Multi-Spatial Criteria Modelling of Fire Risk and Hazard in the West Gonja Area of Ghana

Abstract

About 30% of the West Gonja Area (WGA) of Ghana is occupied by three major forest reserves, which have rich array of plants and animals. The ecosystem in the WGA has been experiencing changes as a result of activities such as lumbering, farming, poaching and ritual bush burning as well as wildfire. Of particular concern is wildfire which has devastating effect on the ecological system and the rural livelihood in the WGA. Therefore, prevention and control of wildfire in the WGA is important to the sustainability of the natural resources. This paper uses multi-spatial criteria technique to model fire risk and hazard in order to enhance the WGA ability to prevent and control wildfires in the fragile ecosystem. The input data included: topography (slope, elevation, aspect); vegetation (fuel quality, fuel size and shape); weather (rainfall, temperature, humidity, wind); land cover/use map; landform; accessibility data; fire history; culture; and population density of the WGA. Fuel risk, detection risk and response risks were modeled and used as inputs to model the final fire risk and hazard for the WGA. From the model, forest, agricultural lands and shrubs cover types were identified as the major fuel contributing loads whereas water bodies, roads and settlements were considered as minor fuel contributing loads. Steeply sloping areas, areas facing the sun, low lying areas and long distances of forests from the fire service stations were found to be more susceptible to fire. The fire risk and hazard model will assist decision makers and inhabitants of the area to know where there is the highest possibility for fire outbreak and adopt prudent ways of preventing, and managing incidences of, wildfires in the WGA.