Climate Change Adaptation: An Ecosystem-Based Approach for Livelihood Improvement of Fringe Communities around Worobong South Forest Reserve in Ghana
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Forestry Research
Abstract
Anthropogenic and climate-induced change can potentially impact negatively on direct dependents of forest ecosystem services.
To help build resilient societies, we examined the vulnerability of ecosystem-dependent communities in the Worobong South
Forest Reserve (WSFR). We also examined climate variability impacts on forests and further suggested ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) strategies for livelihood improvements in the study area. The reserve can be found in the Eastern region of Ghana.
We administered 250 questionnaires as well as studied time series data for temperature and rainfall with satellite images using the
mixed method approach. The types of questionnaires used were open-ended and closed-ended semi structured questionnaires. The
study also involved a focus group discussion and the development of trend analysis of relationships between the two data sets in
2016. Our results show that respondents perceived variation in average annual temperature and rainfall over the past few decades
as the main reasons for the decline in the supply of bush meat, freshwater, tree barks, and leaves in the study area. The results of the
questionnaire corroborated those of the data for the time series obtained from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMeT) which is
correlated with changes in the structure of (WSFR). To build resilient livelihoods and ecosystems, residents suggested strategies
such as intensification of agroforestry systems with gain sharing arrangements, forest regulation enforcement, and bushfire
control as ways to sustain the forests in the WSFR. We conclude that any measure to develop any climate change resilient
mechanism in the WSFR should include those suggestions from residents
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Anthropogenic, Climate Change Adaptation, forest ecosystem, Ghana