Integration of social and cultural dimensions in the assessment of environmental flows
Case of the Ouémé delta in West Africa
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 22230779 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Fidèle Sossa (Université d'Abomey-Calavi, corresponding author), Metogbe Belfrid Djihouessi (0000-0002-4893-983X, Université d'Abomey-Calavi, corresponding author), Florent B Tasso (Université d'Abomey-Calavi), Monique Ouassa Kouaro (Université d'Abomey-Calavi) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication date | 2024-01-05 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Humanities and Social Sciences Communications (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2662-9992 • E-ISSN: 2662-9992 |
| Publisher | Springer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1057/s41599-023-02521-0 |
| OpenAlex | W4390614050 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 43 |
The use of environmental flows as a technique for the diagnosis and sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems in West Africa is relatively new and cautious, despite being broadly implemented for many years in Western countries and Southern Africa. The present study, the first to evaluate the environmental flows in Benin, concentrates on the deltaic region of the Ouémé River. The assessment utilises the Building Block Methodology approach, and incorporates ecological, socio-cultural, and religious dimensions. The assessment focuses on the alterations in river flows and the impact on local communities’ livelihoods, beliefs, and cultural and religious practices. The results indicate that the population of the Ouémé Delta are significantly impacted by changes in the river’s flow. Indeed, floods play a crucial role in people’s daily routines and livelihoods, while a significant decrease in river flow results in economic instability. Moreover, there is a strong link between specific religious customs in the area and the river’s flow. To maintain the current provisioning, regulating, and cultural ecosystem services in the Ouémé delta, The study recommended to allocate 100% of the River Ouémé’s natural flow during low-water periods (December to May) and 50% of the natural flow during high-water periods (June to November). This allocation ensures that the environment’s water needs are met and will contribute to preserve the Ouémé delta’s ecosystem, ensuring the sustainability of its ecological habitats and biodiversity. However, the implementation of these recommendations would require more debate and a real consensus on the priority between development and environment
Agriculture · Biodiversity · Delta · Ecosystem · Ecosystem services · Environmental planning · Environmental resource management · Geography · Habitat · Livelihood · Population · Provisioning · River delta · Sociology · Sustainability · Aquatic Ecosystems and Biodiversity · Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management · Engineering · Environmental Science · Land Use and Ecosystem Services · Ecology
Integrating supply and social demand in ecosystem services assessment
Mapping ecosystem services demand
The links between biodiversity, ecosystem services and human well-being
Culture, nature et environnement
Cultural impact assessment
Impacts of drought and responses of rural populations in West Africa
Observed changes in flood hazard in Africa
Tropical Coastal Land-Use and Land Cover Changes Impact on Ecosystem Service Value during Rapid Urbanization of Benin, West Africa
Extreme rainfall years in Benin (West Africa)
A typology for the classification, description and valuation of ecosystem functions, goods and services
Water security for a planet under pressure
Assessing, mapping, and quantifying cultural ecosystem services at community level
Inventory of agroecosystem services and perceptions of potential implications due to climate change
L'Initiative Bassin du Niger (IBN)
Ethno-écologie d'une collectivité régionale
| Citations per year | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Highly cited | No |