Abstract
Estimation of ecological drought vulnerability indicators is the important step for drought mitigation management. This article identified and estimated ecological drought vulnerability indicators among communal farmers in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa, using an ecological vulnerability index based on a household survey of 121 communal farmers. The results identified overgrazing, soil erosion, land degradation, surface and groundwater supply, and land use management as the main ecological vulnerability variables. The results showed that climate is not necessarily linked to ecological vulnerability. High rainfall districts in this study showed higher ecological vulnerability to drought because of poor planning and management of water supply, poor grazing practices and land management that leads to serious land degradation. The identification and analysis of ecological vulnerability indicators to drought would aid in reconsidering priorities for the government to implement appropriate policy measures in response to drought and suggest strategies to reduce drought vulnerability. Such policies and strategies will strengthen climate change adaptation and ensure ecological and climate sustainability that comply with the Millennium Development Goals set out by the United Nations in 2000 and the subsequent 2030 development agenda for the Sustainable Development Goals.
Highlights
Drought is a normal recurring event that affects people around the world and is one of the most important natural disasters in economic, social and ecological terms (Buckland, Elele & Mugwara 2000; Ranger, Harvey & Gabrett-Shiels 2014)
The Eastern Cape (EC) province is highly vulnerable to disaster because of a high level of poverty, low standards of living, environmental degradation, poor household economies and a lack of access to resources (Bahta, Jordaan & Muyambo 2016)
The importance of vulnerability indicators is emphasised by the Hyogo Framework as a ‘key activity’ by stating (United Nations 2005): the need for the development [of a] system of indicators of disaster risk and vulnerability at national and sub-national scales that will enable decision makers to assess the impact of the disaster on social, 1.Ecological is used in this article instead of environmental
Summary
Drought is a normal recurring event that affects people around the world and is one of the most important natural disasters in economic, social and ecological terms (Buckland, Elele & Mugwara 2000; Ranger, Harvey & Gabrett-Shiels 2014). Prolonged dry periods lead to complete losses of yield, herds and capital; to psychological stress; and even to a loss of farmers’ lives (Bahta et al 2016; Edwards, Gray & Hunter 2015; Obrien et al 2014) These uncertainties greatly affect communal and small-scale farmers. Communal and small-scale farmers in South Africa are vulnerable to drought shocks, and they experience normal dry periods as drought disasters (Jordaan 2011; Jordaan et al 2013). The importance of vulnerability indicators is emphasised by the Hyogo Framework as a ‘key activity’ by stating (United Nations 2005): the need for the development [of a] system of indicators of disaster risk and vulnerability at national and sub-national scales that will enable decision makers to assess the impact of the disaster on social, 1.Ecological is used in this article instead of environmental. These districts were selected because communal farming is practiced in large scale and is still managed by chiefs or communal leaders
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
