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Building Climate Resilience in the Blue Nile/Abay Highlands: A Role for Earth System Sciences

Author

Listed:
  • Benjamin F. Zaitchik

    (Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21210, USA)

  • Belay Simane

    (College of Development Studies, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

  • Shahid Habib

    (Office of Applied Sciences, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA)

  • Martha C. Anderson

    (Hydrology and Remote Sensing Lab, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA)

  • Mutlu Ozdogan

    (Forest and Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA)

  • Jeremy D. Foltz

    (Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA)

Abstract

The Blue Nile (Abay) Highlands of Ethiopia are characterized by significant interannual climate variability, complex topography and associated local climate contrasts, erosive rains and erodible soils, and intense land pressure due to an increasing population and an economy that is almost entirely dependent on smallholder, low-input agriculture. As a result, these highland zones are highly vulnerable to negative impacts of climate variability. As patterns of variability and precipitation intensity alter under anthropogenic climate change, there is concern that this vulnerability will increase, threatening economic development and food security in the region. In order to overcome these challenges and to enhance sustainable development in the context of climate change, it is necessary to establish climate resilient development strategies that are informed by best-available Earth System Science (ESS) information. This requirement is complicated by the fact that climate projections for the Abay Highlands contain significant and perhaps irreducible uncertainties. A critical challenge for ESS, then, is to generate and to communicate meaningful information for climate resilient development in the context of a highly uncertain climate forecast. Here we report on a framework for applying ESS to climate resilient development in the Abay Highlands, with a focus on the challenge of reducing land degradation.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin F. Zaitchik & Belay Simane & Shahid Habib & Martha C. Anderson & Mutlu Ozdogan & Jeremy D. Foltz, 2012. "Building Climate Resilience in the Blue Nile/Abay Highlands: A Role for Earth System Sciences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-27, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:9:y:2012:i:2:p:435-461:d:15849
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Bazzana, Davide & Foltz, Jeremy & Zhang, Ying, 2022. "Impact of climate smart agriculture on food security: An agent-based analysis," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
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    3. Mintesinot Taye & Belay Simane & Yihenew G. Selsssie & Benjamin Zaitchik & Shimelis Setegn, 2018. "Analysis of the Spatial Variability of Soil Texture in a Tropical Highland: The Case of the Jema Watershed, Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-10, September.

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