Enabling Conditions for Nature-based Solutions for Climate Adaptation in the Guinean Forests of West Africa: Evidence From Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Guinea
This article presents findings of the baseline survey for the project “Nature-based solutions for climate adaptation in the Guinean forests of West Africa” in the context of relevant legal, policy, institutional, and gender equity issues in six biodiverse and climate-change sensitive areas in three countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Guinea. Quantitative and qualitative data suggests that there are differences between the perceptions and/or experiences of male and female actors of many aspects of nature-based climate adaptation, such as perceptions of vulnerability to climate change, levels of participation of women in planning and implementing climate adaptation and reforestation activities, and knowledge of the concept of biodiversity. The data suggests that statutory and customary laws and local norms generally support women’s rights to actively participate in nature-based solutions such as agroforestry, although there are challenges in ensuring that women are fully involved in planning such activities, and benefit fully from them.