Researchers from the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research (CBCR) have completed the third ecological survey under the Adaptation and Vulnerability – Strengthening Transdisciplinary Engagement for Climate Resistance (AV-STEC) project.
This marks a significant step in efforts to generate critical baseline data on biodiversity and support conservation planning in flood-prone communities.
The project seeks to build climate resilience in the Volta Basin (Ghana and Burkina Faso) facing risks from flooding, particularly the annual Bagre Dam spillage.
The aim is to promote nature-based solutions, strengthen transdisciplinary collaboration, conduct vulnerability assessments, improve localised climate information as well as building capacity of stakeholders.
The project forms part of the Climate Adaptation and Resilience (CLARE) initiative, supported by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada.
Mr. Emmanuel N. A. Taye, a Wetland Ecologist and Ornithologist at CBCR, briefing the media on ecological component of the project, said ecological surveys formed a key part of the project, aimed at documenting plant and animal species, identifying those of concern, and understanding how local communities depend on these resources for food, medicine, and other socio-economic uses.
“The surveys help us to establish baseline data which is lacking in the region as well on biodiversity, which is essential for tracking changes over time and informing conservation decisions,” he said.
Mr. Taye noted that three expeditions were undertaken, one before the flooding event and one after, with a final one in the dry season.
He said the approach was designed to assess changes in biodiversity composition across seasons and evaluate the impact of flooding on ecosystems, as well as how such changes influenced community dependence on natural resources.
According to him, the completion of the third expedition provided valuable insights into the dynamics of species distribution and ecosystem resilience in the study areas.
Mrs. Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi, Co-Lead of the expeditions, emphasised that the data collected would contribute to a better understanding of how different plant and animal species were utilised by communities, helping to highlight those that required protection or sustainable management while ensuring continued availability for the communities.
Mr. Taye stressed the importance of such studies to the region, particularly in the face of increasing environmental pressures, including climate variability and flooding.
He said knowledge generated from these surveys is not only important for conservation but also for ensuring that local livelihoods are preserved in a sustainable manner.
Further analysis of the data collected from the surveys is expected to guide future conservation strategies and community-focused initiatives under the project.
GNA
