Long-term Adaptation Strategies Research Articles

A Critical Review of Emerging Technologies for Flash Flood Prediction: Examining Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Internet of Things, Cloud Computing, and Robotics Techniques

There has been growing interest in the application of smart technologies for hazard management. However, very limited studies have reviewed the trends of such technologies in the context of flash floods. This study reviews innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML), the Internet of Things (IoT), cloud computing, and robotics used for flash flood early warnings and susceptibility predictions. Articles published between 2010 and 2023 were manually collected from scientific databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. Based on the review, AI/ML has been applied to flash flood susceptibility and early warning prediction in 64% of the published papers, followed by the IoT (19%), cloud computing (6%), and robotics (2%). Among the most common AI/ML methods used in susceptibility and early warning predictions are random forests and support vector machines. However, further optimization and emerging technologies, such as computer vision, are required to improve these technologies. AI/ML algorithms have demonstrated very accurate prediction performance, with receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and areas under the curve (AUC) greater than 0.90. However, there is a need to improve on these current models with large test datasets. Through AI/ML, IoT, and cloud computing technologies, early warnings can be disseminated to targeted communities in real time via electronic media, such as SMS and social media platforms. In spite of this, these systems have issues with internet connectivity, as well as data loss. Additionally, Al/ML used a number of topographical variables (such as slope), geological variables (such as lithology), and hydrological variables (such as stream density) to predict susceptibility, but the selection of these variables lacks a clear theoretical basis and has inconsistencies. To generate more reliable flood risk assessment maps, future studies should also consider sociodemographic, health, and housing data. Considering future climate change impacts, susceptibility or early warning studies may be projected under different climate change scenarios to help design long-term adaptation strategies.

Unravelling the complexities of wetland agriculture, climate change, and coping mechanisms: an integrative review using economics and satellite approaches

AbstractThe flash flood-affected wetland region of Bangladesh contributes around 20–25% of the annual Boro rice production, which is vital for local, regional, and national food security. Considering the crucial significance of Boro rice and the growing susceptibility of wetland regions to flash floods and climate change, it is imperative to investigate viable approaches and adaptation methods to reduce the adverse effects on agricultural output. This review study investigated the relationships between wetlands, climate change, and coping mechanisms while incorporating economic and advanced satellite remote sensing approaches. Through a comprehensive analysis of flash flood impacts on Boro rice yield using satellite remote sensing technique, the findings revealed significant adverse effects on the vegetative reproduction of Boro rice in the study areas. Notably, flash floods in 2017 exhibited more pronounced impacts than other years (2018 and 2019), underscoring the urgency for effective and integrated coping strategies to ensure sustainable agricultural production. Consequently, the study identified and discussed probable coping strategies, including changes in cropping patterns through land suitability assessment, evaluating vulnerable areas through vulnerability mapping, analyzing yield forecasting models, and introducing a damage-based crop insurance approach to mitigate farmers’ losses. These probable adaptation strategies will offer viable solutions to address the recurrent issue of flash floods and safeguard sustainable agricultural production in the wetland areas of Bangladesh. Considering the current situation, climate change issues and probable alternative coping strategies are crucial for developing a resilient agricultural system in light of flash floods, ensuring the long-term viability of wetland agriculture. The study outcomes provide valuable insights for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in wetland agricultural planning and management to develop proper and long-term sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Uncovering unmet demand and key insights for the invasive blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) market before and after the Italian outbreak: Implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders

In the summer of 2023, the Atlantic blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, experienced an unprecedented outbreak in the Northern Adriatic Sea, significantly impacting Italy's shellfish farming industry and generating widespread media attention. Given that commercially harvesting this edible species is recognized as one of the main strategies to manage its invasion, we conducted an extensive online survey to explore key aspects of C. sapidus market. The survey included questions on public awareness, market availability, consumer’s acceptance, market prices and willingness to pay. We gathered responses from 2466 participants across Italy, between November 2022 and October 2023. To explore possible changes in public perceptions, we compared data from periods before and after the media upsurge. Our findings underscore a rapid rise in public interest fueled by media coverage, coupled with a high favorable reception from Italian consumers, who positively assessed the blue crab's qualities. A notable mismatch between consumer interest and the current availability of C. sapidus in national markets was highlighted, suggesting the importance to address this major gap in the distribution chain of blue crab across all the Italian regions. By tapping into a highly impactful and readily available yet currently underutilized resource, significant economic potential can be unlocked. This approach should be considered while developing long-term adaptation strategies, ensuring sustainable harvesting practices and carefully assessing any potential challenge.

