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).