Climate-induced Drought Research Articles

Migration as an Adaptation Measure to Achieve Resilient Lifestyle in the Face of Climate-Induced Drought: Insight from the Thar Desert in Pakistan

A significant number of people, either seasonally or permanently, migrate from the Thar Desert in Pakistan each year due to droughts caused by climate change. This study aims to investigate the determinants and consequences of these migration decisions, examine the effectiveness of migration as a climate adaptation strategy, and identify challenges in adapting to these changes. Data were gathered from 400 migrated households in the Mithi sub-district. A mixed-method approach was used, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings revealed that threats to the standard of living, including lack of food and clean drinking water, unemployment, and limited educational and medical opportunities, were the primary reasons for permanent and temporary migration from ancestral locations. Migration significantly impacted the origin and destination regions, with positive or negative effects. Specifically, migrants identified various consequences for both the origin and destination communities, including population decline (63%), changes in age structure, increased demand for housing, economic fluctuations (73%), alterations in healthcare services, and increased psychological stress (77%). The study also revealed that individuals who migrated from the Thar Desert experienced improved conditions compared to their previous location, such as diversification of income sources, increased job stability, access to clean water and food, reduced health risks, and overall improvements in their living conditions. However, the destination communities faced significant challenges due to widespread resource depletion and environmental deterioration. Migrants encountered barriers to developing resilient livelihoods in destination areas, including lack of proper knowledge and information, institutional and government issues, environmental and technological challenges, and social and cultural issues. The study highlights the urgent need for comprehensive policies and sustainable solutions to address the root causes of migration and support the resilience of vulnerable populations.

Plant–Soil Microbial Interaction: Differential Adaptations of Beneficial vs. Pathogenic Bacterial and Fungal Communities to Climate-Induced Drought

Plant–Soil Microbial Interaction: Differential Adaptations of Beneficial vs. Pathogenic Bacterial and Fungal Communities to Climate-Induced Drought

IAA-producing plant growth promoting rhizobacteria from Ceanothus velutinus enhance cutting propagation efficiency and Arabidopsis biomass.

Climate-induced drought impacts plant growth and development. Recurring droughts increase the demand for water for food production and landscaping. Native plants in the Intermountain West region of the US are of keen interest in low water use landscaping as they are acclimatized to dry and cold environments. These native plants do very well at their native locations but are difficult to propagate in landscape. One of the possible reasons is the lack of associated microbiome in the landscaping. Microbiome in the soil contributes to soil health and impacts plant growth and development. Here, we used the bulk soil from the native plant Ceanothus velutinus (snowbrush ceanothus) as inoculant to enhance its propagation. Snowbrush ceanothus is an ornamental plant for low-water landscaping that is hard to propagate asexually. Using 50% native bulk soil as inoculant in the potting mix significantly improved the survival rate of the cuttings compared to no-treated cuttings. Twenty-four plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) producing indole acetic acid (IAA) were isolated from the rhizosphere and roots of the survived snowbrush. Seventeen isolates had more than 10µg/mL of IAA were shortlisted and tested for seven different plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits; 76% showed nitrogen-fixing ability on Norris Glucose Nitrogen free media,70% showed phosphate solubilization activity, 76% showed siderophore production, 36% showed protease activity, 94% showed ACC deaminase activity on DF-ACC media, 76% produced catalase and all of isolates produced ammonia. Eight of seventeen isolates, CK-6, CK-22, CK-41, CK-44, CK-47, CK-50, CK-53, and CK-55, showed an increase in shoot biomass in Arabidopsis thaliana. Seven out of eight isolates were identified as Pseudomonas, except CK-55, identified as Sphingobium based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The shortlisted isolates are being tested on different grain and vegetable crops to mitigate drought stress and promote plant growth.