The Resilience of the Built Environment to Flooding: The Case of Alappuzha District in the South Indian State of Kerala

In recent years, floods and climate-induced cataclysms have caused significant annual damage to livelihoods worldwide, with limited research on their vulnerability, impact, resilience, and long-term adaptation strategies in developing countries. In the South Indian State of Kerala, the major flood in 2018 caused immense economic losses in the low-lying and densely populated Alappuzha District. While the region has a heightened risk of periodic flooding, the considerable destruction of buildings and infrastructure highlights the need for effective solutions for flood resilience in the existing housing stock and new construction. In this context, this study examines flood resilience in the built environment of Alappuzha, focusing on flood vulnerability, building practices, and potential approaches suitable for the region that the current literature does not address. This study employs a qualitative research approach to understand current trends in adaptation strategies and the influencing socioeconomic and cultural factors. The study employs various data collection methods, including interviews, site observations, and content analyses of existing government reports, journal articles, and popular media sources. The findings indicate that although there are three types of established flood resilience techniques (static elevated, floating, and amphibious structures), their suitability for the low-lying areas of Alappuzha depends on the geographic, climatic, socioeconomic, and cultural contexts. Stilted houses have become the most common construction method, in response to climatic and socioeconomic conditions. In addition, the findings highlight the bounce-forth resilience quality of amphibious building techniques and suggest further exploration by integrating them with local technologies and materials. The study concludes that a comprehensive approach is needed that integrates traditional and modern knowledge and practices in disaster risk reduction and management to enhance the resilience of the built environment to flooding.

Cardiovascular Effects of Neurofeedback Course in Various Sports Adaptation Strategies: an Open Controlled Study

INTRODUCTION. Neurofeedback is effectively applied in clinical practice. Cardiovascular effects (CVEs) from different sports adaptation strategies in course-based β-rhythm neurofeedback are under-studied. AIM. To evaluate the CVEs of the neurofeedback course under different sports adaptation strategies. MATERIALS AND METHODS. The study included 1020 men (18–21 years) during the preparatory training period. Following groups were formed: 1 — cyclic sports (n = 387); 2 — speed-strength sports (n = 255); 3 — single combat (n = 31); 4 — team sports (n = 173); 5 — complex coordination sports (n = 174). The CVEs were assessed with the BOSLAB complex (Russia), with eyes open and muscles relaxed. EEG electrodes were applied bipolarly (Cz-Fz). Session types: graphic (10 minutes), game (16 minutes), where the β-rhythm level was increased and maintained. Indices of systemic pressure, cardiac activity; peripheral vessels, functional changes of the cardiovascular system (CVS) were also examined. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. Along with improved attention, the 10th session revealed positive CVEs in the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th groups with CVS economization. 1st group: CVEs are a desirable response option. 2nd group: ambiguous heterochronic CVEs, with improved systemic pressure and reduced cardiac activity, indices of peripheral vessels, cardiovascular regulation index. These effects, mainly in strength sports, are caused by the long-term sports adaptation strategy, associated with hypoxia and incomplete recovery of the spent resources, causing incomplete adaptation. It is associated with mastering the β-rhythm control skill, different in the nature from the activities with the formed adaptation strategy in the long-term training process. 3rd group (10th session): changes in the brain structure (BS) function formed CVEs involving mechanisms maintaining systemic pressure, regarded as optimal. 4th and 5th groups: optimized BS and CVEs activities. CONCLUSION. The positive CVEs demonstrated expediency of the β-rhythm neurofeedback course. Ambiguous CVEs in groups of speed-strength sports are studied for neurofeedback technology modification.

