Dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana

This study investigated the dependence of three riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana. Participatory mapping and ranking exercises in gender-segregated groups were used to elicit information on the communities’ livelihoods. The most important ecosystem-based activities (EBA) a...

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Main Authors: Mul, Marloes L., Pettinotti, L., Amonoo, Naana Adwoa, Bekoe-Obeng, E., Obuobie, Emmanuel
Format: Artículo preliminar
Language:Inglés
Published: International Water Management Institute 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/91058
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author Mul, Marloes L.
Pettinotti, L.
Amonoo, Naana Adwoa
Bekoe-Obeng, E.
Obuobie, Emmanuel
author_browse Amonoo, Naana Adwoa
Bekoe-Obeng, E.
Mul, Marloes L.
Obuobie, Emmanuel
Pettinotti, L.
author_facet Mul, Marloes L.
Pettinotti, L.
Amonoo, Naana Adwoa
Bekoe-Obeng, E.
Obuobie, Emmanuel
author_sort Mul, Marloes L.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This study investigated the dependence of three riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana. Participatory mapping and ranking exercises in gender-segregated groups were used to elicit information on the communities’ livelihoods. The most important ecosystem-based activities (EBA) are farming, fishing, livestock watering and grazing, collection of wild fruits and vegetables, and provision of water for domestic use. The major EBA are dependent on the seasonal flows of the White Volta River, which are under pressure due to climatic and other anthropogenic changes. For example, observed delays in the start of the rainy season are affecting rainfed agricultural activities on the floodplains. Delayed planting on the floodplains results in damage to, or loss of, crops as floods arrive before the harvest. Moreover, the Bagré Dam in Burkina Faso, built upstream of the communities, has impacted the natural river flow. The planned Pwalugu Dam may, depending on the final operations, support or affect EBA. We, therefore, recommend that operations of the Pwalugu Dam should take into consideration the flow requirements of EBA downstream of the dam.
format Artículo preliminar
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language Inglés
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publishDateRange 2017
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spelling CGSpace910582025-11-07T09:05:25Z Dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana Mul, Marloes L. Pettinotti, L. Amonoo, Naana Adwoa Bekoe-Obeng, E. Obuobie, Emmanuel infrastructure forest reserves ecosystem services riparian zones communities participatory rural appraisal socioeconomic environment living standards mapping seasonality natural resources shrubs woodlands water storage ponds dams river basins stream flow floodplains household consumption domestic consumption gender climate change rain dry season food security income agriculture This study investigated the dependence of three riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana. Participatory mapping and ranking exercises in gender-segregated groups were used to elicit information on the communities’ livelihoods. The most important ecosystem-based activities (EBA) are farming, fishing, livestock watering and grazing, collection of wild fruits and vegetables, and provision of water for domestic use. The major EBA are dependent on the seasonal flows of the White Volta River, which are under pressure due to climatic and other anthropogenic changes. For example, observed delays in the start of the rainy season are affecting rainfed agricultural activities on the floodplains. Delayed planting on the floodplains results in damage to, or loss of, crops as floods arrive before the harvest. Moreover, the Bagré Dam in Burkina Faso, built upstream of the communities, has impacted the natural river flow. The planned Pwalugu Dam may, depending on the final operations, support or affect EBA. We, therefore, recommend that operations of the Pwalugu Dam should take into consideration the flow requirements of EBA downstream of the dam. 2017 2018-02-21T09:07:30Z 2018-02-21T09:07:30Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/91058 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute Mul, Marloes; Pettinotti, L.; Amonoo, Naana Adwoa; Bekoe-Obeng, E.; Obuobie, E. 2017. Dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI).. 43p. (IWMI Working Paper 179) doi: 10.5337/2018.201
spellingShingle infrastructure
forest reserves
ecosystem services
riparian zones
communities
participatory rural appraisal
socioeconomic environment
living standards
mapping
seasonality
natural resources
shrubs
woodlands
water storage
ponds
dams
river basins
stream flow
floodplains
household consumption
domestic consumption
gender
climate change
rain
dry season
food security
income
agriculture
Mul, Marloes L.
Pettinotti, L.
Amonoo, Naana Adwoa
Bekoe-Obeng, E.
Obuobie, Emmanuel
Dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana
title Dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana
title_full Dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana
title_fullStr Dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana
title_full_unstemmed Dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana
title_short Dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern Ghana
title_sort dependence of riparian communities on ecosystem services in northern ghana
topic infrastructure
forest reserves
ecosystem services
riparian zones
communities
participatory rural appraisal
socioeconomic environment
living standards
mapping
seasonality
natural resources
shrubs
woodlands
water storage
ponds
dams
river basins
stream flow
floodplains
household consumption
domestic consumption
gender
climate change
rain
dry season
food security
income
agriculture
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/91058
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AT bekoeobenge dependenceofripariancommunitiesonecosystemservicesinnorthernghana
AT obuobieemmanuel dependenceofripariancommunitiesonecosystemservicesinnorthernghana