Inclusion of Ghanaian women in coastal natural resource management: The role of environmental attitudes and values

Abstract

Coastal natural resources provide many benefits, some of which are economic and cultural benefits. Unfortunately they are often overexploited resulting in a loss and degradation in natural resources. The study reported in this book highlights the environmental attitudes and values of a very important group of stakeholders – women and the significance taking these into consideration in the management of local coastal natural resources. It investigates poverty-coastal natural resource linkages and how this knowledge can be used to improve Natural Resource Management in Ghana. It also examines the feasibility of using the paired comparison method as an alternative methodology in assessing environmental values in a developing country setting. The questions that guide the direction of this book are: · How women construct and perceive poverty in their community? · What are the linkages between poverty and natural resource use in coastal environments? · What kind of attitudes towards the current trends of natural resource degradation along the coast do women have? · What kind of environmental values do the respondents in the study areas have? · How do the environmental attitudes and values mean for coastal natural resource management in Ghana? · What are the existing institutional and legal frameworks with regards to coastal natural resource management in Ghana?