Perception of Human-Induced Environmental Challenges in the Birim Central Municipality

Masters Thesis from the year 2015 in the subject Environmental Sciences, grade: -, language: English, abstract: The overall objective of the study was to assess the respondents perception of human-induced environmental challenges in the municipality. The specific objectives of the study were to determine the association between respondents socio-demographic characteristics and their environmental perceptions or concerns; assess the respondents knowledge of environmental problems in the municipality; examine the respondents perception on the causes of the environmental problems; and examine the respondents views on improving upon the quality of their environment. The effects of human activities on the environment are evident in the changes to the functioning of the ecosystems, earths oceans, atmosphere, freshwater systems, and land surfaces resulting in environmental challenges including freshwater shortages, climate change, lost of biodiversity and exhaustion of fisheries. Birim Central Municipality is endowed with abundant natural resources such as diamond and gold deposits, forest, fertile soil and many water bodies, which contribute to the socio-economic development of the municipality and the country as a whole. In spite of the continuous exploitation of these natural resources to meet the legitimate socio-economic aspirations of the people, adequate care has not often been taken to guard against the depletion and mismanagement of the resources in the municipality. This attitude has led to increase in human-induced environmental challenges such as land degradation, water and air pollution in the municipality. Moreover, there seem to be little or no effort by the residents in addressing the overexploitation of such resources and its impacts on the environment as well as on the people. The issue of deforestation in Birim Central Municipality has become a serious concern for the Municipal Assembly. However, efforts by the Assembly to clump down on i