Exploring the relationship between climate change, air pollutants and human health: Impacts, adaptation, and mitigation strategies

The innumerable impact of climate change is a global menace to human health. This paper conveys a comprehensive review of scientific literature to explore the relationship between climate change, air pollutants, and human health. The integral relationship between climate change and health is complex and has a significant impact on every facet of human life. The impact can either be direct (e.g., exposures due to extreme heat, storms, flooding, and air pollution) or indirect (e.g., displacement, food security, and variation in water). The rising temperature of the planet could lead to increasingly severe health impacts from climate change in the future. It is important to take stringent climate actions to mitigate the climate change risk and adapt to the impacts that are already happening. To lessen the speed and severity of climate change, mitigation focuses on cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Options for adaptation include things like advancing to higher ground to stop sea levels from increasing, growing new crops that can grow in a new environment, or using novel construction methods. Investing in novel or enhanced technology, infrastructure, and research is frequently required for adaptation. The review emphasized the importance of considering both short-term and long-term adaptation strategies as well as mitigation efforts, which call for steps to address the root cause by halting or reducing the growth in fossil fuel emissions that might severely and completely increase the earth's scorching temperatures. The results of this study provide insightful viewpoints on adaptation measures, and mitigation strategies for decision-makers, experts in public health, and researchers working in the field of climate change and its effects on human health.

Next-Gen Weather Resilience: A Holistic Approach to Disaster Mitigation Through Interactive Maps, Flood Detection, and Drought Forecasting

Next-Gen Weather Resilience presents a transformative framework for disaster mitigation by utilizing interactive maps, flood detection technologies, and advanced drought forecasting methods. This holistic approach combines innovative strategies to enhance preparedness and response measures in the face of increasingly unpredictable weather patterns and climate change impacts. Through the integration of real-time data and analytics, interactive maps offer situational awareness and decision support for stakeholders at all levels. Flood detection systems enable early warning mechanisms, improving response times and reducing damages caused by flooding events. Furthermore, cutting-edge drought forecasting techniques provide valuable insights into water availability and resource management, aiding in long-term planning and adaptation strategies. By leveraging these tools in a coordinated manner, Next-Gen Weather Resilience empowers communities to build greater resilience against natural disasters while fostering sustainable development initiatives. Key Words: Weather Resilience, Disaster Mitigation, Interactive Maps, Flood Detection, Drought Forecasting.

Genomic analysis of Nypa fruticans elucidates its intertidal adaptations and early palm evolution.

Nypa fruticans (Wurmb), a mangrove palm species with origins dating back to the Late Cretaceous period, is a unique species for investigating long-term adaptation strategies to intertidal environments and the early evolution of palms. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome sequence and assembly for N. fruticans. We integrated the genomes of N. fruticans and other palm family members for a comparative genomic analysis, which confirmed that the common ancestor of all palms experienced a whole-genome duplication event around 89 million years ago, shaping the distinctive characteristics observed in this clade. We also inferred a low mutation rate for the N. fruticans genome, which underwent strong purifying selection and evolved slowly, thus contributing to its stability over a long evolutionary period. Moreover, ancient duplicates were preferentially retained, with critical genes having experienced positive selection, enhancing waterlogging tolerance in N. fruticans. Furthermore, we discovered that the pseudogenization of Early Methionine-labelled 1 (EM1) and EM6 in N. fruticans underly its crypto-vivipary characteristics, reflecting its intertidal adaptation. Our study provides valuable genomic insights into the evolutionary history, genome stability, and adaptive evolution of the mangrove palm. Our results also shed light on the long-term adaptation of this species and contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary dynamics in the palm family.

Cost-benefit analysis of migration in the context of environmental change in Ben Tre Province of Viet Nam

