Adaptation to climate change in semi-arid environments: experience and lessons from Mozambique

  Available online: http://www.fao.org/docrep/015/i2581e/i2581e00.pdf

Southern Africa and Mozambique are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The region is frequently exposed to droughts, floods, variable rainfall and heat, which are expected to worsen, and sensitivity to such exposure of the natural resource-based livelihood system is very high. The project area is remote and highly underdeveloped and the population is poor, food insecure, and not resilient to the impact of climate shocks. Due to water scarcity, not sufficient for humans and livestock except in a few communities along the Limpopo River, livelihood options are limited. Livelihoods are underpinned almost entirely by the little available water, agricultural lands and rangelands, and natural forests, and current practices and usage are threatening to become unsustainable. Existing coping mechanisms and safety nets are heavily reliant on the natural resources base, and livelihoods are seriously at risk under the projected climate changes. Urgent action is required to strengthen resilience now and into the future, when climate change will present significant additional stress. In response to this need, the Government of Mozambique (six ministries and national institutes) led by MICOA and the United Nations (six agencies) initiated a United Nations Joint Programme (UNJP/JP) for environmental mainstreaming and adaptation to climate change, with the latter component implemented in a remote district of southern Mozambique, Chicualacuala. This publication gives an account of the Government of Mozambique/FAOled interventions on strengthening smallholder agriculture, community-based natural resources management, and livelihood diversification in the face of current and future climate-related stresses.

Collection(s) and Series: Environment and Natural Resources Management- No. 19

Language(s): English

Tags: Climate ; Example/ Good practice ; Climate change ; Adaptation ; Drought ; Arid climate ; Case/ Case study ; Mozambique Add tag