Adaptation Practices Research Articles

Downhill skiing & climate change adaptation in Wisconsin: perspectives from key stakeholders

Climate change is currently impacting various facets of our local systems with many stakeholders and industries working to adapt to these changing conditions. There is a growing recognition that adaptation practices need to be directed within specific industries, communities, and stakeholders. A key area that is being impacted is the snow sports industry which is facing various challenges due to localized climatic changes. Previous work has indicated that climate change may leave these snow-dependent industries in the U.S. Midwest unviable in the future, so it is imperative to understand how these stakeholders are adapting to climate change and how they view the future of their industry. To do this, we conducted in-depth interviews with owners and operators in Wisconsin to understand 1) the climate change impacts they are facing, 2) their adaptation strategies, and 3) their views of the future of Wisconsin downhill skiing. Our results outline various environmental and social changes that participants associate with climate change and document their current adaptation strategies. Operators are optimistic about the future, but there is a recognition that adaptation practices and planning will likely intensify. This letter concludes with an outline for future research and support for adaptation practices that blend qualitative methods with physical and technological research that can aid this industry’s adaptation strategies.

Bibliometric Exploration of the Role of Cultural Adaptation in Global Marketing Success

This study presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of cultural adaptation in global marketing, highlighting key thematic clusters, research trends, potential research topics, and patterns in author collaboration. The analysis identifies significant focus areas, including cultural adaptation, marketing strategy, local adaptation, performance outcomes, and intervention and translation. The research trends reveal a shift from foundational studies on consumer behavior and standardization towards more practical investigations into the implementation and impact of cultural adaptation strategies. Potential research topics are proposed, such as consumer-centric adaptation, balancing standardization and adaptation, organizational capabilities for adaptation, the impact of cross-cultural training, export performance, and the integration of digital and social media. The author collaboration network shows distinct clusters with limited cross-collaboration, suggesting opportunities for more interdisciplinary research. This study provides a detailed overview of the current research landscape and highlights areas for future investigation to enhance the understanding and practice of cultural adaptation in global marketing.

Enhancing equity of the post-disaster recovery governance through community data generation

Climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction policy frameworks emphasize the importance of engaging vulnerable communities in data creation and utilization to enhance resilience. Yet, empirical evidence on how capacity strengthening and community data generation can improve post-disaster recovery processes remains limited. To address this gap, this article investigates the post-disaster recovery process in the El Pacífico self-built neighborhood, located at the hillslopes of the rural-urban border of Medellín, Colombia. Utilizing participatory action research and documentation analysis, we examined documents related to the response and recovery committee (called “Mesa de Atención y Recuperación”) established following a severe flooding event. Our analysis reveals a lack of clearly defined procedures for engaging affected communities in the post-disaster efforts. However, we provide evidence that initiatives promoting equitable governance through capacity strengthening and community data generation, supported by our project, have effectively empowered community members, amplifying their voices in the negotiation with municipal authorities. These findings offer valuable insights that can inform more equitable future policies and practices in disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation with increased recognition and representation of marginalized urban residents.

Reaching out to fathers in Afro-Caribbean contexts: a case study review of best practices from the Fatherhood is Sacred program in native communities.

Historical trauma has played a significant role in the difficulties of fathers to fulfill their coparenting roles in Native American communities. This pattern is also true for men in Afro-Caribbean communities. Fatherhood programs developed by the Native American Fatherhood and Family Association (NAFFA) have shown effectiveness in supporting fathers, enhancing their confidence and coparenting skills, and overcoming trauma in Native communities. This paper seeks to identify the opportunities and best practices for cross-cultural adaptation of the Fatherhood is Sacred program to Afro-Caribbean families and contexts.

