[01] Addo Koranteng, Institute of Research Innovation and Development (IRID), Kumasi Polytechnic, Kumasi, Ghana. [02] Tomasz Zawila-Niedzwiecki, Faculty of Forestry, Warsaw University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland.

Quantifying the forest loss and land use dynamics using satellite data is becoming increasingly important in natural resource management. Deforestation and degradation have become issues of paramount concern due to climate change anxieties. Satellite imagery in this study via Landsat TM, Landsat ETM + and DMC have provided vital tools for assessing forest loss and land use change in the Western Region of Ghana from 1990 -2010. The study employs a combination method in Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) to estimate, classify and map the forest cover and land use change over a twenty year period. The study reveals a very serious problem of forest loss. The Western Region is the most forested, natural resources rich and biologically diverse in Ghana. This study offers vital pieces of information which may be used to observe; advice and sway land use to a more beneficial and sustainable manner as the trend of forest loss is alarming in this part of country.

Land Use Change, Deforestation, Degradation, Remote Sensing, GIS

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