Open Whole.Kad.Final3re.Pdf
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
The Pennsylvania State University The Graduate School College of Earth and Mineral Sciences MANAGING WATER RESOURCES UNDER CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE: PERSPECTIVES OF COMMUNITIES IN THE AFRAM PLAINS, GHANA A Thesis in Geography by Kathleen Ann Dietrich © 2008 Kathleen Ann Dietrich Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science August 2008 The thesis of Kathleen Ann Dietrich was reviewed and approved* by the following: Petra Tschakert Assistant Professor of Geography Alliance for Earth Sciences, Engineering, and Development in Africa Thesis Adviser C. Gregory Knight Professor of Geography Karl Zimmerer Professor of Geography Head of the Department of Geography *Signatures are on file in the Graduate School iii ABSTRACT Climate variability and change alter the amount and timing of water resources available for rural communities in the Afram Plains district, Ghana. Given the fact that the district has been experiencing a historical and multi-scalar economic and political neglect, its communities face a particular vulnerability for accessing current and future water resources. Therefore, these communities must adapt their water management strategies to both future climate change and the socio-economic context. Using participatory methods and interviews, I explore the success of past and present water management strategies by three communities in the Afram Plains in order to establish potentially effective responses to future climate change. Currently, few strategies are linked to climate variability and change; however, the methods and results assist in giving voice to the participant communities by recognizing, sharing, and validating their experiences of multiple climatic and non-climatic vulnerabilities and the past, current, and future strategies which may enhance their adaptive capacity. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES................................................................................ viii LIST OF MAPS .................................................................................... ix ABBREVIATIONS USED ......................................................................... x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................. 1 1.1 Water Management and Climate Change Research in the Developing World..............2 1.2 Overview of Research .......................................................................................................4 1.3 Organization.......................................................................................................................5 CHAPTER 2 LITERATURE REVIEW ......................................................... 7 2.1 Defining Adaptation to Climate Change..........................................................................7 2.2 Research on Climate Change Adaptation.......................................................................10 2.2.1 History of Climate Change Adaptation Assessments..........................................11 2.2.3 Understanding System-Specific Adaptation Processes.......................................14 2.2.4 The Role of Institutions in Climate Change Adaptation .....................................15 2.2.5 Thresholds and Coping Range for Climate Variability and Change ..................17 2.3 Research on Climate Change and Water in West Africa and Ghana ...........................19 2.3.2 Vulnerabilities of Water Resources to Climate Change and Other Stressors ....22 2.3.3 Water Resource Adaptations to Climate Change ................................................25 2.4 Community-Based Climate Adaptation Research .........................................................27 2.5 Summary ..........................................................................................................................30 CHAPTER 3 RESEARCH DESIGN: LOCATION AND METHODS.................. 32 3.1 Research Questions..........................................................................................................33 3.2 Research Location ...........................................................................................................34 3.2.1 Climate and Geology of the Afram Plains ...........................................................35 3.2.2 Socio-Economic Characteristics of the Afram Plains .........................................37 3.2.3 Governance in the Afram Plains...........................................................................39 3.3 Case Study Communities ................................................................................................41 3.3.1 Mem-Chemfere ......................................................................................................43 3.3.2 Xedzodzoekope......................................................................................................46 3.3.3 Boekyekrom ...........................................................................................................49 3.4 Research Methods............................................................................................................51 3.4.1 Research Question 1: Past and Present Adaptation Strategies............................51 3.4.2 Research Question 2: Institutions .........................................................................53 3.4.3 Research Question 3: Water Management under a Future Climate Change......55 3.4.4 Field Notes and Secondary Source Analysis .......................................................56 3.4.5 Validity...................................................................................................................57 v CHAPTER 4 PAST AND PRESENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES............... 59 4.1 Mem-Chemfere ................................................................................................................59 4.1.1 Water Management for Livelihoods.....................................................................60 4.1.2 Access to and Management of Everyday Water ..................................................61 4.1.4 Seasonal Adaptations in Water Management and Response to Climatic Variability and Extreme Events...............................................................................68 4.2 Xedzodzoekope................................................................................................................70 4.2.1 Water Management for Livelihoods.....................................................................71 4.2.2 Access to and Management of Everyday Water ..................................................73 4.2.3 Seasonal Adaptations in Water Management and Response to Climatic Variability and Extreme Events...............................................................................75 4.3 Boekyekrom .....................................................................................................................78 4.3.1 Water Management for Livelihoods.....................................................................78 4.3.2 Access to and Management of Everyday Water ..................................................80 4.3.3 Seasonal Adaptations in Water Management and Responses to Climate Variability and Extreme Events...............................................................................86 4.4 Variations in Past and Present Water Management Strategies .....................................89 CHAPTER 5 INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL INSTITUTIONS FOR WATER MANAGEMENT ............................................................................. 93 5.1 Institutional Structure for Water Management in the Afram Plains.............................94 5.2 Community Institutions for Water Management...........................................................95 5.2.1 WATSAN Committee ...........................................................................................96 5.2.2 Unit Committee......................................................................................................99 5.2.3 Other Community Institutions Involved in Water Management ......................100 5.3 District Institutions for Water Management ................................................................102 5.3.1 Afram Plains District Water and Sanitation Team ............................................102 5.3.2 Afram Plains Development Organization ..........................................................104 5.3.3 Other Institutions and Water Management ........................................................107 5.4 National and International Institutions for Water Management .................................108 5.4.1 Volta River Authority..........................................................................................109 5.4.2 International Donor Organizations .....................................................................111 5.5 Interaction with Institutions Not Involved in Water Management.............................111 5.6 Variations in Institutional Support................................................................................114 CHAPTER 6 WATER MANAGEMENT UNDER FUTURE CLIMATE VARIABILITY AND CHANGE ............................................................ 118 6.1 Future Climate ...............................................................................................................118 6.2 Future Water Management Strategies ..........................................................................126