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Agroecosystem specific climate vulnerability analysis: application of the livelihood vulnerability index to a tropical highland region

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  • Belay Simane
  • Benjamin Zaitchik
  • Jeremy Foltz

Abstract

In topographically diverse highland terrain, socio-economic and environmental conditions can vary dramatically over relatively short distances. This presents a challenge for climate resilient development strategies, as exposure to climate variability and change, climate impacts, and adaptive capacity differ between communities located within common cultural and administrative units. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) framed within the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) vulnerability framework (LVI-IPCC) offers a tool to assess climate vulnerability through direct household surveys. This makes it particularly appropriate for analyses at sub-community and community scales. Here we apply the LVI-IPCC to communities of Choke Mountain, located in the Blue Nile Highlands of Ethiopia. Recognizing the physiographic and climatic diversity that exists in this mountainous environment, we implement LVI-IPCC analysis for 793 mixed crop-livestock farming households using the five distinct agroecological systems (AES) that compose the populated area of Choke Mountain as a framework for analysis. For each AES, an LVI index, adaptive capacity metric, and LVI-IPCC vulnerability score was calculated. We found that each of these metrics varied systematically across AES. High elevation sloping lands and low elevation steep lands exhibited relatively low adaptive capacity and high vulnerability while midland AES had higher capacity and lower vulnerability. These results suggest that resilience building interventions for Choke Mountain ecosystems should be targeted to address the specific circumstances of each AES. The approach of applying LVI-IPCC at AES scale could be applicable to other climate vulnerable mountainous regions. Copyright The Author(s) 2016

Suggested Citation

  • Belay Simane & Benjamin Zaitchik & Jeremy Foltz, 2016. "Agroecosystem specific climate vulnerability analysis: application of the livelihood vulnerability index to a tropical highland region," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 21(1), pages 39-65, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:21:y:2016:i:1:p:39-65
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-014-9568-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. World Bank, 2010. "Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change : Ethiopia," World Bank Publications - Reports 12504, The World Bank Group.
    2. Belay Simane & Benjamin F. Zaitchik & Mutlu Ozdogan, 2013. "Agroecosystem Analysis of the Choke Mountain Watersheds, Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(2), pages 1-25, February.
    3. Byerlee, Derek & Spielman, David J. & Alemu, Dawit & Gautam, Madhur, 2007. "Policies to promote cereal intensification in Ethiopia: A review of evidence and experience," IFPRI discussion papers 707, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
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    12. Husen Maru & Amare Haileslassie & Tesfaye Zeleke & Befikadu Esayas, 2021. "Analysis of Smallholders’ Livelihood Vulnerability to Drought across Agroecology and Farm Typology in the Upper Awash Sub-Basin, Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-28, August.
    13. Thinh An Nguyen & Bich Thi Nguyen & Hanh Ta & Nhung Thi Phuong Nguyen & Huong Thi Hoang & Quan Phung Nguyen & Luc Hens, 2021. "Livelihood vulnerability to climate change in the mountains of Northern Vietnam: comparing the Hmong and the Dzao ethnic minority populations," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 13469-13489, September.
    14. Hao Guo & Yaoyao Wu & Yanrui Shang & Hao Yu & Jing’ai Wang, 2019. "Quantifying Farmers’ Initiatives and Capacity to Cope with Drought: A Case Study of Xinghe County in Semi-Arid China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-19, March.
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    16. M. Rezaul Islam, 2018. "Climate Change, Natural Disasters and Socioeconomic Livelihood Vulnerabilities: Migration Decision Among the Char Land People in Bangladesh," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 575-593, April.
    17. Alelgn Ewunetu & Belay Simane & Ermias Teferi & Benjamin F. Zaitchik, 2021. "Land Cover Change in the Blue Nile River Headwaters: Farmers’ Perceptions, Pressures, and Satellite-Based Mapping," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-25, January.
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