Understanding the Dynamics of Climate Change Impacts on Forest-Dependent Livelihoods in Rural Ghana: Implications for Climate Change Resilient Policy

Abstract

Forest resources and rain-fed agriculture play key roles in the livelihoods of the majority of rural dwellers in Ghana. Climate change and variability, characterised by several consequences, is expected to adversely affect forest dependent-livelihoods. This study was conducted to examine the impact of climate change on forest-dependent livelihoods and rural communities’ socio-economic vulnerability levels as well as their adaptation strategies. Questionnaires, interviews and direct observations were used to collect data from respondents in four ecological zones. The socio-economic vulnerability assessment of the four ecological zones was estimated using six socio-economic indicators and subsequently ranked using the “Three Category Ranking Method”. The Transition and Sudan Savannah zones were ranked the most vulnerable to climate change out of the four ecological zones. The zones’ vulnerability was due to interacting socio-demographic and socio-economic factors such as high illiteracy level, limited range of income sources, and low access to climate change information. Crop diversification, household income diversification, peri-urban migration and an increase in farm size are among the different measures adopted by communities to cope with the effects of climate change. To enhance rural communities’ resilience, fundamental issues such as illiteracy, options of non-climate dependent livelihoods, access to climate change information and sustainable agricultural practices are key areas for policy intervention.