Changes in the natural environment and the socio-economic environment have had both direct and indirect impacts on agricultural production and farmer’s life in three coastal districts of Ben Tre Province of Viet Nam, including Binh Dai, Ba Tri, and Thanh Phu. Natural environment changes are drought, saline intrusion, and landslides while the socio-economic environment changes consist of agricultural market fluctuation, rising labor and agricultural input price, decreasing output price, diseases, etc. One of the solutions that households take to cope with these changes is migration. In this article, the authors examine factors that affected households’ migrating decisions and behaviors using cost-benefit approach. Two research methods used in this study are social surveys and in-depth interviews. The survey was conducted with 79 households that have migrants in 3 coastal districts. The research suggests that migrants themselves made the migration decision in most cases (85%). Three main reasons for migration among farmers in the area have been identified as (1) solving the immediate difficulties of the household, (2) being part of the family’s long-term plan, and (3) being the family’s livelihood strategy in the short term (solving difficulties) and long-term (transforming livelihoods). The costs that migrants and their families can face are direct costs (packing, travel costs, rental housing, etc.) and indirect costs (change in living environment and social relations, anxiety of family members, and social evils at the destination, etc.). The benefits of migration can be immediate benefits (economic and non-economic) as well as long-term effects that have a great impact on household life and the migrants themselves. The research finds that migration provided more benefits related to the living conditions of households. It also points out that migration has become a feasible long-term adaptation strategy for farmers, those who stayed behind, in the context of environmental change.

The economics impacts of long-run droughts: Challenges, gaps, and way forward

Quantifying drought's economic impacts has been key for decision-making to build future strategies and improve the development and implementation of proactive plans. However, climate change is changing drought frequency, intensity, and durability. These changes imply modifications of their economic impact, as longer droughts result in greater cumulative economic losses for water users. Though the longer the drought lasts, other factors also play a crucial role in its economic outcomes, such as Infrastructure capacity (IC), the Amount of Water in Storage (AWS) in reservoirs and aquifers, and short- and long-term responses to it. This study proposes and applies an analytical framework for the economic assessment of long-run droughts, assessing and explaining central Chile megadrought economic effects through the factors that begin to influence the economic impact level in this setting. High levels of both IC and the AWS, as well as short- and long-term responses of water users, allow for high resilience to long-run droughts, tolerating extraordinary water disruption in its society with relatively low total economic impacts. Despite this adaptability, long-term droughts bring places to a water-critical threshold where long-term adaptation strategies may be less flexible than short-term strategies, escalating the adverse economic effects. This fact suggests that the economic evaluation of megadrought needs to focus on future tipping points (substantial water scarcity). The tipping point depends on the IC, how water users manage the AWS, and adaptation strategies. Establishing the tipping point should be a priority for future interdisciplinary research.

Vertical distribution patterns of community biomass, carbon and nitrogen content in grasslands on the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

The accumulation, transport and distribution of photosynthates within plants not only affect the ratio of shoot-to-root biomass, but also change the distribution pattern of nutrient elements in different organs and tissues. A full understanding of the allocation patterns of biomass and nutrient elements within plants, is helpful to strengthen our understanding of the above- and belowground ecosystem functions. However, at present, we do not know enough about the aboveground–belowground allocation of biomass, carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) contents, and, in particular, the corresponding vertical distribution pattern belowground and its environmental impact. At the community scale, the changes in vegetation community attributes measured in the field can reflect the long-term adaptation and subsequent adaptation strategies of vegetation to the regional environment and environmental changes. In this study, the vertical distribution patterns of community biomass and the carbon and nitrogen contents with soil depth in an alpine grassland on the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau were investigated based on the transect method. Our results show the following: (1) Alpine grasslands can respond to differences in hydrothermal resource availability by changing biomass allocation patterns. In low-temperature and high-humidity environments, aboveground and belowground biomass allocation supports the isometric growth hypothesis. However, in environments with less soil moisture or high temperature and humidity, the aboveground and belowground biomass distributions support the allometric allocation hypothesis. (2) The vertical distribution patterns of the C content, N content and carbon: nitrogen ratio (C:N) within plants are different. From the leaves to the root system, with the increase in root depth, the C content demonstrated a vertical distribution pattern of first decreasing and then increasing, and the N% demonstrated a gradual decreasing distribution pattern, while the C:N ratio demonstrated an exponential increasing distribution pattern. (3) The change rate in C%, N% and C:N related to the soil depth was affected by environmental hydrothermal conditions. C% and C:N ratio changed more rapidly with root depth under low temperature and high humidity. The change rate of N% was mainly affected by temperature and changed more rapidly with root depth at low temperatures. (4) When exploring the relationship between the content of elements within plants, it is necessary to combine both the above- and belowground compartments. There was a nonlinear quadratic relationship between the carbon and nitrogen contents within plants.

