Scientific Research and Essays

  • Abbreviation: Sci. Res. Essays
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1992-2248
  • DOI: 10.5897/SRE
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 2768

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of ecosystem services in the Wildlife Reserve of Togodo (South East of Togo, West Africa) and vulnerability-adaptation of surrounding communities to climate variability and change effects

Jérémie Kokou Fontodji
  • Jérémie Kokou Fontodji
  • Laboratoire de Recherche Forestière, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, Togo, BP 1515, Lomé, Togo
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Kossi Adjonou
  • Kossi Adjonou
  • Laboratoire de Recherche Forestière, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, Togo, BP 1515, Lomé, Togo
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Kossi Novinyo Segla
  • Kossi Novinyo Segla
  • Laboratoire de Recherche Forestière, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, Togo, BP 1515, Lomé, Togo
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Kodjo Napo
  • Kodjo Napo
  • Laboratoire de Recherche Forestière, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, Togo, BP 1515, Lomé, Togo
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Komla Elikplim Abotsi
  • Komla Elikplim Abotsi
  • Laboratoire de Recherche Forestière, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, Togo, BP 1515, Lomé, Togo
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Adzo Dzifa Kokutse
  • Adzo Dzifa Kokutse
  • Laboratoire de Recherche Forestière, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, Togo, BP 1515, Lomé, Togo
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Regina Sagoe
  • Regina Sagoe
  • Crops Research Institute (CSIR), P. O. Box 3785, Kumasi-Ghana.
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Kouami Kokou
  • Kouami Kokou
  • Laboratoire de Recherche Forestière, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lomé, Togo, BP 1515, Lomé, Togo
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  •  Received: 22 November 2018
  •  Accepted: 13 February 2019
  •  Published: 31 July 2019

Abstract

This study aims at contributing to the vulnerability and adaptation to climate changes (CC) analysis of bordering communities of Togodo Reserve, in order to enhance their resilience. Specifically, the present study attempted to (i)  identify the climatic hazards of the WRT; (ii) determine the impacts of climate variability and change on their livelihoods; (iii) assess the socio-economic vulnerability of these communities to food insecurity in relation to CC; and (iv) identify indigenous adaptation strategies to control the effects of CC. The methodological approach used is based on a factual research and a field investigation. The investigation is conducted in two villages around the reserve, namely Dévé and Gbohoulé. The results showed that climate variability and change were appreciated in different indicators by the local communities living around the WRT: Droughts, flooding, high winds and temperature increase with severe consequences on the communities (famine, destruction of tangible and intangible properties, loss of human life, populations’ migration). The communities are aware that humans are responsible for these events that have become recurrent from 2007 and occur almost every year. According to them, the causes of climate changes are deforestation (due to overexploitation of timber, fuelwood and shifting agriculture), bush fires, rapid increase in population, anger of gods due to irregularities of sacrifices and violations of customs. The communities are vulnerable to main climatic hazards and suffered from food insecurity. The factorial correspondence analysis (FCA)) carried out shows that the perception of the degree of exposure of households to risks depends on their standard of livelihood. Facing these climate events, the populations develop many adaptive strategies of which most are consistent with the national orientations and strategies. These adaptive strategies must be reinforced and supported in order to reduce the vulnerability of these populations to climate changes.

Key words: Climate variability and change, communities, livelihood, vulnerability and adaptation, Wildlife Reserve of Togodo.