Climate change, pastoral livelihood vulnerability and adaptation strategies : a case study of Sitti zone, Somali Regional state in eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Despite recognising perception as one of the most important factors in the study of climate change and variability, the link between pastoralists’ perceptions, livelihood vulnerability and adaptation strategies to climate variability are not explored and empirically established in the study area. That is, the extent to which the pastoralists’ perceptions in the study area enhance and /or constrain the scope of implementing adaptive responses has not been studied systematically. This study therefore analyses perceptions, livelihood vulnerability and adaptation strategies of pastoral communities within the context of climate change in Sitti zone, Somali Regional State, Ethiopia. It used both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Data was collected by using questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and field observations. Results reveal that pastoral communities recognise the trends of climate variability and its impacts on their livelihoods. Major indicators of vulnerability to climate variability include a decline of the pasture lands, death of livestock, reduction of water availability, reduction of livestock products and prices, the presence of environmental degradation, food insecurity and outbreaks of human and livestock diseases. Climate change and variability affects pastoral communities disproportionately. Groups of people most vulnerable to the impacts of climate changes are women, children, the poor, sick, disabled people, female‐headed households and old people. Due to climate change and variability impacts, pastoral communities have been practicing various types of coping and adaptation strategies. These include livestock mobility, livestock diversification, selling of firewood and charcoal, fewer meals per day, selling of livestock and livestock products, remittances, rearing of drought resistant livestock, relief aid, herd splitting, migration to other countries, petty trading and sharing of food from their clans. The capabilities of pastoral communities to cope and adapt to the impacts of climate change hazards have been constrained by rangeland degradation, scarcity of assets, ethnic-based boundaries, conflict, bush encroachment, illiteracy, household size and lack of training and awareness. The overall findings indicate that despite the pastoralists’ recognition of climate variability and its impacts on their livelihoods, context and scientific knowledge based development measures are not designed and implemented to overcome the adverse impacts of climate change in the area. There is therefore a need for the formulation and implementation of various climate change and variability related policies and strategies including strong cooperation, communication and information sharing about the extent of vulnerability among government and various stakeholders in order to address major constraints of coping mechanisms and adaptation strategies based on the context of pastoral communities.