Exploring potential glacial lakes using geo-spatial techniques in Eastern Hindu Kush Region, Pakistan

The study aimed to investigate the potential glacial lakes in response to climate change and the associated risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Remote sensing data and GIS techniques were utilized to analyze glacial lakes, employing empirical models to estimate their area, volume, and depth. The Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) was applied to detect changes in glacial lakes using Sentinel imagery. The findings revealed a notable increase in both the number and surface area of glacial lakes over the past two decades. Specifically, the number of glacial lakes rose from 101 in 2000 to 162 in 2020, while their combined surface area expanded from 9.72 km2 to 12.36 km2 during the same period. Among these lakes, 31 were identified as Potentially Dangerous Glacial Lakes (PDGLs), with 6 located in Chitral, 16 in Swat, and 9 in Upper Dir. Two lakes were classified as high potential glacial lakes, with depths estimated at 41.86 ​m and 30.43 ​m. Continued monitoring of these glacial lakes and their susceptibility to GLOFs is crucial in the face of ongoing climate change. Long-term planning and adaptation strategies are necessary to safeguard the well-being and safety of communities residing in these vulnerable regions. By understanding the evolving characteristics of these lakes, researchers and policymakers can better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of GLOFs on downstream communities and infrastructure.

Heat-related mortality in Europe during the summer of 2022

Over 70,000 excess deaths occurred in Europe during the summer of 2003. The resulting societal awareness led to the design and implementation of adaptation strategies to protect at-risk populations. We aimed to quantify heat-related mortality burden during the summer of 2022, the hottest season on record in Europe. We analyzed the Eurostat mortality database, which includes 45,184,044 counts of death from 823 contiguous regions in 35 European countries, representing the whole population of over 543 million people. We estimated 61,672 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 37,643–86,807) heat-related deaths in Europe between 30 May and 4 September 2022. Italy (18,010 deaths; 95% CI = 13,793–22,225), Spain (11,324; 95% CI = 7,908–14,880) and Germany (8,173; 95% CI = 5,374–11,018) had the highest summer heat-related mortality numbers, while Italy (295 deaths per million, 95% CI = 226–364), Greece (280, 95% CI = 201–355), Spain (237, 95% CI = 166–312) and Portugal (211, 95% CI = 162–255) had the highest heat-related mortality rates. Relative to population, we estimated 56% more heat-related deaths in women than men, with higher rates in men aged 0–64 (+41%) and 65–79 (+14%) years, and in women aged 80+ years (+27%). Our results call for a reevaluation and strengthening of existing heat surveillance platforms, prevention plans and long-term adaptation strategies.

Optimizing overheating, lighting, and heating energy performances in Canadian school for climate change adaptation: Sensitivity analysis and multi-objective optimization methodology

This paper aims to develop long-term adaptation strategies for the existing Canadian school buildings under extreme current and future climates using a developed methodology based on global and local sensitivity analysis and Multi-Objective Optimization Genetic Algorithm. The calibrated simulation model based on indoor and outdoor measured temperature for a school of interest is used to evaluate the optimization strategies. This paper aims to search for the optimum school building design under three simultaneous conflicting objective functions: (1) the minimization of overheating hours to less than 40 h as required by Building Bulletin BB101 building code by using passive mitigation measures, (2) the minimization of heating energy use to less than 15 kW/m2 according to passive house requirements and thus the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and (3) the minimization of artificial lighting energy use to less than the current lighting energy use by maximization of daylighting usage without exceeding acceptable glare index in classrooms. Ten building design variables are selected, which could generate approximately 300,000 solutions. The developed methodology reduced the numbers to 14,400 solutions and found seven Pareto solutions that comply with the three objectives and their constraints. High energy-efficient building envelope, appropriate window-wall ratio and window type, natural ventilation during the day, and night cooling can play a key role in achieving the objectives under current weather conditions. An additional cool roof and external overhang will be needed in the medium-term future climate, and an additional movable screen shading will be needed in the long-term future climate.

The inhibition and recovery mechanisms of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum in response to high light stress - A study combining physiological and transcriptional analysis.

