Poverty, livelihoods and environmental degradation in the sissala East district of the Upper West region

Abstract

The study examined the link between livelihoods, poverty and environmental degradation in the Sissala East District of the Upper West Region. Available literature shows that, the region is one of the poorest in Ghana and agriculture is the main livelihood. The main data collection methods employed were household interviews, focus group discussions and library search. The study covered 90 respondents selected by simple random sampling, purposive sampling and systematic random sampling. Statistical package for Service Solution (SPSS, 16.0) was used to process the data. The conclusion drawn from the findings was that, environment is degraded by the unsustainable livelihood activities of the people as a result of poverty. Some of the unsustainable livelihood activities identified as having negative effects on the environment included bad farming method, charcoal burning and cattle overgrazing. The recommendations called on the government and Sissala East District Assemblies to help the people to reduce their over reliance on agriculture by diversifying into alternative livelihoods such as food processing and petting trading. The Environmental Protection Agency, District Assemblies and NGO’s should create awareness among the people on the livelihoods, poverty and environmental degradation through community discussion and random talks.