Imagining the flood: rationalities of governance in sinking cities

The rise in global sea levels poses a substantial, sometimes existential threat to coastal cities around the world, such as Bangkok, Lagos, or Jakarta. Adaptation projects range from hard infrastructure to nature-based solutions or ‘planned retreat’, often having severe implications in terms of equity and equality. Given the threat of urban flooding and submergence, this paper asks how ‘the future’ for these cities is imagined, and how sociotechnical imaginaries of climate futures inform policymaking. Using insights from poststructuralism and Science and Technology Studies (STS), I argue that the way of ‘seeing’ and ‘knowing’ sea level rise is constitutive of the rationalities that undergird the governing of rising water around the world. I trace the discrete operations of the discursive formations and imaginaries that have evolved globally around the issue of sea level rise, with their own distinctive logics. Analyzing a variety of globally circulating policy documents and local adaptation projects, I show how the governance of sea level rise is based on a very specific ‘expert’ knowledge that allows re-designing sinking cities ‘from above’. This kind of knowledge, provided by a depoliticizing global network of consultants, designers, and development banks, privileges imaginaries of modernity and control using technology and engineering, as well as ideas on how populations in flood-prone areas are expected to govern themselves in the advent of rising sea levels. These imaginaries tend to marginalize alternative local adaptation practices, lead to unintended outcomes, and often discriminate against those who are already vulnerable to climate change impacts.

Perceived effects of climate change on aquaculture production in Zambia: status, vulnerability factors, and adaptation strategies

Aquaculture plays a critical role in Zambia's food and nutrition security. However, aquaculture is highly vulnerable to the effects of a changing climate which can lead to economic losses, and food and nutrition insecurity. In this study, we investigated the perceived effects of climate change on aquaculture production in Zambia, vulnerability factors, and adaptation strategies. We used semi-structured and structured questionnaires to collect data from aquaculture producers in all provinces across the country. Results revealed high (over 80%) awareness of climate change, primarily attributed to literacy levels and access to media. Producers perceived occurrence of climate-related changes such as rising temperature, altered rainfall patterns, cyclones frequency, and disease outbreaks, impacting production costs. Generally, the results indicate a high to medium perception of rising temperature and increased frequency of flooding and droughts across the country. Although rising temperature did not appear to affect aquaculture production cost, the frequency of droughts, floods, cyclones, and disease outbreaks showed a significant association with production costs. Identified vulnerability factors include reliance on a limited range of fish species, absence of insurance coverage, and low adoption of adaptation practices. Vulnerability levels vary across regions, with provinces in agroecological zone I (Eastern, Lusaka, Southern, and Western) showing higher vulnerability. Despite this, many producers aren't implementing adaptation measures due to financial limitations, species diversity constraints, and insufficient knowledge of alternative economic pursuits. Main adaptation strategies involve livelihood diversification and adjustments in fish cultivation periods and infrastructure. To foster aquaculture sustainability amid climate change, critical interventions such as farm insurance, research diversification in aquaculture species, and enhancing producer resilience are necessary.

Contrasting Regeneration Patterns in Abies alba-Dominated Stands: Insights from Structurally Diverse Mountain Forests across Europe

To maintain the ecosystem resilience to large-scale disturbances in managed forests, it is essential to adhere to the principles of close-to-nature silviculture, adapt practices to the traits of natural forest types, and utilize natural processes, including natural regeneration. This study examines the natural regeneration patterns in silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)-dominated forests, analyzing how the stand structure—tree size diversity, species composition, and stand density—affects the regeneration. We analyze the data from four sites in Poland, Germany, and Italy, employing generalized linear and zero-inflated models to evaluate the impact of the management strategies (even- vs. uneven-aged) and forester-controlled stand characteristics (structural diversity, broadleaf species admixture, and stand density) on the probability of regeneration, its density, and the developmental stages (seedling, small sapling, and tall sapling) across a climatic gradient. Our results indicate a significantly higher probability of regeneration in uneven-aged stands, particularly in areas with lower temperatures and lower overall regeneration density. The tree size diversity in the uneven-aged stands favors advancement from juveniles to more developed stages (seedling to sapling) in places with higher aridity. A denser stand layer (higher stand total basal area) leads to a lower density of natural regeneration for all the present species, except silver fir if considered separately, signifying that, by regulating the stand growing stock, we can selectively promote silver fir. A higher admixture of broadleaf species generally decreases the regeneration density across all the species, except in a water-rich site in the Bavarian Alps, where it had a strong positive impact. These findings underscore the complex interactions of forest ecosystems and provide a better understanding required for promoting silver fir regeneration, which is essential for a close-to-nature silviculture under climate change.

