope gradient significantly increases the odds of a forest patch being among the core forest category by 1.35 times. Moreover, our results show that the odds of forest patches being core forests significantly increase by 1.60 and 2.14 times if patches are found beyond 1 km from logging sites and access roads, respectively. This implies that intact forest patches would likely be found on higher slopes, higher elevations, and areas far away from land uses. Based on the results, we suggest that the protection of forest patches should target higher elevations and slopes and most importantly areas far from land uses whereas forest restoration programs should target areas close to land uses and on lower elevations and lower slopes. With this study demonstrating a significant relationship between core forests, land uses and terrain variables, we present important information to land managers for land monitoring and conservation in the ARFR and other tropical forest regions of the world.