Local Knowledge and Community–Based Assessment of Environmental Change in Ghana

Abstract

Although much scientific knowledge exists about global environmental change, two kinds of limitations arise: limited scientific understanding about first, localized geographic specificities and second, the perspectives of the affected populations, the communities. This paper contributes to an understanding of local knowledge on environmental change through Community Risk Assessment (CRA) in Ghana. Qualitative methods of data collection, particularly Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methods were employed for data collection and complemented with a survey of 200 farmers. The paper highlights three key findings. First, it underscores the potential role of local knowledge in CRA and in contributing to an understanding that environmental change has been primarily negative, as in a deteriorating climate and the natural environment. Secondly, that local knowledge on vulnerability to climate change revealed multiple exposures to climatic extremes such as drought, heavy rainfall, floods and rainstorms.  However, drought and rainstorms were identified as the highest risk stressors with disruptive or damaging consequences on livelihoods of local populations. Communities also had their knowledge of change in the natural environment. The primary stressors of environmental change were identified as deforestation and land degradation and anthropogenic factors as the primary drivers of such changes. Thirdly, that there is great potential for a role of local knowledge in environmental change research and adaptation in Africa and wherever such knowledge exists. This is because the outcomes are both scientific and relevant for Environmental Change Mitigation and Adaptation Planning (ECMAP).