Climate Change Adaptation Strategies and Its Impact on Household Vulnerability to Food Insecurity: A Micro-Level Evidence from Southwest Ethiopia

Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia face increasing challenges from climate change and variability, which threaten their food security and livelihoods. This study examines how adopting single and combined climate change adaptation practices affects their vulnerability to food insecurity in Bench Maji Zone, southwest Ethiopia. Through multistage sampling, data were gathered from 390 rural households in four climate-prone districts. The study examines the impacts resulting from both individual and combined implementations of adaptation techniques. These techniques encompass crop management practices, soil and water conservation measures, and livelihood portfolio diversification strategies. The study employed the multinomial endogenous treatment effect regression model to address selection bias and endogeneity resulting from various sources of heterogeneity, whether observed or unobserved. The results show that farmers who adopted adaptation practices were less vulnerable to food insecurity than those who did not. The study also finds that adopting multiple practices has a more significant impact than adopting single practices. Our findings suggest that implementing climate change adaptation strategies can increase the resilience of smallholder farmers in the study area and decrease their vulnerability to food insecurity. The study recommends supporting farmers in adopting these strategies through research and development, information dissemination, and collaborations among farmers, researchers, and extension services.

INCREASING OR DECREASING FRUGALITY: THE CONNECTION BETWEEN DIGITALISATION AND FRUGAL INNOVATION

Within wider debates on sustainability and digitalisation, frugal innovation (FI) scholars largely assume that digital technologies are important for FI in realising more sustainable outcomes. However, very few studies interrogate this causality. To tackle this challenge, we connect FI with digitalisation. Thereto, we conceptualise digital technologies as and within FIs and discuss three frugality dimensions to analyse three empirical case studies of digitally-enabled FIs. We use these cases to introduce new nuances on how digitalisation affects frugality and scaling. Our results unveil that digitalisation can increase frugality by enabling more accessible and affordable solutions through new flexible funding schemes and pay-as-you-go models. However, our evidence also implies decreasing frugality by an increase in end-user costs and digital exclusion. Likewise, increasing frugality through complexity reduction seems mainly to benefit intermediaries and frugal innovators themselves, whereas benefits of digitalisation in terms of complexity reduction for end-users seem to be limited. Digitalisation can even increase complexity for end-users, thus suggesting decreasing frugality. Finally, just like with non-digital innovations, scaling of digitally enabled innovations is dependent on the quality of logistical infrastructure and local adaptation practices. Moreover, scaling of digitally-enabled innovations is limited to users in regions with a proper ICT infrastructure.

Aspirations versus adaptive achievements in the face of climate change in Sri Lanka

This research explores the linkages between threat perception and adaptive behaviour in the face of climate change in Galle, Sri Lanka. We use an analytical framework to analyse the complexity of aspiration versus adaptive practices, centring around the synthesis of threat perception, vulnerability, adaptive capacity and livelihood resilience. Our findings reveal that individual threat perception incentivises climate adaptation strategies, bolstering livelihood resilience. However, unfavourable societal circumstances affecting the participants significantly impede the implementation of these resilience strategies. In addition to a knowledge gap and lack of climate change awareness in popular discourse, we observe a conspicuous discrepancy between individual aspirations and adaptive capacity with the ongoing economic crisis and the need for governmental climate legislation at the time of research. This research, therefore, emphasises a nuanced approach to researching climate change adaptation, considering the gravity of societal circumstances that delimit how individuals can engage in livelihood resilience strategies.

