Basupi, LV, Quinn, CH orcid.org/0000-0002-2085-0446 and Dougill, AJ orcid.org/0000-0002-3422-8228 (2019) Adaptation strategies to environmental and policy change in semi-arid pastoral landscapes: evidence from Ngamiland, Botswana. Journal of Arid Environments, 166. pp. 17-27. ISSN 0140-1963
Abstract
Semi-arid rangeland pastoral areas have been affected by diverse pressures; livestock diseases, human-wildlife conflicts, droughts and resource scarcity as a result of fragmented landscapes that constrain pastoral livelihoods. In Botswana, pastoralists' adaptations remain insufficiently documented. Adaptation strategies are responses to livelihood constraints and if mainstreamed into development programmes can counter negative impacts arising from ecosystem deterioration. Using iterative participatory rural appraisal methods, this study examines adaptation strategies that pastoral societies in Ngamiland, Botswana have used to cope with pressures in their pastoral socio-ecological system. Findings show a move towards mixed and spatially varied livelihood strategies. Mixed agro-pastoral farming, intensification of flood recession farming, fishing and a network of self-help groups have developed over the last few decades of significant policy and environmental change. Pastoralists have become more sedentary with increases in petty trade and higher dependency on social welfare programmes. As the ability to adapt has positive attributes for livelihood sustainability and resilience, there is a need for practical initiatives that improve pastoralists' adaptive capacity, such as reforming pastoralists' institutions and expanding infrastructural development in pastoral areas so as to enable access to markets. These also include the need to share insights more widely across the district, nationally and regionally.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. This is an author produced version of a paper published in the Journal of Arid Environments. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Socio-ecological system; Land fragmentations; Climate variability; Vulnerability; Adaptive capacity; Coping strategies |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 31 Jan 2019 12:40 |
Last Modified: | 25 Jan 2020 01:38 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier Inc. |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2019.01.011 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:141822 |