Climate Factors Play a Limited Role for Past Adaptation Strategies in West Africa

Ecology and Society: a journal of integrative science for resilience and sustainability

Mertz, Ole¹ 

关键词: adaptation;    climate variability;    livestock;    rainfed crops;    West Africa;   

DOI  :  10.5751/ES-03774-150425

学科分类：生物科学（综合）

来源: Resilience Alliance Publications

【 摘 要 】

The Sudano-Sahelian zone of West Africa has experienced recurrent droughts since the mid-1970s and today there is considerable concern for how this region will be able to adapt to future climate change. To develop well targeted adaptation strategies, the relative importance of climate factors as drivers of land use and livelihood change need to be better understood. Based on the perceptions of 1249 households in five countries across an annual rainfall gradient of 400-900 mm, we provide an estimate of the relative weight of climate factors as drivers of changes in rural households during the past 20 years. Climate factors, mainly inadequate rainfall, are perceived by 30-50% of households to be a cause of decreasing rainfed crop production, whereas a wide range of other factors explains the remaining 50-70%. Climate factors are much less important for decreasing livestock production and pasture areas. Increases in pasture are also observed and caused by improved tenure in the driest zone. Adaptation strategies to declining crop production include

【 授权许可】

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