A Participatory Approach to Developing Community Based Climate Services in Zimbabwe: A Case Study of Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) District

Gwenzi, Juliet; Mashonjowa, Emmanuel; Mafongoya, Paramu

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-36875-3_22

Cited by 4 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…In Zimbabwe, a perception survey (Perception and Indigenous Knowledge Systems) was conducted among 3000 farmers in 8 districts over a two-year period on topics such as population perception on increasing air temperature, shorter winter, reduced rainfall, extended dry season, and increasing frequency of droughts. The results showed that climate change resulted in an increase in temperature in all districts with climate variability (Gwenzi et al, 2020). In Rwanda, although rainfall has been declining, there was an upsurge of floods in recent decades, which indicated the variability of the climatic regime (Mugabowindekwe et al, 2018).…”

Section: Climate Ecosystems and Livelihoods For Sustainable Developmentioning

confidence: 96%

Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme (G-DEP): Africa consultative meeting report

Peng

Zhang

et al. 2020

J. Arid Land

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In order to enhance and restore the ecosystems of natural capital in African arid regions, the Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme (G-DEP) consultative meeting was hosted in Dakar, Senegal, from 23 to 25 September 2019. This paper details the first African meeting of the G-DEP. Consultative meeting reviewed preceding dryland ecosystems case studies, identified vulnerable arid and semi-arid regions, and proposed sustainable solutions to problems. It also identified the successes and failures of previous attempts to improve vulnerable ecosystems and ultimately formed an action plan to improve these attempts. Climate, ecosystems, and livelihoods for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Great Green Wall Initiative (GGWI) for Sahara and Sahel, and China-Africa cooperation on science, technology, and innovation are three extra main sections concerned of the meeting. Separately, more specific topics as the complicated relationship between these natural processes and human activity, including pastoralism, soil restoration, and vegetation regenerate techniques, were fully discussed. Consultative meeting also identified the positive effects international collaboration can have on dryland regions, specifically in the capacity of sharing information, technology, and innovation on purpose to develop a joint proposal for long-term research programs in African arid and semi-arid areas. Moreover, meetings that review the progress made on ecosystem management for the sustainable livelihoods in Africa, identification of priority areas, and the development and implementation of ecosystem programs for proper research and collaboration in African arid and semi-arid zones, have been proposed as strategic recommendations to enhance the global partnership for sustainable development. Furthermore, as the outcomes of the workshop, there are three steps proposed to handle African dryland climate changes, several aspects suggested to solve current dilemmas of the GGWI, and a series of actions recommended for G-DEP related activities in Africa.

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Section: Climate Ecosystems and Livelihoods For Sustainable Developmentioning

confidence: 96%

Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme (G-DEP): Africa consultative meeting report

Peng

Zhang

et al. 2020

J. Arid Land

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“…Documenting the local observations of climate change and comparing them with existing knowledge in the traditional climate science domain can strengthen and enrich climate impact assessment studies [15]. Other scholars express that gathering the climate change experiences with users of climate information services, such as farmers, can also increase the uptake of and trust in such services [19][20][21]. Such place-specific insights are also capable of validating instrument data and ground-truthing data from GCMs [15,22].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological and Hydrological Indicators of Climate Change Observed by Dryland Communities of Malipati in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe

Chanza

Musakwa

2022

Diversity

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Existing evidence about climate change in Zimbabwe has tended to focus more on elements and events of the climate system, marginalizing changes in the hydrological and ecological system. To contribute to the improved understanding of climate change, this study captured the observations of climate change in Malipati, a remote agrarian dryland area in the Chiredzi District, Zimbabwe. The aim of the study was to gather detailed insights about perceived environmental changes using the evidence drawn from local and indigenous populations who have close interactions with their natural environment. A household questionnaire-based survey with randomly chosen farmers (n = 116) revealed that participants’ observations of changes in hydrological and ecological system were consistent with available evidence of increasing temperatures and little rainfall recorded in the district. Results also showed high sensitivity of the area to climate change that manifest in various indicators: hydrological changes in rivers, streams, swamps, and ground water; and ecological changes through the behaviour of trees, insects, birds, and wild animals. Sex and age of the participants did not influence the way they perceived most of these changes (p > 0.05). However, education and the period of stay in the area were related to the respondents’ perceived changes in river flows and siltation, and the conditions of swamps (p < 0.05). Our study also revealed deeper insights about the human-biodiversity interactions in the face of climate change in unique areas where communities live alongside wildlife. The evidence drawn from local and indigenous populations can be used to inform local-based solutions to the growing problems of climate change and biodiversity loss. Future studies would need to further examine such areas to understand the mitigation and adaptation practices that would promote the sustainable co-existence of humans and wildlife.

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Indigenous local observations and experiences can give useful indicators of climate change in data-deficient regions

Chanza

Musakwa

2022

J Environ Stud Sci

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This study demonstrates that Indigenous local observations and experiences can enrich knowledge of climate change, particularly in data-deficient regions that are not adequately covered by weather stations. Paradoxically, these places host groups of Indigenous Peoples who have rich knowledge about their local climates from their many years of constant interactions with the environment. The study used group-based semi-structured interviews to collaborate with keystone elderly participants who had profound knowledge and lived experiences about observed changes in their local environment (n = 13). These participants were identified through theoretical sampling from four remote Indigenous villages of Mbire District in Zimbabwe. The purpose of the study was to identify indicators of climate change impacts from communities believed not to have been much influenced by the scientific construct of climate change. Results revealed that the locals have a keen interest to closely observe changes occurring in their environment, including finer accounts of experiences with climatic events, owing to their predominantly climate-sensitive livelihoods. These results corroborate existing evidence about a warmer and drier climate and the reported increase in the frequency and severity of drought as well as floods in the area, and add finer details to the changes in ecological, hydrological and human systems, which are not sufficiently reported in existing climate impact studies. We also flagged new observations in biological systems as pointers for further intensive investigation. Given the complexity associated with understanding impacts of climate change and the urgent need to refine knowledge about the same, we argued for perforation of the boundaries of climate science to accommodate enriching perceptions of Indigenous communities who have been religiously observing changes happening in their local environment, albeit being relegated.

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A Participatory Approach to Developing Community Based Climate Services in Zimbabwe: A Case Study of Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) District

Cited by 4 publications

References 19 publications

Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme (G-DEP): Africa consultative meeting report

Global Dryland Ecosystem Programme (G-DEP): Africa consultative meeting report

Ecological and Hydrological Indicators of Climate Change Observed by Dryland Communities of Malipati in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe

Indigenous local observations and experiences can give useful indicators of climate change in data-deficient regions

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