Nurses' Role in Health Education and Practice among Patients with Myocardial Infarction Needs Information Regarding Adaptation Lifestyles After Discharge

Background: Nurses have effect on patient education on a heart disease. The educational role of nurses helps to improve their health. The study's goals are to determine the roles of nurses in health education. Materials and Methods:This study was conducted at selected hospitals in Erbil, from June 20, 2021, to January 20, 2022. A sample of 123 nurses was interviewed, with the questionnaire consisting of three parts: socio-demographic, educational roles for patients, and learning practices for patient adaptation. The study aimed to identify the health education and practical roles among nurses. The reliability of the questions was 0.926, indicating acceptable reliability. Results: The majority of participants were aged between 32 and 42. Female nurses comprised 55.3%, with 57.3% holding diploma. Nurses' educational role in patient care, with 65% performing well. 59.3% taught patients’ healthy habits, and 65% effectively educated patients about self-care. The study reveals a significant relationship between nurses' socio-demographic factors, their overall educational role, and nurses' overall learning role. The good educational role was significantly associated with the hospitals they worked in and their units (P <0.001). Nurses also demonstrated good learning roles in their qualifications. However, the learning role was not significant with the other socio-demographic. Conclusion: Most nurses play an important role as an educator while patients are in the hospital and after they leave. There was a strong relationship between their roles, their qualifications, and the units in which they worked.

Chronological and Geographical Variations in the Incidence and Acceptance of COVID-19-Positive Donors and Outcomes Among Abdominal Transplant Patients.

Given the importance of understanding COVID-19-positive donor incidence and acceptance, we characterize chronological and geographic variations in COVID-19 incidence relative to COVID-19-positive donor acceptance. Data on deceased donors and recipients of liver and kidney transplants were obtained from the UNOS database between 2020 and 2023. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to assess trends in COVID-19-positive donor incidence. Posttransplant graft and patient survival were assessed using Kaplan-Meier curves. From among 38429 deceased donors, 1517 were COVID-19 positive. Fewer kidneys (72.4%vs. 76.5%, p < 0.001) and livers (56.4%vs. 62.0%, p < 0.001) were used from COVID-19-positive donors versus COVID-19-negative donors. Areas characterized by steadily increased COVID-19 donor incidence exhibit the highest transplantation acceptance rates (92.33%), followed by intermediate (84.62%) and rapidly increased (80.00%) COVID-19 incidence areas (p = 0.016). Posttransplant graft and patient survival was comparable among recipients, irrespective of donor COVID-19 status. Regions experiencing heightened rates of COVID-19-positive donors are associated with decreased acceptance of liver and kidney transplantation. Similar graft and patient survival is noted among recipients, irrespective of donor COVID-19 status. These findings emphasize the need for adaptive practices and unified medical consensus in navigating a dynamic pandemic.

Beyond adaptive practices: physical education for all

Legislation and policy internationally are underpinned by the expectation that educators remove barriers to learning, emphasize inclusion, and improve access for all learners. Extensive investment has provided support to assist teachers to adopt inclusive education approaches. And yet, as evidenced in international literature, the lived experiences of many young people in physical education (PE) classes, and particularly those who are identified, or who self-identify, as in need of special support, indicate that PE is anything but inclusive and equitable, and may in many cases result in learning outcomes counter to what is desired. We contend that, while much of the rhetoric of PE speaks to inclusion, institutional systems, the traditional framing of PE as curriculum policy, ‘classroom’ practice’, professional development offerings, and how research publications and or guidelines present PE leads to diagnostically driven and deficit-focused adaptative PE offerings for students in need of support. Moreover, PE as it is often presented curtails opportunities for equitable outcomes and inclusive approaches, and instead has the potential to reinforce and perpetuate ableist agendas. Accordingly, we argue that the adoption of a Universal Design for Learning approach that aims for ‘education for all’ by designing flexible curriculum that is focused on learner-centred, barrier-free education, is a vital step toward a more equitable, engaging, meaningful, and relevant PE experience. The foundational principles using this approach are that difference is valued, celebrated, and accounted for in all aspects of education. Implementing such a change requires that normative assumptions and practices are challenged by re-evaluating definitions of (physical) educational success and considering how teachers/schools can transcend traditional curriculum programmes to better meet the needs of all learners. We conclude with a call for a transformative shift in PE programming and practices to ensure that every student has the opportunity to reap the benefits of PE.