Evaluating the impacts of climate-induced east Africa's recent disastrous drought on the pastoral livelihoods

Recurrent droughts, exacerbated by the climate, are becoming the greatest threat to the people of eastern Africa. In this region, including eastern Ethiopia, pastoralism is the prime source of livelihood. Due to susceptible means of living this area is mostly affected by droughts and related climatic shocks. Coordinated actions, therefore, demanded to reduce extreme vulnerability and increase adaptive capacity. To bring about change, the development of proactive drought risk management strategies and the adoption of appropriate measures are cliamed. However, there are few studies showing the underlying problems. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the impact of the recent climate-induced drought disaster on pastoralists’ livelihoods and the socio-economic determinants of pastoralists’ vulnerability in southern Ethiopia. Mixed, positivist and post-positivist research approaches were used in the design of the study. Both random and purposive sampling procedures were used in this study to select the study sites and respondents or discussants. A questionnaire was used to collect objective data from the randomly selected 371 respondents, while focus group discussions, key informant interviews and observations were used as methods to collect subjective data. While objective data was collected using semi-structured questions, subjective data was collected were using unstructured or open-ended questions. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the objective data, while the subjective data was analyzed using stepwise content analysis. The result shows that severe drought was the most important extreme episode in the area. In addition, the low adaptive capacity (0.29) combined with the high sensitivity (0.41) and exposure factors (0.36) indicate that pastoralists are highly vulnerable (0.49) to climate-related impacts. The index for catastrophic risk of drought episodes in the pastoralist community is scaled at 0.74. This indicates that the severity of drought can cause a 74 % catastrophic impact on pastoralists’ lives, property, natural environment and livelihoods. On the other hand, water scarcity, biodiversity decline, fodder scarcity, female-headed households, price instability, recurrent droughts, weather-dependent livelihoods, low availability of early warning information and poor access to market factors have had positive and significant impacts on high vulnerability and the resulting consequences. Policy makers are therefore encouraged to develop strategies to help pastoralists build adaptive capacity and reduce vulnerability to climate hazards. These can be implemented by improving access to water and pasture, by providing early warning information, by providing rangeland management, by diversifying livelihoods and by limiting factors that increase pastoralists' vulnerability and their impacts on their climate-dependent livelihoods.

“Evaluating the impact of climate change on drought risk in semi-arid region using GIS technique”

This GIS study examines how climate change affects drought risk in semi-arid regions. Semi-arid regions are especially vulnerable to droughts due to rising global temperatures and changing precipitation patterns. The study analyses drought trends using diverse dataset, including climate projections, geographical information, and environmental parameters. The study incorporated temperature, precipitation, and moisture data, alongside land cover, soil type, and land usage information. Sabarmati River Basin residents and ecosystems need drought management and adaptation. We studied climate change using temperature, precipitation, and moisture data. Plant cover, soil type, and land usage indicated regional drought. GIS, meteorological, and environmental data projected drought. Drought risk model includes LULC, VCI, LST, SMI, and NDDI by integrating all parameters such as LULC, NDVI, Rainfall, etc. all meteorological and environmental data using GIS. Climate and land use changes increased drought risk in the study region. GIS-based drought indices and risk assessment models quantify and map drought intensity, frequency, and duration under different climate change scenarios. The results help semi-arid regions develop adaptive drought risk management strategies. This interdisciplinary approach emphasises the ability of GIS for assessing and mitigating climate-induced drought occurrences.

A Review of Drought Disturbance on Socioeconomic Development

Climate-change-intensified drought carries great challenges for socioeconomic development. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of research on the effects of drought disturbance on socioeconomic development within the context of climate change. According to the co-citation analysis of approximately 3000 literature sources, it should be emphasized that challenges resulting from drought carry significant socioeconomic implications, including agriculture losses, increased financial burdens on governments, and escalating insurance claims. Drought can also trigger humanitarian and social crises, especially in resource-limited areas, resulting in shortages of food and water, population displacement, and health risks. Therefore, effective policies, informed by robust research and data, are crucial for addressing the complex challenges of droughts in a changing climate. Proactive strategies, including improved water management, early warning systems, and sustainable agricultural practices, are essential for a comprehensive response. Addressing the socioeconomic impacts of climate-induced drought requires a holistic, interdisciplinary approach, emphasizing collaboration among governments, communities, researchers, and international organizations. Implementing adaptive measures and risk reduction strategies enhances resilience and mitigates the adverse effects of drought on society and the economy.

Firewood and Energy Sovereignty on Navajo Nation

Climate-induced drought jeopardizes future access to sufficient energy sources for many people reliant on firewood, especially those underrepresented in forest management decision-making. To identify where interventions might be most effective in facilitating self-determination and sustained firewood harvest, we investigate the case of Diné firewood harvesters. Using data from surveys, interviews and participant observations, we articulate who uses firewood and why, what the costs of firewood are, and who imposes those costs. Reducing both the cost and need for firewood for the Diné and others would support energy sovereignty by facilitating sustained access to firewood.

