Brief intro:

Air quality monitoring plays a crucial role in safeguarding biodiversity and enhancing tourism. Air pollution can disrupt habitats, harm wildlife, and reduce the health of natural landscapes, which in turn diminishes their appeal to tourists Izah et al., 2022. By developing a systematic tool for tracking and analyzing air pollutants, we can better understand their impact on ecosystems and take targeted actions to mitigate adverse effects of air pollution on biodiversity.

Improving air quality will have a direct, positive impact on biodiversity. Specifically, cleaner air supports healthier ecosystems, allowing a wider variety of species to thrive Izah et al., 2022. This is a prerequisite for preserving the natural beauty of an area and enhances its attractiveness as a destination for eco-tourism since tourists increasingly seek out destinations known for their pristine environments and rich biodiversity.

Further to the above, zone-specific air quality monitoring provides data that can be used to develop policies and strategies to protect natural reserves and tourist hotspots. By extracting source features of pollutants with zone-specific air quality data, measures can be developed to help reduce pollution sources, improve public health, and promote sustainable tourism practices (Hodoli et al., 2022).

Simply put, by investing in air quality monitoring at resource reserves in Africa, regions can protect and restore biodiversity, making them more appealing to tourists and ensuring long-term environmental and economic benefits.

This project aims to provide a blueprint for air quality monitoring at resource reserves in Africa to enhance biodiversity by firstly estimating PM2.5 levels at the Shai Hills Resource Reserve, identify sources of PM2.5 and establish the links between exposure to PM2.5 and species density/ abundance. The reported data from the network of miniaturized air sensors will be used to support interventions such as healthier habitats, preserve and restore the natural diversity of species, contributing to the ecological integrity and sustainability of the reserve.

Objectives:

1. Estimate air pollution levels: To systematically measure and document the concentration of key air pollutants; PM2.5 within resource reserves.

2. Identify air pollution sources: To identify and map the primary sources of air pollution affecting biodiversity, including both local and regional contributors such as industrial activities, vehicle emissions, encroachment, and agricultural practices.

3. Evaluate ecosystem impact: To assess the impact of PM2.5 on various species and ecosystems within the reserves, focusing on how air quality affects species abundance and overall ecosystem behavior.

Broader Impacts:

Co-design mitigation strategies: To design and implement targeted strategies for reducing pollution levels, such as regulatory policies, emission controls, and community engagement initiatives with resource managers, district assemblies, and regional EPAs.

Promote conservation and education: To raise awareness among local communities, policymakers, and tourists about the importance of air quality in maintaining biodiversity, and to encourage participation in conservation efforts.

Support sustainable tourism: To enhance the ecological appeal of resource reserves by ensuring they are well-preserved and free from harmful pollutants, thereby attracting eco-tourism and contributing to the local economy.

Preserving ecosystem health: Many African resource reserves are biodiversity hotspots, home to unique and endangered species. Poor air quality can lead to habitat degradation, threatening the survival of these species. Monitoring air quality helps in taking proactive steps to maintain and restore ecosystem health; for example in a 2011 FORM Ghana report, researchers from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology including Dr Hodoli undertook a study to understand the health status of the Asubima Forest Reserve tied to species abundance.

Climate change adaptation: Air pollution contributes to climate change, which in turn affects biodiversity. By monitoring air quality, reserves can develop strategies to adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change, ensuring long-term ecological resilience.

Human-wildlife coexistence: Many African reserves are located near human settlements. Air quality monitoring is essential for managing the interface between human activities and wildlife, reducing conflicts, and promoting coexistence.

Informed decision-making: Domain-specific reliable, meaningful, open-source, & quantitative air quality data provides the foundation for informed decision-making by governments and conservation organizations. It will enable the development of effective policies and actions that balance environmental protection with economic growth.

Enhancing tourism: Healthy ecosystems are a major draw for tourists, particularly those interested in eco-tourism. Clean air enhances the natural beauty and health of reserves, making them more attractive destinations and boosting the local economy.

Global environmental responsibility: Africa’s resource reserves are of global ecological significance. By monitoring and improving air quality, African nations contribute to global efforts to preserve biodiversity and combat environmental degradation, fulfilling their role as stewards of the planet’s natural heritage.

Partners:

Shai Hills Resource Reserve, Ghana

Code for Africa

Ghana EPA

Ghana Forestry Commission

AirQo

Appeal for support:

CAOA is run mainly with personal savings…all our activities since 2017 have been supported by personal resources, donation of instruments and travel grants from collaborators. We hope to leverage some funding from well-meaning donor organizations to sustain our innovative work for clean air solutions in Africa.

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