The limits to climate change adaptation existing in many places experiencing climatic events are evident in Silobela, a dryland district in central Zimbabwe. Current understanding about failure in adaptation systems tends to be generalised and course-grained. Yet, experiences for coping with and adapting to climate change tend to be local-specific, varying according to the magnitude and severity of climatic events. This study utilises the experiences of locals witnessing environmental changes associated with climate change. It uses participatory climate impact analysis to understand whether available livelihoods coping practices can withstand climatic impacts. Participatory research was used to rank the spectrum of livelihood options according to their significance in the face of climate change-induced drought and other socio-economic pressures. A coping capacity index (CCI) was used to estimate the level of adaptation limit imposed by each livelihood strategy, with composite CCI values generated to compare the coping capacities of villages studied. Given that most of the livelihoods options are climate dependent, and combined with other non-climatic drivers of vulnerability that are besetting rural areas in Zimbabwe, we argue that adaptation limits abound. Most of these limits are explained by the limitation of the environment that the villagers largely depend on for their survival. With the analytic capabilities of participants engaged, the article isolates three departure points for adaptation research, policy and practice: understanding the type and magnitude of climatic hazards thatthe locals are exposed to; assessment of their coping capacities and determination of adaptation barriers; and using their knowledge of the local environment to suggest interventions for evading adaptation barriers.
Chanza, N; Chigona, A; Nyahuye, A; Mataera-Chanza, L; Mundoga, T; Nondo, N
Diagnosing barriers to climate change adaptation at community level: reflections from Silobela, Zimbabwe
Geojournal