Fresh findings from researchers at the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation Research are shedding light on how flooding is reshaping both ecosystems and livelihoods in communities within the Volta Basin.
The insights come after the completion of a third ecological survey under the AV-STEC Project, a transdisciplinary initiative focused on strengthening climate resilience in areas affected by recurrent flooding—particularly from the Bagre Dam spillage.
Unlike earlier reports that focused primarily on conservation, the latest phase places stronger emphasis on how environmental changes directly affect community survival. Researchers say the data reveal shifting patterns in plant and animal species, with implications for food security, traditional medicine, and local economies.
According to wetland ecologist Emmanuel N. A. Taye, the surveys—conducted before flooding, after flooding, and during the dry season—offer a rare, comparative look at how ecosystems evolve across different climatic conditions.
“These findings go beyond cataloguing biodiversity. They show how deeply communities depend on these natural systems and how vulnerable that relationship is to climate shocks,” he explained.
Co-lead researcher Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi added that the study highlights species that are both heavily relied upon and increasingly at risk, pointing to the urgent need for sustainable management strategies that balance conservation with human needs.
The project forms part of the broader CLARE Initiative, supported by the International Development Research Centre, which aims to equip vulnerable regions with data-driven solutions to climate threats.
With analysis ongoing, researchers say the evidence gathered will play a critical role in shaping policies and interventions that not only protect biodiversity but also safeguard the livelihoods of communities facing intensifying climate pressures.
