Abstract
Transformative interdisciplinary methods and tools are required to address crucial water-related challenges facing societies in the current era of the Anthropocene. In a community-based study in the Limpopo basin of South Africa, physical and social science methods were brought together to run interdisciplinary workshops aimed at enhancing preparedness for possible future drought. To generate storylines for the workshops, relevant scenarios were modelled using a catchment-scale hydrological model, SHETRAN. Set up using freely available data, local knowledge, and narrative-based group interviews on past experiences of drought, the model acted as a locally-relevant tool for prompting discussions about potential future drought impacts, responses and preparedness, and to stimulate the production of community future narratives. In this paper, we discuss the elements involved in the modelling process: the building of the model through an interdisciplinary approach; setting up the model with limited data; and the translation of the model results into storylines for the workshops. We found that by using this methodology scientific grounding was given to the workshop storylines, and that the local context of the model and the engaging approach of creating narratives encouraged participant involvement in discussions about the future. The method of generating these future stories was an important process for the participants in developing their thinking about possible futures, preparedness and adaptation. In this paper we show how this alternative approach of using a hydrological model has benefits and we discuss the limitations and lessons of the approach for future interdisciplinary research.
Highlights
Water security and sustainability are a growing key challenge for societies in the Anthropocene (McMillan et al, 2016; Sivapalan et al, 2014)
With regard to drought as an external stress on the system in general, research is mainly focusing on seasonal forecasting and early warning to provide information that is expected to increase resilience and preparedness (e.g. Pozzi et al, 2013); focus for preparedness can be on behaviour change and awareness to help build social resilience
Using a multi-disciplinary, cross institutional and inter-cultural team of academic hydrologists and social scientists in the UK and Southern Africa, the CreativeDrought project combined hydrological modelling of hypothetical future scenarios with group narrative interviews to inform and facilitate workshops aimed at co-creating future drought narratives (Figure 2)
Summary
Water security and sustainability are a growing key challenge for societies in the Anthropocene (McMillan et al, 2016; Sivapalan et al, 2014). Africa is especially impacted by drought due to its geographical position and limited adaptive capacity, exacerbated by poverty, low levels of development and high sensitivity and vulnerability (CDKN, 2014). With regard to drought as an external stress on the system in general, research is mainly focusing on seasonal forecasting and early warning to provide information that is expected to increase resilience and preparedness The aim of the interdisciplinary research project ‘CreativeDrought’ was to improve the resilience to drought of a South African community at the local scale by increasing awareness, preparedness and adaptation through forward thinking in workshops stimulated by what-if future drought situations. We consider the modelling process with a focus on the application of the model results in the community workshops.
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