Robust Satellite-Based Identification and Monitoring of Forests Having Undergone Climate-Change-Related Stress

Climate-induced drought events are responsible for forest decline and mortality in different areas of the world. Forest response to drought stress periods may be different, in time and space, depending on vegetation type and local factors. Stress analysis may be carried out by using field methods, but the use of remote sensing may be needed to highlight the effects of climate-change-induced phenomena at a larger spatial and temporal scale. In this context, satellite-based analyses are presented in this work to evaluate the drought effects during the 2000s and the possible climatological forcing over oak forests in Southern Italy. To this aim, two approaches based on the well-known Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were used: one based on NDVI values, averaged over selected decaying and non-decaying forests; another based on the Robust Satellite Techniques (RST). The analysis of the first approach mainly gave us overall information about 1984–2011 rising NDVI trends, despite a general decrease around the 2000s. The second, more refined approach was able to highlight a different drought stress impact over decaying and non-decaying forests. The combined use of the RST-based approach, Landsat satellite data, and Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform allowed us to identify in space domain and monitor over time significant oak forest changes and climate-driven effects (e.g., in 2001) from the local to the Basilicata region scale. By this way, the decaying status of the Gorgoglione forest was highlighted two years before the first visual field evidence (e.g., dryness of apical branches, bark detachment, root rot disease). The RST exportability to different satellite sensors and vegetation types, the availability of suitable satellite data, and the potential of GEE suggest the possibility of long-term monitoring of forest health, from the local to the global scale, to provide useful information to different end-user classes.

Integrating plant physiology and community ecology across scales through trait-based models to predict drought mortality.

Forests are a critical carbon sink and widespread tree mortality resulting from climate-induced drought stress has the potential to alter forests from a carbon sink to a source, causing a positive feedback on climate change. Process-based vegetation models aim to represent the current understanding of the underlying mechanisms governing plant physiological and ecological responses to climate. Yet model accuracy varies across scales, and regional-scale model predictive skill is frequently poor when compared with observations of drought-driven mortality. I propose a framework that leverages differences in model predictive skill across spatial scales, mismatches between model predictions and observations, and differences in the mechanisms included and absent across models to advance the understanding of the physiological and ecological processes driving observed patterns drought-driven mortality.

Evidence of declining trees resilience under long term heavy metal stress combined with climate change heating

Annually resolved tree rings enable us to distinguish past pollution and climate change effects on chronic tree decline, which affects significant areas around the world. The aim of the current study was to establish a pattern for the assimilation of heavy metals in regular and declining Quercus robur L. trees. Using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS), ICP-MS, and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), the present and historical changes in element levels were investigated. Twenty different environmental species, including water, soil, sediments, mushrooms, acorn, leaves, branches, bark, and wood, were analyzed. Time profiles of elements in earlywood tree rings were investigated. We demonstrated higher HM contamination in the present background with increasing Pb and Cd levels. The presence of Li and Sr in groundwater was reported for the first time. We found significant differences (p < 0.001) between declined (D) and normally (N) growing trees only in the 1960–2019 period (Levene's t-test), which was sustained by a significant negative trend in D‒ chronology (MK-test, two-tailed). The bootstrapped correlation showed a weak positive relationship between D‒ chronology and soil moisture and a negative relationship with temperature and evapotranspiration. Declined trees were less resistant to environmental stress factors than N‒ growing trees at present (2012 compared to 1953). Mn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Zn, and Ni contents in tree rings correlated with climate-induced drought conditions, explaining the increasing elemental contents after 1980. A significant relationship between earlywood tree rings, climate and HM contamination explained different response patterns for normal and declining trees. Metal availability is increasing with climate change effects, leading to higher rates and future concerns, especially considering the high environmental health risk of some elements, such as Pb and Cd.

Quantifying climate-induced drought risk to livelihood and mitigation actions in Balochistan.

