Open AccessVulnerability and Local Innovation in Adaptation to Climate Change among the Pastoralists: Harshin District, Somali Region, Ethiopia
Author(s) -
Yohannes Gebre Michael
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
environmental management and sustainable development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2164-7682
DOI - 10.5296/emsd.v6i2.11211
Subject(s) - pastoralism , livelihood , vulnerability (computing) , somali , psychological resilience , geography , climate change , agriculture , socioeconomics , adaptive capacity , environmental resource management , sustainability , environmental planning , livestock , economics , ecology , psychology , linguistics , philosophy , computer security , archaeology , computer science , forestry , psychotherapist , biology
The case study was made with the overall aim of understanding of pastoralist vulnerability and adaptation to climate changes. As a methodology five kebeles have been purposely selected representing pastoral and agro-pastoral farming systems in Harshin district of Somali Region in Ethiopia. The survey was conducted through semi-structured checklists with individual households and groups accounting a total of 124 people.The major findings of the study indicated that the environmental and socio-economic dynamics are skewed to negative trends where the livelihood of the pastoral community is under a big threat. Moreover, the combinations of factors including access to resources and social institutions, livelihood practices, inappropriate technologies and policies have attributed to trigger the vulnerability to climate change among the pastoralists in general and agro-pastoralists in particular. In adapting to the impact of climate change, pastoralists and agro-pastoralists are using wide range of group and individual local innovations, some farming practices and establishment of multi-functional grassroots institutions. Finally creating enabling policy environment for local experimentation and innovations in the framework of pastoralism and sustainability have been suggested as a point of departure in developing resilience to climate change and other pressures.