Impact of Floods on Livelihoods and Vulnerability of Natural Resource Dependent Communities in Northern Ghana

Water

Frederick A. Armah³  David O. Yawson¹  Genesis T. Yengoh²  Justice O. Odoi⁴ 

[1] School of Agriculture, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; E-Mail:;Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies, P.O. Box 170, SE-22100, Lund, Sweden; E-Mail:;Department of Environmental Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; E-Mail:;Ghana Nature Today, A 25 Standard Estates, Sakumono, P.O. Box OS 1455, Osu, Accra, Ghana; E-Mail:

关键词: floods;    vulnerability;    environment;    communities;    livelihoods;    Northern Ghana;   

DOI  :  10.3390/w2020120

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

Sub-Sahara Africa is considered to be most vulnerable to climate variability including flooding. The frequency and severity of floods in Northern Ghana over the last decade has increased considerably. Through qualitative modelling the paper explores the impact of floods on natural resource dependent communities in Northern Ghana. Simplified causal loop diagrams are used to conceptualise flood-induced coping strategies in the study area. The results indicate that some characteristics of the socio-cultural environment appear to mitigate risk and reduce vulnerability. In this context, the role of social networks in enhancing livelihood security is essential. The paper concludes that both in case of seasonal variations in agricultural output and floods, individuals that have effectively diversified their livelihoods, both occupationally and geographically, are less sensitive than individuals who mainly achieve entitlement to food via crop cultivation. However, diversification in this case, is effective only in the short term.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2010 by the authors; licensee Molecular Diversity Preservation International, Basel, Switzerland.