By combining physiological/biochemical and transcriptional analysis, the inhibition and recovery mechanisms of Phaeodactylum tricornutum in response to extreme high light stress (1300 μmol photons · m-2 · s-1 ) were elucidated. The population growth was inhibited in the first 24 h and started to recover from 48 h. At 24 h, photoinhibition was exhibited as the changes of PSII photosynthetic parameters and decrease in cellular pigments, corresponding to the downregulation of genes encoding light-harvesting complex and pigments synthesis. Changes in those photosynthetic parameters and genes were kept until 96 h, indicating that the decrease of light absorption abilities might be one strategy for photoacclimation. In the meanwhile, we observed elevated cellular ROS levels, dead cells proportions, and upregulation of genes encoding antioxidant materials and proteasome pathway at 24 h. Those stress-related parameters and genes recovered to the controls at 96 h, indicating a stable intracellular environment after photoacclimation. Finally, genes involving carbon metabolisms were upregulated from 24 to 96 h, which ensured the energy supply for keeping high base and nucleotide excision repair abilities, leading to the recovery of cell cycle progression. We concluded that P. tricornutum could overcome photoinhibition by decreasing light-harvesting abilities, enhancing carbon metabolisms, activating anti-oxidative functions, and elevating repair abilities. The parameters of light harvesting, carbon metabolisms, and repair processes were responsible for the recovery phase, which could be considered long-term adaptive strategies for diatoms under high light stress.

Leaf stomatal traits rather than anatomical traits regulate gross primary productivity of moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) stands.

Leaf stomatal and anatomical traits strongly influence plant productivity. Understanding the environmental adaptation mechanisms of leaf stomatal and anatomical traits and their relationship with ecosystem productivity is essential to better understand and predict the long-term adaptation strategies to climate change of moso bamboo forests. Here, we selected 6 sites within the moso bamboo distribution area, measured 3 leaf stomatal traits and 10 leaf anatomical traits of unmanaged moso bamboo stands. We explored the spatial variation characteristics of these traits and their response to environmental changes, assessed the relationships among these traits at regional scales through network analysis, and tested the direct and indirect effects of environmental, leaf stomatal and anatomical traits on gross primary productivity (GPP) of bamboo stands using structural equation modeling (SEM). The results showed that both climate and soil factors significantly affected leaf stomatal and anatomical traits of moso bamboo. Solar radiation (SR) and mean annual precipitation (MAP) out of the climatic factors were the key drivers of variation in leaf stomatal and anatomical traits, respectively. Soil moisture and nutrients out of the soil properties significantly affected both leaf stomatal and anatomical traits of moso bamboo. Network analysis further indicated that there was a significant correlation between leaf stomata and anatomical traits. Stomatal size (SS) showed the highest centrality value at the regional scale, indicating that it plays a key role in adjusting the adaptation of plants to external environmental conditions. SEM analysis showed that environment did not directly but indirectly affect GPP via stomatal performance. The environment explained 53.3% and 39.2% of the variation in leaf stomatal and anatomical traits, respectively, and leaf stomatal traits explained 20.8% of the regional variation in GPP. Our results demonstrate a direct effect of leaf stomatal traits rather than leaf anatomical traits on bamboo ecosystem productivity, which provides new insights into model predictions of bamboo forests under global climate change.

Climate-induced migration among maize farmers in Ghana: A reality or an illusion?

Studies on climate change-migration nexus have generally assumed that all climatic conditions trigger migration in the same direction without a differentiated understanding of which conditions drive migration of rural farmers or otherwise. This study examines climate change-migration nexus in Ghana by using data collected from 500 maize farmers. Observed errors in the data were corrected through a propensity score matching (PSM) technique. Location was endogenously related to migration, with the unobserved errors corrected by implementing a two-stage Heckit probit model. The results show that drought and decrease in rainfall are climatic conditions likely to trigger migration. However, floods and decline in soil fertility are less likely to induce migration. Also, farming experience, access to credit, participation in climate-smart agriculture training, access to extension services, and information from extension agents influenced the present location of maize farmers. These push factors identified were corroborated in focus group discussions. The study recommends that policymakers, development partners, and other relevant stakeholders should first understand and appreciate the deafferented roles of diverse climatic conditions on migrations, and then support farmers to adopt appropriate long-term climate change adaptation strategies to address perennial climatic factors that affect livelihoods. While doing so, short-term measures such as scaling up access to climate services should be devised to adapt to climate change.

