Abstract

The area of Buyo is situated in a humid tropical region that is the site of a large hydroelectric dam built in the early 1980s. Changes brought about by the construction of the dam have not only transformed agriculture in the region, but also created a substantial fishery. With support from IDRC, a research team from the University of Abobo Adjamé carried out an environmental assessment of the area. The assessment revealed that the dam had important socioeconomic and sociocultural, as well as ecological, effects. Based on the results of the diagnosis, a transdisciplinary research team will characterize the composition and structure of the ecosystems involved and the people who live in them. Researchers will determine the nature, level and impact of toxic chemical and biological contaminants on the land, water and people of the area. They will determine how water and agropastoral resources are managed and valorized. They will identify the sociocultural factors that favour the transmission of water-borne diseases. And, they will document the impact of an integrated approach to community management of potable water.

Recipient Institution(s)