Projections of Local Knowledge-Based Adaptation Strategies of Mexican Coffee Farmers

Patricia Ruiz-García,Alejandro Ismael Monterroso-Rivas,Jesús David Gómez-Díaz,Cecilia Conde-Álvarez

doi:10.3390/cli9040060

Patricia Ruiz-García, Alejandro Ismael Monterroso-Rivas + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/cli9040060

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Abstract

Local knowledge can be a strategy for coping with extreme events and adapting to climate change. In Mexico, extreme events and climate change projections suggest the urgency of promoting local adaptation policies and strategies. This paper provides an assessment of adaptation actions based on the local knowledge of coffee farmers in southern Mexico. The strategies include collective and individual adaptation actions that farmers have established. To determine their viability and impacts, carbon stocks and fluxes in the system’s aboveground biomass were projected, along with water balance variables. Stored carbon contents are projected to increase by more than 90%, while maintaining agroforestry systems will also help serve to protect against extreme hydrological events. Finally, the integration of local knowledge into national climate change adaptation plans is discussed and suggested with a local focus. We conclude that local knowledge can be successful in conserving agroecological coffee production systems.

Highlights

The adaptive capacity of individuals and communities is being increasingly exercised around the world
Farmers are learning to cope with the changes with the greatest asset they have—their traditional and local knowledge
The potential for carbon sequestration in aboveground biomass projected over 50 years demonstrates the relevance of collective and individual adaptation actions by small farmers based on local knowledge

Summary

Introduction

The adaptive capacity of individuals and communities is being increasingly exercised around the world. The Paris Agreement [1] recognizes that adaptation is a “global goal” as important as mitigation in addressing climate change. Of 119 nationally determined contributions (NDCs) received in 2015, 100 included an adaptation component [2]. For many countries the agricultural sector is as important as the water sector [3], and governments have failed to fully cover agricultural activity by improving resilience and capacity to adapt to climate change. Resilience focuses on the capacity of systems to prepare for and withstand shocks and stress associated with natural hazards, and in particular with the inherent uncertainties associated with the magnitude, severity, and timing of hazard impacts or climate change [4,5,6]. The adaptive capacity, which is a basic component required to collectively manage the resilience of a system, has not been completely improved [7]

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