Climate change-induced disasters show the highest risk for agriculture and livelihoods in rural areas of developing countries. Due to changing rainfall pattern, the arid and semiarid region of Pakistan faces frequent droughts. Farming communities affected by drought disasters are causing serious threats to livelihood, global food crises, environmental migration, and sustainable development. The existing study was designed to quantify two key components through (1) analysis of agrometeorological data (1981–2017) with exploratory data analysis and Mann–Kendall trend analysis; (2) extensive field survey (200 households). The multivariate probit model has been run to detect determinants of coping and adaptive strategies by farmers. Our results showed that the farmers supposed that temperature and rainfall were highly fluctuating in recent years equally. Farmers adopted different coping and adaptive measures that include crop diversification, input adjustment, water management, asset depletion, income diversification, and migration to sustain their livelihood during stress periods. The agrometeorological data analysis revealed that the agricultural vulnerability to drought risks increased significantly, and the survey results projected that 64.7% of the population is exposed to drought directly or indirectly. Sen’s slope quantification resulted in (0.025 °C) rise in temperature, (− 2.936 mm) decline in rainfall year−1. Modeling future scenarios resulted in an increase in temperature up to 0.7 °C, 1.2 °C, and a decrease in precipitation up to 161.48 mm, 103.5 mm in 2040 and 2060. The study evaluated a huge gap in the provision of drought risk resilience services, crop insurance, and climate-smart training practices to build capacities among farmers to cope with the impacts of extreme weather conditions. Our research might provide the groundwork to upgrade actions to drought prevention and early warning in water scarcity areas.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11069-021-04913-4.

Hybrids production as a potential method to control prolific breeding in tilapia and adaptation to aquaculture climate-induced drought

Establishing suitable salt tolerant all-male tilapia strains with fast growth rate is a crucial requirement for successful euryhaline farming required for controlling prolific breeding and as an adaptation to the effect of climate-induced drought. This study assessed the percentage of tilapia male hybrids, their growth performance and survival rate produced by crossing female Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and male Rufiji tilapia (Oreochromis urolepis urolepis) at different salinities. The fingerlings were reared for 70 days in triplicate concrete tanks (1 m3), each stocked with 15 fish weighing 1.62 ± 0.03 g, 1.69 ± 0.02 g and 1.41 ± 0.06 g exposed to 2, 15 and 35 ppt salinities, respectively. Acclimatization was done by adding seawater to freshwater at a rate of 2 ppt per day for 18 days. Fish sexing was done by visual assessment of the genital papilla followed by rearing the hybrids for six months to observe reproduction. Results showed that, the cross between O. niloticus (female) and O. urolepis urolepis (male) produced hybrids that were all-males without any reproduction within six months post hybridization. The hybrids reared at a salinity of 2 ppt had higher growth performance than those reared at 15 and 35 ppt. Similarly, hybrids cultured at 15 ppt had significantly higher growth performance than those reared at 35 ppt. All the hybrids produced had survival rates of 100%. This study indicated that, all-male tilapia produced by crossing between O. niloticus (female) and O. urolepis (male) can be used by fish farmers as alternative species for mariculture development to control prolific breeding and as an adaptation strategy to climate change.

Hydrological drought indexing approach in response to climate and anthropogenic activities

A revisited hydrological drought analysis is necessary for a human-modified period where human activities in addition to natural processes can influence runoff. Hence, a new drought indexing approach (NDIA) is proposed for indexing hydrological drought in response to climatic and anthropogenic contributions. The NDIA involves three main components, namely, trend and change-point analysis, the estimation of runoff variability induced by climate and human activities, and indexing steps. The current study showed that during the study period (1983–2012), with a change point in approximately 1997–1998, 3.16% and 0.93% decreases in the annual average runoff and precipitation, respectively, with an insignificant increase in potential evapotranspiration, were observed from period 1 (1983–1997) to period 2 (1998–2012). The hydrological analysis showed that climatic and land use changes contributed 69.4% and 30.6%, respectively, to mean runoff variability, which indicated the need to consider human contributions in drought analysis during the disturbed period (1998–2012). Hence, using the proposed hydrological drought indexing process in the disturbed period, human-induced drought (HID) and climate-induced drought (CID) were individually estimated. The analysis showed that the duration of HID was less than that of CID, but the number of events was high. The findings were also cross-compared with basin development information and land use classification using a geographic information system (GIS), and this cross-comparison confirmed human intervention during the disturbed period. Based on the overall results, it was concluded that anthropogenic intrusions altered the hydrological time series and instigated or alleviated drought events in the Anthropocene.

