Territorial vulnerability and climate impacts in the Mono Basin (Togo)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.59228/rcst.026.v5.i1.235Keywords:
vulnerability, flooding, drought, vegetation fires, resilienceAbstract
Against a backdrop of increasingly extreme weather events, including heavy rainfall, prolonged droughts and wildfires, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the vulnerability of riverside communities in the northern part of the Mono Basin (Togo). Its originality lies in the joint use of quantitative and qualitative approaches, based on a field survey conducted from January to March 2024 among 149 randomly selected individuals. The semi-structured interviews conducted via KoboCollect involved a variety of stakeholders (farmers, community leaders, local elected officials, NGOs/CSOs, municipal services and ANPC), allowing for a comparison of local perceptions, socio-economic realities and environmental risks. The data were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics 2.0 and R version 4.4.3 softwares. The results confirm a high vulnerability to flooding, drought and vegetation fires, with marked variations between localities. ????2 tests reveal highly significant (p < 0.001) and strong (Cramer's V > 0.50) associations, highlighting territorial heterogeneity. The populations attribute these hazards to seasonal disruption and global warming. The impacts identified are multiple: animal losses, crop destruction, water and fodder shortages, disease and injury during periods of flooding, but also famine, poverty, inactivity and economic losses due to droughts and fires. Public infrastructure appears to be particularly vulnerable, especially during floods. Finally, the study showed a hierarchy of impacts, focusing on the most visible and immediate effects, whether socio-economic or environmental.
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