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[PANEL] 0605 CLIMATE AND ITS IMPACT ON LIVELIHOOD
Organizers:
TESFAY Atsbha, Tigray Agriculture Research Institute, Ethiopia
KIFLOM Degef Kahsay, Tigray Agricultural Research Institute, Alamata center, Ethiopia
Paper presenters:
AZEB Assefa Mersha; KIFLOM Degef Kahsay; Santosh PINGALE; DESALEGN Yayeh; MELESE Worku;
SAMAL Sahela; TESFAY Atsbha; ANTENEH Belayneh
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CLIMATE GOVERNANCE AND GENDER: OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED FROM ETHIOPIA'S CLIMATE RESILIENT GREEN ECONOMY STRATEGY [Abstract ID: 0605-03]
In response to the effects of climate change and extreme weather events such as drought and flooding, the Ethiopian government has issued different adaptation and mitigation strategies at national, regional and sectoral levels. In 2011, Ethiopia launched its Climate Resilient Green Economy (CRGE) strategy during COP 17 in Durban, South Africa. CRGE entails mitigation and adaptation strategies, notably the Green Economy Strategy (GES) and the Climate Resilient Strategy (CRS). CRGE is a comprehensive approach that integrates the national development agenda. The crosscutting nature of climate change related problems across sectors demands inclusive and integrative climate governance. Consequently, the Ethiopian government established a Ministerial Steering Committee to govern CRGE that involves main ministries such as the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resource, the Ministry of Water and Energy and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, and powerful and influential national actors such as the Prime Minister’s Office. This research seeks to analyse the gender responsiveness of national climate governance and to identify opportunities and challenges. The result reveals opportunities regarding the existing institutional arrangement that guarantees a seat for the Ministry of Women’s and Children’s Affairs (MoWCA) in the top national climate governance i.e. the Ministerial Steering Committee. In addition, experts and representatives of MoWCA have been given opportunities to reflect on emerging issues. With regard to the challenges, the important ones include the dominance of technocratic and managerial approaches to climate change, which gives little space for gender, the lack of a strategic approach from MoWCA, and the absence of coordination among women representatives and gender interest groups. In order to make effective use of the available opportunities in the contemporary institutional arrangement, therefore, the research suggests that MoWCA needs to broaden its scope to include gender interest groups with the intention of developing a substantive women’s concern and gender equality agenda in the country’s climate change responses.
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IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON GROUNDWATER RECHARGE AND BASE FLOW IN THE SUB-CATCHMENT OF TEKEZE BASIN, ETHIOPIA [Abstract ID: 0605-05]
Climate change has a significant impact on both surface and groundwater resources. However, little attention has been given to the effect of climate change on groundwater resources. The present study therefore looks at the effect of climate change on groundwater recharge and base flow in the Tekeze sub-catchment in Ethiopia. The future climate variables were obtained from Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) Africa program for Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) for RCP 2.6 and RCP 4.5 scenarios. The Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope estimator were used for trend detection using the XLSTAT software package. Further, downscaled and bias corrected precipitation, temperature, and potential evapotranspiration were used as input to the WetSpa model to simulate future water balance changes. The results indicated a decreasing trend in annual rainfall and an increasing trend in average temperature and evapotranspiration for selected scenarios. At the catchment level, precipitation decreases by 20% for both RCP 2.6 and RCP 4.5 scenarios, and actual evapotranspiration shows 0.4% and 8.1% increment for RCP 2.6 and RCP 4.5, respectively. Consequently, groundwater recharge decreases by 3.4% for RCP 2.6 and 1.3% for RCP 4.5. Base flow will also decrease by 1.5%and 0.55% for RCP 2.6 and RCP 4.5, respectively. The results of this study would help policymakers, scientists, government officials, and local stakeholders in planning and managing surface and groundwater resources in the Ethiopian regions.
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REVISITING INDIGENOUS BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC WEATHER FORECASTING FOR POSSIBLE INTEGRATION WITH SCIENTIFIC WEATHER PREDICTION: A CASE FROM THE BORANA PEOPLE OF SOUTH ETHIOPIA [Abstract ID: 0605-02]
This study assesses how Borana herders make weather forecasts using abiotic and biotic indicators. Survey questionnaires, observations, focus group discussions and interviews with key informants were employed to obtain data. Field data were analysed and interpreted using appropriate analytical tools and procedures. The result revealed that the Borana herders have a long history of forecasting weather using astrological, intestinal, plant and animal body language indicators. Astrological and intestinal readings need special training and local expertise and are known as Urgii Elaltus and Uchuu respectively. Forecast information is disseminated through the Borana socio-cultural institutions. Based on the forecast information they receive, the Borana herders take measures such as strengthening enclosures, storing hay, migrating with animals, de-stocking, and changing schedules for social and cultural festivities such as weddings. The precision and credibility of traditional weather forecast has steadily declined and led to repeated faulty predictions. Poor documentation and knowledge transfer systems, the influence of religion and modern education, the premature death of forecast experts and the growth of alcoholism were identified as causes undermining the viability of Borana indigenous weather forecasts. It would be desirable for the tenets of indigenous weather forecasting to be assessed scientifically and integrated into the modern science of weather forecasting before they vanish.
