Assessment of a pathways approach for local community-based adaptation in Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site, Ghana.

Abstract

This thesis studies climatic and human pressures within the Keta Lagoon Complex Ramsar Site (KLCRS) through a combination of literature review, GIS-analysis and community interviews. KLCRS faces pressures such as sea level rise (SLR), local climate change, coastal retreat, the Akosombo dam, salt mining, mangrove deforestation and tourism. Flooding and erosion are identified as the biggest issues, with mangrove deforestation adding to these problems. There are notable regional differences within the area. Mangrove cutting dominates livelihoods in the Anyanui area, while erosion and flooding dominate in the area around Keta city and flooding at the inland side of the lagoon. Flooding, driven by SLR, heavy storms, and controlled spillages from the Akosombo dam, has led to frequent evacuations in the area. Projections suggest permanent inundation of (part of) KLCRS by 2100 under current SLR predictions. The region is highly vulnerable to coastal erosion due to storms, sediment deficits due to the Akosombo dam, SLR and sand mining, though some coastal areas are accreting due to past government interventions. Projections suggest communities living right along the coast will have to resort to permanent relocation within the next 10 years.

The study shows local knowledge on past and possible future adaptations is low, there is a high dependence on the government and desired adaptations often consist of large-scale governmental adaptations. The constructed adaptation pathways offer a guidance for local communities to adapt, by mapping out potential actions and outcomes. Possible local adaptations include small-scale barriers, EWS, defining protected mangrove areas, dredging, the digging of gutters, reforestation, planting coconut or neem trees, constructing retention ponds, sharing local based knowledge and permanent relocation. However, these adaptations are mostly short-term solutions and due to regional differences, the pathways may not be applicable to the entire region. On short-timescales local communities can try adapting to increasing pressures themselves, but on longer timescales the area is too vulnerable to flooding and erosion and large-scale governmental interventions must be implemented or local communities have to resort to permanent relocation.