Using artificial neural networks to predict future dryland responses to human and climate disturbances

Land degradation and sediment remobilisation in dryland environments is considered to be a significant global environmental problem. Given the potential for currently stabilised dune systems to reactivate under climate change and increased anthropogenic pressures, identifying the role of external disturbances in driving geomorphic response is vitally important. We developed a novel approach, using artificial neural networks (ANNs) applied to time series of historical reactivation-deposition events from the Nebraska Sandhills, to determine the relationship between historic periods of sand deposition in semi-arid grasslands and external climatic conditions, land use pressures and wildfire occurrence. We show that both vegetation growth and sediment re-deposition episodes can be accurately estimated. Sensitivity testing of individual factors shows that localised forcings (overgrazing and wildfire) have a statistically significant impact when the climate is held at present-day conditions. However, the dominant effect is climate-induced drought. Our approach has great potential for estimating future landscape sensitivity to climate and land use scenarios across a wide range of potentially fragile dryland environments.

Examination of the Climate Factors That Reduced Wheat Yield in Northwest India during the 2000s

In India, a significant reduction of wheat yield would cause a widespread impact on food security for 1.35 billion people. The two highest wheat producing states, Punjab and Haryana in northern India, experienced a prolonged period of anomalously low wheat yield during 2002–2010. The extent of climate variability and change in influencing this prolonged reduction in wheat yield was examined. Daily air temperature (Tmax and Tave) was used to calculate the number of days above optimum temperature and growing degree days (GDD) anomaly. Two drought indices, the standard precipitation and evapotranspiration index and the radiation-based precipitation index, were used to describe the drought conditions. Groundwater variability was assessed via satellite-based approximation. The analysis results indicate that the wheat yield loss corresponds to the increase in the number of days with a temperature above 35 °C during the maturity stage (March). Reduction in monsoon rainfall led to a depletion of groundwater and reduced surface water for irrigation in the wheat growing season (November–March). Higher temperatures, coupled with water shortage and irregular irrigation, also appear to impact the yield reduction. In hindsight, improving the agronomic practices to minimize crop water usage could be an adaptation strategy to maintain the desired wheat yield in the face of climate-induced drought and precipitation anomaly.

Drought Impact and Adaptation Strategies in the Mid-Hill Farming System of Western Nepal

Climate-induced drought hazard has been emerging as one of the major challenges in the mid-hill farming system and rural livelihood in Nepal. Drought stress, in combination with century-long socio-political issues such as unequal social structure, gender discrimination, and marginalization of poor and disadvantaged groups have made smallholders more vulnerable in society. Climate changes are exacerbating issues within an already vulnerable society. Therefore, a review study on the impact of drought on the rain-fed hill farming system, and the potential adaptation measures, was carried out in the mid-hill region of western Nepal. Both agricultural impacts such as depletion of traditional varieties of crops, crop-specific diseases, low production, lack of water for irrigation; and non-agricultural impacts such as changing rural livelihood patterns, and social conflict due to agriculture and water issues were identified as major impacts. Some of the agricultural adaptation measures viz. the promotion of climate smart agriculture practices, crop diversification, and agroforestry practices seem to have been more effective in the region. At the same time, small-scale structural water harvesting measures, for instance, rainwater harvesting, conservation ponds, and irrigation channels, drip water irrigation, and an early warning system for drought events could also be an advantage in this context. Nonetheless, there are several adaptation barriers including ecological and physical constraints, human and information resource-shortages, and social barriers to adaptation. Therefore, local site-specific adaptation measures should be developed, and implemented, to increase the adaptive capacity of smallholders, and enhance the farming system in the face of the climate-induced drought scenario.

Avian communities are decreasing with piñon pine mortality in the southwest

An increase in tree mortality is expected to occur worldwide due to climate-induced drought and increasing temperatures. The 2000–2002 drought in the southwestern United States was one of the most severe in the last 50 years. It led to a severe outbreak of bark beetles that resulted in high mortality of piñon pine (Pinus edulis) trees on the Pajarito Plateau in Northern New Mexico beginning in 2002. Many areas in piñon-juniper habitat had entire stands of piñon die leaving only juniper (Juniperus spp.). Point count surveys were used to determine avian responses to tree mortality from 2003 to 2013. We also tested whether birds responded differently in sites that were mechanically thinned in 2002 and 2003 on Los Alamos National Laboratory property compared to sites not thinned. Junipers and dead piñon pines due to bark beetles and drought were removed on thinned sites. Richness, diversity, and abundance steadily declined after 2003. There was a 73% decrease in abundance and a 45% decrease in richness from 2003 to 2013. There was no difference in community composition between thinned and unthinned sites. Bird abundance and species richness declined faster in thinned sites than unthinned sites, but diversity decreased similarly in both treatments. Several species disappeared over time and some declined substantially. Our results suggest a delay in bird responses to tree mortality on the Pajarito Plateau. Piñon mortality may be a significant threat to bird communities in the southwestern U.S., and tree thinning to control fire may be an added risk.