Navigating Educational Management in the Era of Digital Transformation

This study delved into the adaptation of educational management models in response to the challenges and opportunities presented by digital transformation within learning contexts. Employing a literature review methodology spanning from 2015 to 2023, the research conducted a comprehensive exploration and analysis of relevant studies, scholarly articles, and literature in the field of education and technology. Utilizing techniques of analysis and synthesis, insights extracted from the literature were systematically mapped and synthesized. The research outcomes identified patterns, perspectives, and pertinent strategies for aligning educational management models with the demands of digital transformation in learning environments. The analysis involved a thorough examination of primary data sources including academic journals, textbooks, and publications, providing a nuanced understanding of the evolving landscape of educational management amidst digital disruption. The synthesis process facilitated the integration of diverse perspectives and approaches, shedding light on effective strategies and best practices for adaptation. The results revealed a paradigm shift in educational management paradigms towards embracing technological integration, along with the emergence of innovative strategies to address implementation challenges. Visionary leadership, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, and robust infrastructure were identified as key components in navigating digital transformation effectively within educational settings. In conclusion, the study underscores the imperative for educational institutions to proactively adapt their management models to leverage the opportunities presented by digital transformation. The findings have significant implications for policymakers, educators, and administrators, highlighting the need for strategic investments in leadership development, infrastructure, and professional development to facilitate seamless integration of digital technologies in learning environments.

Climate–change adaptations can raise cropping’s contribution to household income

ABSTRACT A two-stage fractional regression model is applied to 998 farm observations from Ghana to estimate how three climate-change adaptation practices influence the contribution of crop revenue to household income. The first stage, analysing land selection, shows that farmers in peri-urban areas who cultivate drought-tolerant varieties raise their crops on poor soils, but male farmers, who cultivate large farms and have access to inorganic fertiliser (on credit), have the benefit of fertile soils. The second-stage shows that crop substitution, use of drought-tolerant varieties, and variation in planting dates increase the contribution of crop revenue to household income. Therefore, public and non-state institutions should continue to invest in technology transferat the same time, addressing farm-level constraints on the adoption of proven agricultural innovations.

Policy priorities to enable engaged and transformational adaptation on the coast: Learning from practitioner experiences in England

Coastal communities and their environments are facing unprecedented changes, with climate change driving rising global mean sea level, exacerbating extreme sea level events, and increasing hazards. Whilst adaptations to change have been central to coastal life for millennia, climate change brings a speed and intensity of change not previously experienced. Researchers are noting that adaptations are needed that are large scale and systemic with significant changes to lives and livelihoods – Transformational Adaptations – yet there is little evidence of this in practice, and there remains an operationalisation gap between ambitions and actions. This paper uses a qualitative case study method to assess how existing policy may enable and inhibit local stakeholder involvement in transformational adaptation in English coastal flood and erosion risk management. Through twenty interviews with coastal management stakeholders, the capacity for local coastal management stakeholders to initiate transformational adaptation and the perceived involvement of residents are analysed. The results indicate that transformational adaptation remains a distant aspiration in the English coastal management system, with local stakeholders possessing limited capacity to initiate it. The perceived role for residents in adaptation processes is often focused on their being recipients of adaptation interventions, and there are a range of barriers to their further involvement. The paper concludes that despite the theoretical interest in transformational adaptation, there is limited evidence its implementation in English coastal flood and erosion risk management, and there are multiple priority areas for policy development to support capacity for engaged transformational adaptation practices in coastal management contexts.

Climate smart agriculture: assessing needs and perceptions of California's farmers

California is the largest agricultural economy in the United States; however, its current and projected climate risks pose significant challenges. Farmers will need to adapt to climate change in their farming practices. The goal of this needs assessment was to understand farmers' perceptions and experiences with climate change exposures; the risk management practices they currently use; and what tools and resources would assist them in making strategic decisions. A statewide survey was conducted through Qualtrics with farmers (n = 341). Results showed that 67% of the farmers agree (agree + strongly agree) that climate change is happening, and 53.1% agreed that actions are required. Moreover, historically underrepresented farmers were very concerned about climate change-related impacts related to water, temperatures, and natural disasters. Farmers are currently implementing adaptation practices related to water management, soil health, and renewable energy and are also seeking insurance and government assistance programs to increase agricultural resilience. They also expressed interest and a high need for information on those adaptation practices to acquire skills and knowledge to manage various challenges of farming in variable climates. Also, the assessment established that farmers (47.5%) use decision-support tools, mostly weather stations (22.4%); and 51.9% indicated their interest in using online tools designed to translate climate information into forms that support production decision-making. Farmers (60.8%) responded that they would or may attend workshops to learn about adaptation practices. The findings of this needs assessment will inform the development of extension education programs on climate-smart agriculture for farmers in California and elsewhere.

