Short answer
Designers and policymakers should focus on strengthening local access to education, training, and essential infrastructure to enhance communities' capacity to adopt climate-adaptive strategies.
- Field
- Resource Management
- Source
- Journal of Sustainable Development (2015)
- Method
- Quantitative comparative study using a logit model.
- Sample
- 499 participants (249 in Kogyae, 250 in Muni)
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Communities near protected areas in Ghana exhibit low adaptive capacity, limiting their ability to adopt modern productivity-enhancing strategies for climate change, with human and physical capital being key determinants of success. This resource management research insight is drawn from a 2015 study published in Journal of Sustainable Development. Using Quantitative comparative study using a logit model. with 499 participants (249 in Kogyae, 250 in Muni), researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Designers and policymakers should focus on strengthening local access to education, training, and essential infrastructure to enhance communities' capacity to adopt climate-adaptive strategies.
Low adaptive capacity hinders climate change adaptation strategies in Ghanaian communities.
Communities near protected areas in Ghana exhibit low adaptive capacity, limiting their ability to adopt modern productivity-enhancing strategies for climate change, with human and physical capital being key determinants of success.
Journal of Sustainable Development · 2015
Key Findings
- 01Mean adaptive capacity of farm households was low in both study areas (0.30 in Kogyae, 0.27 in Muni).
- 02Adoption of MPES was positively influenced by human and physical capacities, farm size, and location near the Kogyae protected area.
- 03Participation in off-farm activities negatively influenced the adoption of MPES.
- 04Indigenous coping strategies (e.g., simple tools, food processing, social grouping) are prevalent alongside some MPES (e.g., fertilizers, machinery, bunding).
Application
Design takeaway
Designers and policymakers should focus on strengthening local access to education, training, and essential infrastructure to enhance communities' capacity to adopt climate-adaptive strategies.
How to apply
When designing development programs or resource management strategies for climate-vulnerable communities, assess and actively work to improve their access to education, healthcare, technology, and infrastructure.
Project actions
- 01When researching community needs, consider the 'capitals' (human, social, natural, financial, physical) available to them.
- 02Investigate how access to resources, like protected areas, affects community practices and adaptation.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Comparative analysis between two distinct protected area contexts.
- +Use of a quantitative model (logit) to establish statistical relationships.
Limitations
It can be difficult to isolate the exact impact of each type of capital on adoption rates, and external factors not studied could also play a role.
Reliability & validity
The use of a logit model and quantitative data collection from a substantial sample size contributes to the reliability and validity of the findings regarding the influence of adaptive capacity on MPES adoption.
Think critically
How might the restrictions on resource access from protected areas indirectly impact the development of human and physical capital within adjacent communities?
Design Principles
"Enhance local capacity through investment in human and physical capital to foster resilience against environmental change."
This research highlights a critical gap in resource management for communities facing environmental challenges. Understanding the factors that enable or restrict the adoption of adaptive strategies is crucial for designing effective interventions and ensuring the long-term resilience of vulnerable populations.
What This Means for Your Design
People in Ghana living near nature reserves can't easily adopt new farming methods to deal with climate change because they don't have enough education or good roads and tools. Doing other jobs also makes it harder to adopt these new methods.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use this study to justify the importance of assessing community resources and capacities before proposing design solutions for environmental challenges.
- 2.Cite this research when discussing the barriers to adopting new technologies or practices in vulnerable communities.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This study by Egyir et al. (2015) demonstrates that communities facing climate change often have low adaptive capacity, significantly hindering their adoption of modern productivity-enhancing strategies. The research highlights that improvements in human and physical capital are crucial for enabling these communities to adapt, suggesting that design interventions should focus on enhancing access to education, training, and essential infrastructure rather than solely on introducing new technologies.
Source
Journal of Sustainable Development
Adaptive Capacity and Coping Strategies in the Face of Climate Change: A Comparative Study of Communities around Two Protected Areas in the Coastal Savanna and Transitional Zones of Ghana
journal · 2015
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about low adaptive capacity hinders climate change adaptation strategies in ghanaian communities?
- Designers and policymakers should focus on strengthening local access to education, training, and essential infrastructure to enhance communities' capacity to adopt climate-adaptive strategies. Evidence: Journal of Sustainable Development (2015).
- Why does "Low adaptive capacity hinders climate change adaptation strategies in Ghanaian communities." matter for design?
- This research highlights a critical gap in resource management for communities facing environmental challenges. Understanding the factors that enable or restrict the adoption of adaptive strategies is crucial for designing effective interventions and ensuring the long-term resilience of vulnerable populations.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Designers and policymakers should focus on strengthening local access to education, training, and essential infrastructure to enhance communities' capacity to adopt climate-adaptive strategies.
- What were the main findings?
- Mean adaptive capacity of farm households was low in both study areas (0.30 in Kogyae, 0.27 in Muni).. Adoption of MPES was positively influenced by human and physical capacities, farm size, and location near the Kogyae protected area.. Participation in off-farm activities negatively influenced the adoption of MPES.. Indigenous coping strategies (e.g., simple tools, food processing, social grouping) are prevalent alongside some MPES (e.g., fertilizers, machinery, bunding).
- What research method was used?
- Quantitative comparative study using a logit model. with 499 participants (249 in Kogyae, 250 in Muni).
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2015 journal from Journal of Sustainable Development.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing development programs or resource management strategies for climate-vulnerable communities, assess and actively work to improve their access to education, healthcare, technology, and infrastructure.
- What are the limitations?
- The study focuses on two specific locations in Ghana, and findings may not be generalizable to all coastal savanna and transitional zones. The definition and measurement of 'adaptive capacity' can be complex and may vary across contexts.