Adaptation Measures of Farmers in Response to Climate Change in Bicol Region, Philippines

A study was conducted to determine the climate change adaptation (CCA) measures of 211 farmers located in five provinces in the Bicol Region, Philippines. The study employed the descriptive method. A structured questionnaire with open-ended questions served as the main tool for data gathering. Respondents were selected purposively from the Department of Agriculture’s master list of farmers. They were selected based on the following criteria: owner of at least one hectare; had been practicing farming for at least five years; a resident of the municipality and living within 50 km radius of synoptic stations. Frequency counts, weighted means and percentages were used to describe the profile of respondents and their climate change adaptation measures. The major climate hazards the respondents had to contend with are flood, drought, typhoon, erosion and volcanic eruption. Typhoons happen almost every year with varying magnitude. In terms of flood and landslide, residents living in low-lying villages and near river channels, shorelines and mountain slopes are most affected. For the climate-induced drought, the provinces of Albay, Camarines Sur and Catanduanes are more at risk. Volcanic eruptions on the other hand happen in the provinces of Albay and Sorsogon, and hazards brought about by these are volcanic quakes, pyroclastic flow, mudflow, ash fall, landslides, and bush fire. With these climate hazards, farmers practice various CCA measures. Availing of climate forecast services was the most commonly cited and ranked highest across the 4 major hazards, except for erosion where livelihood/income diversification ranked highest as CCA measure. Farmers in the province of Catanduanes had the highest mean score on CCA followed by those in the provinces of Camarines, Sorsogon and Albay. Recommendations include: provision of adequate investment to enhance farmers’ access to climate advisories; strengthen nonstructural interventions such as policies, knowledge development, and awareness, to make CCA more effective and reduce the impact of climate change; encourage partnerships between informal processes and formal interventions to facilitate adoption of CCA initiatives introduced by the government; and provide necessary support for the utilization of indigenous knowledge on CCA measures to increase the resiliency of farmers against climate hazards.

A climate trend analysis of Ethiopia: examining subseasonal climate impacts on crops and pasture conditions

Ethiopia experiences significant climate-induced drought and stress on crop and livestock productivity, contributing to widespread food insecurity. Here, we present subseasonal crop water stress analyses that indicate degrading, growing conditions along Ethiopia’s eastern highlands, including productive and populated highland regions. These seasonally shifting areas of increasing water stress stretch from the north to south across eastern Ethiopia, intersecting regions of acute food insecurity and/or high population. Crop model simulations indicate that between 1982 and 2014, parts of eastern Amhara and eastern Oromia experienced increasing water deficits during the critical sowing, flowering, and ripening periods of crop growth. These trends occurred while population in these regions increased by 143% between 2000 and 2015. These areas of enhanced crop water stress in south-central Ethiopia coincide with regions of high population growth and ongoing crop extensification. Conversely, large regions of relatively unpopulated western Ethiopia are becoming wetter. These areas may therefore be good targets for agricultural development.

Land-use response to drought scenarios and water policy intervention in Lijiang, SW China

As a part of the Asian highlands, Lijiang, in the northwest of Yunnan Province, China, is threatened by climate-induced drought and an increasing water demand by tourism development. Understanding local farmers’ land-use options in response to drought and policy intervention is crucial for future adaptation strategies. We assessed farmers’ land-use options and the socio-economic factors affecting decisions under drought and water policy scenarios using household surveys. From the total of 174 households surveyed, whether under a drought scenario or a drought scenario with water policy intervention, we found that respondents preferred land-use options focusing on four choices: keep current pattern; keep crops, but reduce areas; abandon farming; rent out farmlands. Findings suggest that there is a growing pattern of agricultural abandonment for urban jobs as a strategy to cope with climate change impacts. The results identified a total of five socio-economic factors that have a significant effect on the households’ land-use options. These factors are important for the households’ land-use decisions and could prevent people from altering their livelihood strategies. We provide some specific recommendations which could enhance local households’ potential adaptation to drought, as well as for effective management of water to prevent potential conflicts in the design or implementation of water policy with the local community.