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THE IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON AGRICULTURE AND LIVELIHOOD OF SMALL HOLDER FARMERS INCASE LIBO KEMKEM DISTRICT, SOUTH GONDER ZONES, ETHIOPIA [Abstract ID: 0605-01]
Smallholder farmers are the backbone of the economy of Ethiopia particularly the agriculture sector. Agriculture is the major source of rural livelihoods. The impacts of climate changes usually lead to increased poverty and adversely effect agricultural production, food security, livelihoods and sustainable development. The objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of climate change on agriculture and livelihood of smallholder farmers. The study was conducted in Libo District during the 2016/17. Primary and secondary data were collected. Primary data was collected through semi-structured questionnaires, field observation, interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews. Secondary data was collected from various meteorological data analyses reports. The study was based on a cross-sectional survey of 120 sample households selected three qebeles based on AEZ. Data was analyzed by using SPSS and Microsoft Excel. There is an empirical evidence which shows that the annual and maximum average annual rainfall is decreasing at the rate of 21.21 and 7.499 mm per year respectively the last two decade. The rainfall is decreasing trend the linear equation (Y= 21.21 X-41)(Y=7.49x-14) with R2=0.64,R2=0.68 at 5% level of significance respectively. The annual temperature and average annual temperature increase rate 1.536 oc and 0.128 oc per year respectively last two decades. Temperature trend (Y=1.536x-26) (Y=0.128X-220.4) R2=0.01 respectively. The result shows that the trend of gradual and extreme weather change is particularly negative for the livelihoods of the farmers. The result confirms that impacts of climate change, floods, heavy rains, intensity of heat waves, drought, storm and land slides 30%,18%,26%,11%,5%,7.5% respectively. The result showed that most frequently weather hazards and damage is reported and resulting agricultural crop loss and insects and diseases occurrences that affect livelihoods of smallholder farmer. Studies show that capacity building, creating awareness among farmers, training and access to information are very important to reduce the impact of climate change. The study recommends that the government to develop more effective climate change strategies that support smallholder farmer to reduced impact of climate change.
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THE ROLE OF PROTECTED NATURAL VEGETATION ON CARBON SEQUESTRATION POTENTIAL IN SOUTHERN TIGRAY, ETHIOPIA. IMPLICATION FOR CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION. [Abstract ID: 0605-04]
Land degradation, which includes the degradation of vegetation cover and soil, and nutrient depletion, is a major ecological problem for Ethiopia in general and the study area in particular. Restoration of such degraded land enhances the vegetation’s carbon sequestration potential. This research was therefore conducted in the two land use systems, protected natural vegetation (PNV) and communal grazing land (CGL) of Gra-Kahssu natural vegetation, in Alamata district. Soil organic carbon, herb biomass carbon, litter biomass carbon, and the above and below ground carbon stocks of the natural vegetation in the adjacent land use systems were described. Vegetation biomass data was collected using systematic sampling methods, laying 19 transects and 62 quadrats of 20 m x 20 m each for trees and 5m x 5m for shrubs. In each quadrat, the diameters (>2.5cm) of each plant species were measured. In addition, 1 m x 1m sub-quadrats were laid within the main quadrat to sample herb, litter biomass and soil sample. Soil was collected from three soil depths (0-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm) and soil organic carbon was analysed at Mekele soil laboratory research center. For both land use systems, the carbon stock’s potential of woody species was estimated using allometric equations. The mean above ground and below ground carbon stock of the PNV (21.05 ton/ha, 10.39 ton/ha) was higher than CGL (15.31ton/ha, 7.65ton/ha), respectively. The average values of soil organic carbon for PNV were 16.60 and 13.76 ton/ha for CGL. The total carbon stock estimated in the study area was 50.74ton/ha and 37.11ton/ha for PNV and CGL, respectively. The major output of this research showed that above and below ground carbon stocks in the PNV are improved as a result of a rehabilitation program with limited use of the local community’s surplus resources. This is indicative of the role of PNV as the best practice in carbon restoration programs, through the exclusion of free-grazing livestock and human interference, and its potential to play a major role in climate change mitigation by means of carbon sequestration.