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Drought and institutional adaptation in the Great Plains of Alberta and Saskatchewan, 1914–1939

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  • Gregory Marchildon
  • Suren Kulshreshtha
  • Elaine Wheaton
  • Dave Sauchyn

Abstract

Agriculture in the southern Great Plains of Canada has been particularly vulnerable to prolonged episodes of drought. Using climate data and a precipitation minus potential evapotranspiration index, the extent of the region’s exposure to drought is examined. Between 1914 and 1917, the Dry Belt was particularly vulnerable to drought, whereas after 1928, a much larger region known as the Palliser Triangle covering most of southern Alberta and Saskatchewan was much more exposed to drought. These droughts provoked major institutional adaptation, in particular the establishment of the Special Areas Board by the Government of Alberta, and the creation of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration by the Government of Canada. Both organizations have proved to be relatively permanent public adaptations to the natural hazard of drought in the region. Moreover, these earlier experiences with prolonged drought as well as institution-building may be of value in helping the residents of the Palliser Triangle adapt to predicted climate changes in the future as well as anticipate some of the barriers to effective institutional adaptation. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008

Suggested Citation

  • Gregory Marchildon & Suren Kulshreshtha & Elaine Wheaton & Dave Sauchyn, 2008. "Drought and institutional adaptation in the Great Plains of Alberta and Saskatchewan, 1914–1939," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 45(3), pages 391-411, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:45:y:2008:i:3:p:391-411
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-007-9175-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Robert Dixon, 2007. "Advancing Towards a Hydrogen Energy Economy: Status, Opportunities and Barriers," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 12(3), pages 325-341, March.
    2. Indur Goklany, 2007. "Integrated strategies to reduce vulnerability and advance adaptation, mitigation, and sustainable development," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 12(5), pages 755-786, June.
    3. Olga Wilhelmi & Donald Wilhite, 2002. "Assessing Vulnerability to Agricultural Drought: A Nebraska Case Study," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 25(1), pages 37-58, January.
    4. Stern,Nicholas, 2007. "The Economics of Climate Change," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521700801, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Nick Middleton & Utchang Kang, 2017. "Sand and Dust Storms: Impact Mitigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-22, June.
    2. Anna Yusa & Peter Berry & June J.Cheng & Nicholas Ogden & Barrie Bonsal & Ronald Stewart & Ruth Waldick, 2015. "Climate Change, Drought and Human Health in Canada," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-54, July.
    3. Gregory P. Marchildon & Elaine Wheaton & Amber J. Fletcher & Jessica Vanstone, 2016. "Extreme drought and excessive moisture conditions in two Canadian watersheds: comparing the perception of farmers and ranchers with the scientific record," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 82(1), pages 245-266, May.
    4. Robert McLeman, 2013. "Developments in modelling of climate change-related migration," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 117(3), pages 599-611, April.
    5. Virginia Wittrock & Suren Kulshreshtha & Elaine Wheaton, 2011. "Canadian prairie rural communities: their vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities to drought," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 16(3), pages 267-290, March.

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