Social trauma and disaster psychology: The impact of earthquakes on children’s mental health from the perspective of dissoanalysis theory and modern psychotraumatology

Earthquakes are devastating natural disasters that can have significant impacts on the psychological well-being of children. This article reviews the literature on the psychological effects of earthquakes on children’s mental health from the perspective of modern psychotraumatology and dissoanalysis theory. The article discusses the short-term and long-term adaptive strategies employed by children in response to social traumas and grief, as well as the emergence of psychopathologies such as dissociative disorders and posttraumatic stress disorder when traumatic experiences are not metabolized and neutralized in a timely manner. It highlights the importance of immediate institutionally supportive and structured crisis and disaster psychology-oriented mental health support systems in nations where mass traumatizing events occur. The authors suggest that effective interventions in both social traumas and crisis situations and trauma-centered psychotherapies can enable traumatized and/or dissociated children, adolescents, and adults to return to their daily lives in an integrated manner as soon as possible. The article concludes by highlighting the need for mental health experts to be sent to the field through associations and non-governmental organizations to provide psychological first aid and disaster psychology practices immediately after earthquakes.

Reviewing the Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on the Kenyan Aquaculture Sector and Future Adaptive Strategies

For many Kenyans, the aquaculture business provides a vital source of food and work. However, information on Kenya’s aquaculture sector’s resilience in the face of emerging global shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic requires additional examination. Prior to the epidemic, Kenya’s aquaculture industry had grown from a tiny participant to a critical component of the country’s fish food system, with fish and fisheries products becoming the most extensively traded food commodity in Kenyan market places. However, as indicated in the review, the aquaculture value chain has not been scrutinised since the onset of COVID-19. Lockdowns enacted during the pandemic had a significant influence on access to aquaculture inputs, fish commerce, and the socio-economic livelihoods of stakeholders and players in Kenya’s aquaculture value chain. Thus, initial and long-term adaptive strategies, particularly those implemented by governments, could help to the development of COVID-19 specific and generic resilience to numerous shocks and stressors among stakeholders and players involved in the country’s aquaculture industry. Some of the measures include a government incentive package to help the fisheries and aquaculture sectors recover, improve farming operations, and gain market trust, as well as the adoption of new methods to reduce labor intensity, such as intelligent sensors, camera systems, and automated or remotely controlled monitoring/feeding strategies. Such strategies and policies can protect the sector from future shocks triggered by pandemics and other unforeseen circumstances.

Contribution of Dry Forests and Forest Products to Climate Change Adaptation in Tigray Region, Ethiopia

Despite their ecological importance, dry forests’ contribution to climate change adaptation is often neglected. Hence, this study was initiated to assess the socioeconomic contribution of dry forests to climate change adaptation in Tigray Region, Ethiopia. A mixed quantitative and qualitative research design was used to examine the role of dry forests in climate change adaptation. Household questionnaire survey, key informants, and a focus group discussion were used to collect data. The results indicated that 94% of all households visited a dry forest at least once a month to access the forest and forest products. While the dry forest income level varied significantly (p < 0.05), the overall dry forest income level contributed to 16.8% of the total household income. Dry forest income enabled the reduction of the area between the line of equality and the Lorenz curve by 21% in dry evergreen Afromontane Forest users, by 3.02% in Combretum–Terminalia woodland users, and by 3% in Acacia–Commiphora woodland users. Gender, occupation, wealth status, and distance from the forest to their homes are all factors that significantly affected Combretum–Terminalia woodland users’ income level. Among Acacia–Commiphora woodland users, the respondents’ age influenced the dry forest income level, whereas, among dry evergreen Afromontane Forest users, the family size of the household influenced the dry forest income level. The findings of this study could help policy makers understand the crucial role of dry forest income in the livelihood of the community and in climate change adaptation. Policymakers could reduce the pressure on dry forests by introducing policies that recognize the role of dry forest income in reducing poverty and income inequality and by establishing farmer cooperation in commercializing the non-timber forest products which support the long-term coping and adaptation strategy. Further research is needed to understand the increasing role of dry forest products in climate change adaptation over time and its contribution to the national economy at large.