A perspective on the significance of reporting climate change adaptation information to the united nations framework convention on climate change

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is the centre of the global policy response to climate change. The Paris Agreement, a legally binding treaty under the UNFCCC, has located climate change adaptation as a critical component of the global response to climate change. The Paris Agreement also establishes an enhanced transparency framework to track progress towards Parties climate change commitments. However, the UNFCCC has consistently maintained a marked difference in provisions for reporting climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation. Consequently, reporting on climate change adaptation lags far behind in detail when compared to that for reporting on climate change mitigation. Using literature review as the main method of analysis, this paper aims to understand the underlying factors that have resulted in the lack of specificity of reporting provisions of the UNFCCC for climate change adaptation and the consequences of non-mandatory provisions for reporting on climate change adaptation on national and global adaptation practice. The paper then highlights the benefits of regular reporting of climate change adaptation to the UNFCCC. It makes important contribution to the growing literature on global environmental governance, especially on national reporting of adaptation information, an under-studied and a poorly understood field.

Private Woodland Owner Perceptions of Threat and Efficacy Shape Management Responses for Climate Change Adaptation

Abstract Private woodland owners (PWOs) face an increasing number of considerations for climate change adaptation and mitigation activities in their forest management. Evidence suggests there may be a disconnect between PWOs’ climate change perceptions and behaviors, which can limit implementation. We conducted seventeen semistructured interviews in Maine to develop a typological framework of PWOs based on their perceptions of climate-induced threats and efficacy. Our results produced three types of PWOs: the steady-as-they-go landowner (low perceived threat), the science-driven landowner (high perceived threat; high efficacy), and the seeking-support landowner (high perceived threat; low efficacy). Although all three types of PWOs regularly implemented resistance and resilience practices, their attitudes toward transition practices (i.e., assisted migration) diverged based on their perceptions of threat and efficacy. This typological framework can be used when targeting communications to PWOs regarding the overlap between climate adaptive management and traditional best management practices. Study Implications: PWOs in our study recognized climate-related impacts while implementing diverse forest management practices to meet both climate-related and non-climate-related objectives. The divergent attitudes toward transition practices exhibited by our three PWO types highlight the notion that adaptive practices can be both intentional and incidental. Our findings suggest that outreach efforts should understand PWO perceptions of climate change threats and their feelings of efficacy in responding to such threats. When combined with knowledge about the overlap between traditional best management practices and new climate-adaptive strategies, extension and outreach efforts can tailor their messaging to fit the appropriate audience.

Food life history and cold storage in Greater Beringia. Part I: Preliminary interdisciplinary investigation

Cold storage of food using a natural cold environment (i.e., frozen ground, ice, snow, and freezing air) is globally found to be compatible with the local environment, and within the cultural traditions of communities. Our interdisciplinary project, focusing on four areas from Beringia (Alaska and easternmost Siberia) to the middle latitudes (Mongolia and Japan) of the northern hemisphere, aims to 1) document the variations and commonalities in the history, present situations, and future concerns of cold storage facilities, 2) review the roles and functionalities of the practice through the “Food Life History” concept, a new framework to address local food issues in a global context on the history of interactions between humanity and the environment, and 3) co-produce knowledge and strategies to facilitate cold storage practices for local adaptation to environmental and economic challenges. In this preliminary study conducted from 2021 to 2023, we initiated communication with local leaders and knowledge-bearers, examined current conditions, and installed temperature monitors in cold storage structures where available. The results illustrate the presence of practices of various types, specifications, and conditions, commonly challenged by environmental changes both natural (e.g., permafrost thawing and ground wetting) and social (e.g., modern technologies, education, and economy).