| dc.description.abstract | The cognitive dimension of climate change remains little invested. However, many studies
show the importance of the representations of individuals to allow better adaptation of
territories in the face of climate change. Indeed, an analysis of the representations and
perceptions of individuals of climate change and the risks associated with it should make it
possible to strengthen the adaptive capacity of territories and societies in the face of this
phenomenon. A better understanding of how social representations of climate change are
constructed will facilitate citizen awareness. In an approach of integrated management of
territories, taking into account representations goes in the direction of a co-construction and
acceptability of adaptation strategies. It is in this perspective that the present work aims to
evaluate the trend and the perception of the populations on the evolution of temperatures and
precipitations in the Casamance basin. The data are the result of an exploratory survey of 515
households in the Casamance River basin. The results of the statistical treatments show a
significantly increasing average annual maximum, minimum, and mean temperature trend and
a decreasing trend in annual and seasonal precipitation in terms of magnitude and intensity.
These trends have been verified with the perception of the populations and have an impact on
both the environment (drought, water deficit...) and the socio-economic environment
(agriculture, livestock, health, social life…). Faced with the adverse effects of climate change,
the populations surveyed propose multiple initiatives and develop various adaptation
strategies, based on endogenous knowledge. In the agricultural sector, for example, more
innovative agriculture is being proposed, even if people have different views on the measures
that stakeholders need to pursue to implement it to address climate change. | en_US |
