Perceptions et représentations socio-spatiales des risques dans les communes multirisques : le cas de la place du risque d'inondation par la mer chez les habitants de Port-Gentil au Gabon

Abstract

In the framework of assessment policies aimed at reducing the vulnerability of risks’ subjected territories, the concept of representation is an essential component for understanding the population's attitude towards risks. This representation is influenced by socio-spatial factors. Thus, this study examines the representations of the risk of flooding by the sea in the coastal commune of Port-Gentil, the economic capital of Gabon. To this end, a geo-localised questionnaire survey was conducted among 771 heads of household in their homes. In this study we sought to examine how the inhabitants of Port-Gentil represent the risk of flooding by the sea, as well as the socio-spatial factors influencing this representation in this African city with multiple risks. The results of the study show that (1) the risk of flooding from the sea does not seem to be the main concern of the inhabitants; (2) the representation of the feeling of exposure to the main declared risks is significantly influenced by residential factors such as the time spent in the commune, whether they own a dwelling or not and the standing of the dwelling; (3) spatially, the location of the household is a determining factor in the representation of the risks. Our results suggest that the representations of inhabitants must be taken into account in the implementation of risk management policies in Port-Gentil. They allow us to direct the discourse towards populations that tend to ignore their exposure to risks, particularly to risks that are not very obvious, such as flooding from the sea.

Keywords

• spatial autocorrelation
• regression
• urban vulnerability
• coastal flooding
• risk representation