Local knowledge of climate change adaptation strategies from the vhaVenda and baTonga communities living in the Limpopo and Zambezi River Basins, Southern Africa

Abstract

Communities living within Africa's river basins remain vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. This study aimed to explore the various local knowledge (LK)-based climate change adaptation strategies used by the vhaVenda and baTonga communities, residing in the Limpopo and Zambezi river basins (LRB and ZRB, respectively) in Southern Africa. The study’s novelty lies in its assessment of the LK embedded within these indigenous peoples. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 35 community members (60% women), with the findings further complemented by a review and analysis of existing literature. The study revealed that 96% of participants were already familiar with the concept of climate change. Additionally, the findings show that communities in both the LRB and ZRB continue to rely on biotic and abiotic indicators to predict weather, while social networks play a crucial role in coping with periodic shocks such as drought-induced food shortages. The vhaVenda and baTonga communities have demonstrated remarkable innovation in developing techniques that support livelihoods in the challenging environments of the LRB and ZRB. Furthermore, both communities displayed a profound understanding of their local ecosystems, enabling them to create adaptation strategies tailored to their specific geographical and environmental conditions, underscoring the value of these approaches. This study has important implications for climate change adaptation policies in low-resource regions, including Zimbabwe, as it highlights that these communities are already equipped with effective strategies for adapting and surviving in harsh climates.