Learning from the past: the role of sacred groves and shrines in environmental management in the Bongo District of Ghana

Aniah, Philip; Yelfaanibe, Augustine

doi:10.1007/s12665-016-5706-2

Cited by 21 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Much of the landscape of the savanna agro ecological zone of Ghana has been shaped by human activities; areas with natural flora have been converted into other land uses and the fauna has been depleted by intensive hunting. However, few small forest patches remain as sacred groves where part of the original biodiversity is conserved (Aniah & Yelfaanibe, 2016, 2017). Triggered by demographic changes, the farming systems of the savanna zone of Ghana have evolved from the interaction of indigenous migratory systems to sedentary systems based on exotic crop species in diverse arrangements, in accordance with the environmental and socio-economic circumstances of the farmers (Callo-Concha et al., 2012).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smallholder farmers' livelihood adaptation to climate variability and ecological changes in the savanna agro ecological zone of Ghana

Aniah

Kaunza-Nu-Dem

Ayembilla³

2019

Heliyon

Self Cite

118

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Climate variability and ecological changes have consequently altered life and natural livelihood-sustaining systems leading to socio-cultural, economic and environmental challenges and vulnerabilities. The risk factors are very high and the impacts will raise the developmental impediments of safeguarding livelihood security and poverty eradication in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adaptation to climate and ecological variation, though recognized as pressing and necessary, operates in the context of numerous uncertainties and unknowns. Previous studies on climate adaptation tried to identify universal patterns of coping rather than differentiating between agro ecological zones, villages and types of households. This paper uses case studies from two rural communities in the Savanna agro ecological zone of Ghana to explore smallholder farmers' responses to climate and ecological variation effects on their livelihood activities that have emerged since the mid-1980s. Results suggest that smallholder farmers use various coping, on-farm and off-farm adaptation strategies to ameliorate the negative impacts of climate and ecological changes on their livelihood. Coping measures such as selling household assets, migration of the entire households and decreasing food consumption/changing diets can be damaging. On –farm adaptation strategies such as varying planting dates, use of drought tolerant crop varieties, soil conservation strategies are based on farmers indigenous knowledge passed down from generations. To ensure sustainability of local adaptation strategies, there is the need for exchange of knowledge between and among smallholder farmers and formal institutions through the recognition and empowerment of local residents and collective actions.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smallholder farmers' livelihood adaptation to climate variability and ecological changes in the savanna agro ecological zone of Ghana

Aniah

Kaunza-Nu-Dem

Ayembilla³

2019

Heliyon

Self Cite

118

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“…Thus, it will be in order to infer that the indigenes in the district are more environmentally friendly and protective of the environment than the technocrats. However, as has been concluded by other studies [7,16,28,29], the protection of the forest and groves may not be purely due to the ecological purposes, but the belief that those areas are the abode of the gods and the ancestral spirits. There is also an argument that the rationale of this belief system is merely the traditional way of protecting the ecosystem.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

Geospatial analysis of landfill site selection perspectives using geographic information systems in Bongo district, Ghana

Amoah

Kursah

2019

SN Appl. Sci.

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This study applied geospatial tools in geographic information systems (GIS) to produce five different landfill suitability maps using criteria selection and prioritisation from the governmental guideline, the local technocrats, the indigenes and two optimal options, which are made up of the harmonisation of the three perspectives. The results from the five perspectives are compared and analysed using the error index technique. The results showed a low spatial agreement (low degree of matching) between the landfill suitability from the governmental guideline and the rest of the perspectives. It also showed a consistent reduction in the areas classified as suitable landfill sites from the governmental guideline to the indigenous perspective. The governmental guideline, thus, exhibits wider spatial discrepancy from the perspective of the local technocrats, and it is even incongruent with that of the indigenes. This study, therefore, exposed a classical case where proponents of landfill sites could meet the governmental guideline and legally acquire permit, but the site could be socioculturally disruptive to the residents. This is identified as the potential source of residents' opposition to landfill siting. The challenges of the criteria in the guideline are also highlighted. A revision of the guideline is suggested, as it is risk-seeking in its current form. Based on this, the bottom-up approach for designing landfill guidelines is recommended.

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“…Customary institutions of Indigenous Peoples often recognise the deep connections between nature and people in a more integrated manner (Parotta and Trosper, 2012;Chen and Gilmore, 2015) based on relational values (Jeeva et al, 2006;Clark and Slocombe, 2009;Samakov and Berkes, 2017), kinship-oriented philosophies (Salmón, 2000;Bird, 2011;Aniah and Yelfaanibe, 2016) and a powerful stewardship ethics (Gammage, 2011;Kohn, 2013). The strong overlap between Indigenous territories and biodiversity hotspots in the world today (Gorenflo et al, 2012;Garnett et al, 2018) suggests that we may find inspirations from Indigenous knowledge systems for new stories about nature, for achieving sustainability.…”

Section: Implications For Policy Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiple conceptualizations of nature are key to inclusivity and legitimacy in global environmental governance

Coscieme

Hyldmo

Fernández‐Llamazares

et al. 2020

Environmental Science & Policy

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Despite increasing scientific understanding of the global environmental crisis, we struggle to adopt the policies science suggests would be effective. One of the reasons for that is the lack of inclusive engagement and dialogue among a wide range of different actors. Furthermore, there is a lack of consideration of differences between languages, worldviews and cultures. In this paper, we propose that engagement across the science-policy interface can be strengthened by being mindful of the breadth and depth of the diverse human-nature relations found around the globe. By examining diverse conceptualizations of "nature" in more than 60 languages, we identify three clusters: inclusive conceptualizations where humans are viewed as an integral component of nature; non-inclusive conceptualizations where humans are separate from nature; and deifying conceptualizations where nature is understood and experienced within a spiritual dimension. Considering and respecting this rich repertoire of ways of describing, thinking about and relating to nature can help us communicate in ways that resonate across cultures and worldviews. This repertoire also provides a resource we can draw on when defining policies and sustainability scenarios for the future, offering opportunities for finding solutions to global environmental challenges.

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Learning from the past: the role of sacred groves and shrines in environmental management in the Bongo District of Ghana

Cited by 21 publications

References 13 publications

Smallholder farmers' livelihood adaptation to climate variability and ecological changes in the savanna agro ecological zone of Ghana

Smallholder farmers' livelihood adaptation to climate variability and ecological changes in the savanna agro ecological zone of Ghana

Geospatial analysis of landfill site selection perspectives using geographic information systems in Bongo district, Ghana

Multiple conceptualizations of nature are key to inclusivity and legitimacy in global environmental governance

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