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Delali BK Dovie

Global Environmental Change and Food Systems (GECAFS)

First meeting of Vulnerability of Food Systems to GEC Research

Network

17-18 May 2006, Oxford UK

Local vulnerability of the human-biodiversity interface to drought in S. Africa

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Background

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Challenges of communal area landscapes?

Major sources of safety nets (e.g. natural resources)

Sources of livelihood incomes (cash & non-cash)

Livelihood insecurity (i.e. optimizing benefits)

Changing culture of resource use

Changing institutional & social structures

Increased traditional farming (crops + livestock)

Direct extraction of plants

Poor social infrastructure & high unemployment

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Goals

Examine livelihood options, and in relation to changes in the human-environment system

Define typologies of households responding to the effects and impacts of drought

Establish variables defining the vulnerability of households to drought

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Stressful events

24.8%

17.4%

36.7%

6.4%

6.4%

1.8%2.8%

2.8%0.9%

Rain floods

Death

Drought

Joblessness

Illness

Resettlement

Marital problems

Livestock loss

Forest fires

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1. Chronic (e.g., Joblessness, illness, death and resettlement)

2. Acute (e.g., rain floods)

3. Recurring (drought and livestock losses)

4. Intermittent (e.g., veld / forest fires, marital problems)

Typologies of stresses

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Linking stresses and livelihoods

-0.8 0.8

-0.6

1.0

livestoc

crops

for_empl

inf_emplntfps

kinships

remittpension

disgrant

childgrt

FLOOD

DEATHDROUGHT

JOBLESS

ILLNESS

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(a)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110

Informal jobs

Formal jobs

Remittances

Livestock

NTFP

Crops

Welfare grants

Kinship

Pension

Liv

elih

oo

d o

pti

on

Drought experiencing HHs (%)

Drought-experiencing households and single livelihood option

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Link between no. of livelihoods & exposure to drought

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Five Four Three Two OneNo. of livelihoods

Pro

po

rtio

n o

f h

ou

se

ho

lds

(%

)

Relative hh No.

% of hh no. experienceddrought

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DROUGHT Impacts >> outcomesHungerFood insecurityLoss of livelihoodMalnutrition / diseasePoverty

Response group II

Response group III

Response group I

HH response / affected groups

Biophysical environment

Exposure >> effectsFarmsGrazing areasWoodland resourcesWater bodiesBiodiversity

Effects >>OutcomesOutcomePasture lossLivestock lossCrop loss / poor harvestDried water bodies

Effects

Impacts

Vulnerability identity

Effects / impacts of drought & responses

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Effects Household response Impacts Household response to impacts

Households Biophysical Short-term Adaptation

Loss of grazing areas

1. livestock off-take by selling and slaughtering2. grass from other villages3. buying fodder

1. loss of income2. poverty3. school drop-out

1. land degradation2. erosion3. dead trees

1. selling wood and poles2. cooperatives3. relocation of livestock

1. expansion of livelihood portfolios2. community gardening and cropping

Livestock loss

1. relocation of livestock2. dependence on pension3. selling wood4. sold small animals5. support from neighbours6. used stored maize7. trade in used clothes

1. school drop-out2. loss of business capital3. poverty4. food insecurity5. high illiteracy rate6. family migration7. resource use conflicts

1. plant regeneration 2. pollution by carcasses

1. sold cattle to buy food2. wood barter for cattle feed3. relocation to other villages4. destocking livestock 5. cattle fed on anything green

1. manageable livestock2. diversifying livelihood options3. livestock restocking4. increased bank savings

Food shortages/ poor harvest

1. family lived on pension 2. borrowing money3. sold wild fruits/carvings4. food parcels5. social networking 6. stored maize7. worked for food/sold some cattle8. relocating to other villages

1. malnutrition2. disrupted household responsibilities 3. big family to support

____ ____ 1. maize storage facility2. expansion of fields for cropping3. diversifying livelihood options

Water shortage

1. water from far villages2. digging springs in dried streams and around dams

no water for household use

plants and animals died

____ ____

Drought effects & impacts, response & adaptation in Thorndale

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Households’ responses to drought

Dryland farming

Home / backyard gardens

Stockpiling / sales of woodland resources

Cultivation of wild fruits & herbs

Family emigration & relocation

Keeping of small-bodied livestock

Cattle relocation

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The drought – biodiversity linkage

0

50

100

150

200

250

Causes of land cover change

Ran

kin

g o

f cau

ses

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

No

. o

f h

ou

seh

old

s

Ranking

Causes

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(i) The production system

(ii) The consumption (dependence) system

(iii) Resource accessibility and distribution

(iv) Options

(v) Resilience

= [abundance (quantity), supply, diversity]

= [socio-economic & financial value, availability, extent of use, knowledge & skill]

= [demand, wealth status, marketing, transport, technical services]

= [production, consumption, accessibility, opportunity]

= [options, response & adaptation]

VULNERABILITY = [RESILIENCE, SAFETY NET, IDENTITY]

Functions of HH vulnerability to drought

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Thank U