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Case Site: Bobonong, Botswana Information Brief

Characterised by high rainfall variability, frequent droughts, low soil moisture and extreme events such as flash floods, these areas experience high levels of community vulnerability.
Multiple Authors
Jessica Cooke
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Introduction

Semi-arid areas in Botswana are characterised by high rainfall variability, frequent droughts, low soil moisture and extreme events such as flash floods which normally combine with governance shortcomings and structural inequalities to exacerbate the vulnerability of communities. Such communities are generally dependent on primary production and natural resources, rely on rainfed agriculture, have limited livelihood options and employment opportunities, depend on activities that are sensitive to the impacts of climate change, face high levels of poverty, are exposed to high levels of HIV/AIDS, have limited infrastructure and services, and are affected by limited institutional capacity and weak resource governance. The climatic and socio-economic environment in semi-arid areas in Botswana makes communities vulnerable to food insecurity and unstable livelihoods as well as leading to unsustainable agroecological systems, crop failure and unproductive rangelands.

Outcomes and Impacts

Climate changeis expected to lead to an increased frequency and intensity of droughts in the area. There is expected to be delayed onset of rain and a shorter rainy season with fewer rainy days. It is also possible that there will be more heavy rainfall events.

Impacts:

  • Reduced yields of maize and sorghum of between 10 and 35% in Botswana between 1985 and 2050.
  • Reduced water availability and water quality impacting economic development, food security, health and sanitation.
  • Increased occurrence of vector-borne diseases e.g. malaria.
  • Loss of soil fertility and accentuated soil erosion.
  • Risks of failure in livestock production.
  • Increased damage to infrastructure including roads and buildings.
  • Inequality and marginalisation as a result of scarcer natural resources.
  • Risk of extinction of endemic species.
  • Loss of ecosystem services such as water purification and filtration, medicinal plants and biomass energy.
  • Decline in nature-based tourism due to ecosystem degradation, changes in weather patterns, and shifts in wildlife.
  • Increased pressure on urban centres as people migrate from rural areas.

In this context, researchers from the ASSAR project have sought to better understand the current status of vulnerability and adaptation in semi-arid areas in Botswana and the current barriers to adaptation.

As part of the ASSAR project, researchers reviewed the literature on vulnerability and adaptation in semi-arid areas in southern Africa and interviewed key informants at national, sub-national and local levels of government as well as community members.

Vulnerabilities

In Botswana some of the key vulnerabilities in semi-arid areas include limited institutional capacity especially at the local scale, lack of markets to sell products, lack of overarching policy on climate change, fragmented and conflicting policies, conflicting government programmes and programmes that increase dependence, reduced availability of natural resources e.g. reduced distribution of mopane worms and rivers being dammed for domestic and industrial use in Gaborone, prevalence of Foot and Mouth Disease impacting livestock production, lack of parental care of the youth, lack of opportunities for the youth, and lack of incorporation of local practices into national policies. Within this myriad of vulnerabilities women, the elderly, youth and marginalised groups are often more vulnerable than other groups.

Adaptation Options

Some approaches that are being used to adapt to climate variability and change include:

  • Ploughing and planting multiple times within a season after rainfall events.
  • Soil and water conservation including water harvesting.
  • Diversification of livelihoods including harvesting mopane worms and basketry.
  • Diversification of crops and livestock and the use of drought resistant crop varieties and livestock breeds e.g. shifting from maize to sorghum and pearl millet.
  • Moving livestock to alternative grazing areas.

Barriers

A number of factors in semi-arid Botswana create barriers to the adaptive capacity of rural communities. These include:

  • Lack of institutional support in the provision of policy, planning, information, technical support and infrastructural support in the form of market places and infrastructure to start businesses.
  • A disconnect between national and local government.
  • Poverty and limited access to capital.
  • The provision of aid relief and implementation of initiatives that make people dependent.
  • Limited access to natural resources.
  • Cultural beliefs.
  • Funder driven initiatives.
  • Being reactive versus planning ahead.
  • Limited opportunities for youth.
  • Limited adaptation options including alternative livelihoods.
  • The prevalence of HIV/AIDS and Foot and Mouth Disease.
  • Lack of information on the costs of adaptation measures and socio-economic impacts.

Details on two of these areas:

  1. Cultural beliefs and superstition may make communities vulnerable to the effects of climate change as they constrain the uptake of adaptation measures. Rural communities in Botswana attribute climatic changes to a number of factors related to their belief systems, superstitions and limited understanding of information they have at hand. For example in Bobonong some people believe that observed climate anomalies are the result of their people displeasing God whereas others believe extreme droughts are a consequence of their people displeasing their ancestors. Rural communities have a strong preference for traditional crop varieties and approaches and they are reluctant to adopt new measures that are unknown to them, they may not use a measure without proof of its effectiveness and may stop using measures because of superstition e.g. not using a new crop variety again after it is eaten by Quelea birds the first time it is planted.
  2. The provisions of government programmes that create dependency and stop people from pursuing other productive, more sustainable initiatives make communities vulnerable by reducing their adaptive capacity. For example the uptake of an effective and sustainable beekeeping project in Botswana may have been constrained by the relief provision programme called Ipelegeng.

Conclusion

A review of adaptation measures that have been adopted in semi-arid areas in Botswana suggests that there is an adaptation deficit i.e. a gap between the current state of the system and a state that would minimize adverse impacts from existing climate variability and change. Current adaptation actions are not sufficient and there are many measures that could be applied that are not being applied or are only being applied in localised areas. Further, based on climate projections, which predict temperature increases of more than 1°C by 2050, adaptation measures and livelihoods that are currently relied on may no longer be viable into the future.

Recommendations

Improved technical capacity to understand climate change and its effects at the national and sub-national level and develop responses and adaptation strategies for implementation.

  • More integration and a common goal across different sectors in policy and practice to work towards achieving the implementation of widespread and effective adaptation.
  • Alternative livelihood options to be understood and strengthened at the local level.
  • Policies and programmes that encourage new and diverse livelihood options and the generation of financial capital.
  • Building capacity to increase agency.
  • More inclusive adaptation planning.
  • Information on adaptation options to be made more readily available.
  • An evidence base of the benefits of adaptation as well as demonstrations of these benefits.
  • Further understanding and strengthening local coping and adaptation strategies.

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