Carbon Storage and Land Use Dynamics in Ghanaian University Campuses: A Scenario-Based Assessment Using the InVEST Model

Daniel Mawuko Ocloo and Takeshi Mizunoya ()
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Daniel Mawuko Ocloo: Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8572, Ibaraki, Japan
Takeshi Mizunoya: Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba 305-8572, Ibaraki, Japan

Land, 2025, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-21

Abstract: University campuses in rapidly urbanizing regions face increasing pressure to balance infrastructure development with environmental sustainability, yet their carbon storage potential remains largely unexplored in sub-Saharan Africa. This study assessed land use changes, carbon storage dynamics, and economic valuation across three Ghanaian universities, University of Ghana (UG), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), and University of Cape Coast (UCC), from 2017 to 2023, and evaluated five future scenarios using the InVEST carbon model. Land use analysis employed ESRI 10 m annual land cover data, while carbon storage was estimated using regionally appropriate carbon pool values, and economic valuation applied Ghana’s social cost of carbon ($0.970/tCO 2 ). Historical analysis revealed substantial carbon losses: UG declined by 17.1% (19,695 Mg C), KNUST by 29.5% (20,063 Mg C), and UCC by 7.9% (3292 Mg C), due to tree cover conversion to built areas. Scenario modeling demonstrated that infrastructure-focused development would cause additional losses of 4211–6891 Mg C, while extensive tree expansion could increase storage by 1686–5227 Mg C. Economic analysis showed tree expansion generating positive net present values ($1612–$5070), while infrastructure development imposed costs (−$4028 to −$6684). These findings provide quantitative evidence for sustainable campus planning prioritizing carbon conservation in tropical institutional landscapes.

Keywords: carbon sequestration; ecosystem services; campus sustainability; InVEST model; land use planning; West Africa (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:10:p:1987-:d:1763956

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