Exploring Agrobiodiversity-Based Climate Change Adaptation in Semi-Arid Areas of West Africa: A Case Study in Mali.
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2019-07
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Abstract
Semiarid regions of West Africa are hot spots of climate change exposure and impacts, and this is expected to intensify in the future. Given the close relationship between livelihoods on ecosystem processes and natural resources and the close dependence between ecological sensitivities and social vulnerability, concerted efforts to build resilience of local people to an increasing and potentially irreversible Climatic challenge are urgently needed. Achieving these efforts effectively will require a better understanding of location- and context-specificity of adaptation actions and strategies at local level as well as vulnerability patterns to inform policydecisions making and adaptation planning. Using a multi-scale and multidisciplinary approach, combining a spatially-explicit climate and vegetation trends assessment, participatory research methods and a quantitative modelling approach, this study aimed to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on effectiveness of ecosystem-based adaptation using the lens of agrobiodiversity-based adaptation, with a focus on semiarid areas of Mali, West Africa. Specifically, the study sought to i) to unpack climatic and non-climatic driving forces of vegetation dynamics; ii) assess farmers' perception of impact of climate change on agroecosystems and adaptation strategies; iii) document and analyse agrobiodiversity-based adaptation practices and how these practices influenced household vulnerability patterns. The empirical data was collected in the Cercle of Koutiala, a semiarid area in southwestern Mali. Both minimum and maximum temperature significantly increased over the study period, albeit with decadal and interannual variability. Minimum temperature increased faster than maximum temperature in the study area, with a figure (1.26°C over the 35-year period) close to global temperature increase since pre-industrial period. The rainfall trend analysis revealed a strong interannual and spatial variability, rather than a clear significant change in rainfall over the study period. Analysis of coarse and moderate resolution NOV] time series illustrated the strong spatial heterogeneity in vegetation cover dynamics. While greening trends was dominant, this trend must be nuanced as it was not homogenous or uniform and some areas experienced browning or degradation as well. Respondents' social network characteristics such as CBOs membership, diversity of CBOs membership and diversity of source of agricultural knowledge were the main drivers of knowledge of climate change and its impacts. While CBOs membership improved farmer's knowledge and understanding of climate change, the diversity of CBOs membership affected negatively climate change knowledge and understanding, implying that the characteristics of the group matter and that climate information and knowledge is not acquired through all types of CBOs. There was a wide range of environmental and socioeconomic shocks or risks to which farmers were exposed to. Climatic risks were just one among many challenges. Drought and food insecurity were the most important stressors mentioned. Vulnerability patterns analysis indicated three vulnerability archetypes, which cut across all the study communities, illustrating the heterogeneity, within and across communities, in household vulnerability patterns to climatic and non-climatic risks. Key determinants of household vulnerability patterns were socio-demographic status, livelihood strategies, household resources, food security, water security, social network, physical accessibility, and health and sanitation. Environmental and socio-economic shocks or stressors were not discriminant, implying that household vulnerability patterns in the study area were mainly shaped by household adaptive capacity and sensitivity and that household exposure to risks was similar. To respond to climatic and non-climatic risks, local communities in the study area relied on a wide range strategies and practices, including a diversity of agrobiodiversity-based adaptation practices, at both individual and household levels. Demographic and socioeconomic factors which define "who a respondent is” (gender in tills study), "what he/she knows” (knowledge of climate change impacts on livelihoods- rather that perception of change in climate), and "where his/her knowledge comes from" (CBOs membership and number of CBOs membership) drive "what he/she does" (the diversity of adaptation strategies adopted). There was a complementarity between agrobiodiversity-based and non-agrobiodiversity-based adaptation strategies in reducing household vulnerability. More than 94% of the respondents adopted at least one agrobiodiversity-based adaptation practices. Agrobiodiversity-based adaptation practices per household ranged from one to nine, with a median number of7 (mean of 6.24 ± 1.73). Moreover, all respondents who adopted agrobiodiversity-based adaptation practices also relied on other adaptation practices. Not only adoption of agrobiodiversity-based adaptation practices, but also the number of adaptation practices adopted by household affected household vulnerability patterns. Households in low vulnerability archetypes relied on a high number of agrobiodiversity-based adaptation practices and were more likely to have a higher number of total adaptation practices. In comparison to low vulnerability archetypes, households belonging to high or medium vulnerability archetypes were less likely to adopt a high number of agrobiodiversity-based adaptation practices and less likely to adopt a high number of adaptation practices. Tills implied a synergistic effect rather than mutually exclusive __ impacts on household vulnerability. In addition, institutional factors such as access to extension services and to credit, training on agricultural practices also influenced household vulnerability patterns.
Our analysis highlighted the diversity in household vulnerability and the context-specific nature of driving forces of vulnerability patterns. Failing to account for this diversity and nuanced understanding in adaptation planning might result in a mismatch between adaptation needs and interventions and maladaptation. Dichotomy agrobiodiversity-based (or ecosystembased) vs. other adaptation practices/strategies in relation to vulnerability reduction might be misleading and not tell the full story on the ground. Adaptation should be conceptualised or promoted as part of a more holistic approach or process which take into account climatic risks as well as development needs and aspiration to build sustainable and resilient livelihood systems. Future research quantifying risk reduction potentials of adopting a diversity adaptation practices at different scales will provide better insights and understanding on the importance of diversity for risk reduction in semiarid farming conteA1:s. Avenues for future research might also aim to address synergies and trade-offs among multiple climate change adaptation strategies and practices at different scales. Advancing the understanding the synergies and trade-offs in adoption of agrobiodiversity-based adaptation practices (and more generally multiple climate-smart practices and strategies) can provide critical inputs and insights to inform policy decisions for building resilience and upscaling climate-resilient livelihood systems in semiarid areas of West Africa.
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Agrobiodiversity- Based, Adaption, Climate Change, Case Study, Semi-Arid, Mali, West Africa