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

Armah, Frederick A. ; Yawson, David O. ; Tambang, Yengoh Genesis LU ; Odoi, Justice O. and Afrifa, Ernest K. A. (2010) In Water 2(2). p.120-139
Abstract
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... (More)
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. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
floods, vulnerability, environment, communities, livelihoods, Northern, Ghana
in
Water
volume
2
issue
2
pages
120 - 139
publisher
MDPI AG
external identifiers
  • wos:000208555600001
  • scopus:84995396747
ISSN
2073-4441
DOI
10.3390/w2020120
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6a65bfe7-b80d-4679-b6af-4a0729813447 (old id 4361248)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:00:44
date last changed
2022-03-29 18:39:36
@article{6a65bfe7-b80d-4679-b6af-4a0729813447,
  abstract     = {{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.}},
  author       = {{Armah, Frederick A. and Yawson, David O. and Tambang, Yengoh Genesis and Odoi, Justice O. and Afrifa, Ernest K. A.}},
  issn         = {{2073-4441}},
  keywords     = {{floods; vulnerability; environment; communities; livelihoods; Northern; Ghana}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{120--139}},
  publisher    = {{MDPI AG}},
  series       = {{Water}},
  title        = {{Impact of Floods on Livelihoods and Vulnerability of Natural Resource Dependent Communities in Northern Ghana}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w2020120}},
  doi          = {{10.3390/w2020120}},
  volume       = {{2}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}