Hazards and Vulnerability Mapping for Adaptation to Climate Risks in Savannah Ecosystem: A Case Study of the Upper East Region, Ghana
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Date
2014-07
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University of Ghana
Abstract
The climate is warming, a trend that is projected to increase with increasing frequency and intensity of climate related hazards. Impacts are likely to be greater in developing countries because of dependence on climate sensitive livelihood activities. The nature and impacts of climate hazards require a study that goes beyond investigating a single hazard or livelihood activity to embrace multiple hazards and their impacts on the various livelihood activities. It is against this background that this research was set up to undertake a multi-hazard/multi-sector analysis and mapping of vulnerability and identify policy options to enhance adaptation in the savannah ecosystem, using the Upper East Region as a case study.
To achieve this, an integrated framework was developed to guide the research. Assessment of the various components of the framework required varied datasets and different methods of data collection and analysis. The primary data was collected using questionnaires, focus group discussions, photography, as well as personal observation. The secondary data consisting of daily weather and socio-economic and geographic data was collected from relevant institutions, policies and published reports. The weather data was analysed using the Standard Precipitation Index and plotted with R. The questionnaire survey and socio-economic data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Science and Excel while the focus group discussions were subjected to manual content analysis. The datasets were used to develop indicators of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity and converted into geographic layers for mapping in ArcGIS 9.3. The individual indicators were georeferenced using the district boundaries since most of these datasets were collected at district scale.
Description
Thesis (Phd) - University of Ghana, 2014
Keywords
Climate Change, Climate Harzards, Ecosystems, Livelihoods Activities, Ghana