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Adaptation to Climate Change and Variability: Farmer Responses to Intra-seasonal Precipitation Trends in South Africa

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African Climate and Climate Change

Part of the book series: Advances in Global Change Research ((AGLO,volume 43))

Abstract

We describe the nature of recent (50 year) rainfall variability in the summer rainfall zone, South Africa, and how variability is recognised and responded to on the ground by farmers. Using daily rainfall data and self organising mapping (SOM) we identify 12 internally homogeneous rainfall regions displaying differing parameters of precipitation change. Three regions, characterised by changing onset and timing of rains, rainfall frequencies and intensities, in Limpopo, North West and KwaZulu Natal provinces, were selected to investigate farmer perceptions of, and responses to, rainfall parameter changes. Village and household level analyses demonstrate that the trends and variabilities in precipitation parameters differentiated by the SOM analysis were clearly recognised by people living in the areas in which they occurred. A range of specific coping and adaptation strategies are employed by farmers to respond to climate shifts, some generic across regions and some facilitated by specific local factors. The study has begun to understand the complexity of coping and adaptation, and the factors that influence the decisions that are taken.

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Acknowledgements

The research leading to this paper was funded by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, UK, under the auspices of project T2.31 ‘Adaptations to climate change amongst natural resource-dependant societies in the developing world: across the climate gradient’. Research communities were selected in consultation with in-country partners who assisted in negotiating access and permissions through the relevant traditional leadership authorities. We are grateful for the support and advice of Tyndall staff and for the comments and inputs of Neil Adger to the research and to this paper.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Oxford University Centre for the Environment, School of Geography, Oxford, OX1 3QY, UK

    David S.G. Thomas

  2. Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK

    Chasca Twyman

  3. Oxford University Centre for the Environment, Oxford, UK

    Henny Osbahr

  4. Department of Environmental and Geographical Science, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    Bruce Hewitson

Authors
  1. David S.G. Thomas
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  2. Chasca Twyman
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  3. Henny Osbahr
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  4. Bruce Hewitson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David S.G. Thomas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Reading, 2U18 Department of Meteorology, Reading, RG6 6BB, United Kingdom

    Charles J. R. Williams

  2. Dept. Geography, University of Sussex, Chichester 1-143, Brighton, BN1 9QJ, United Kingdom

    Dominic R. Kniveton

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Thomas, D.S., Twyman, C., Osbahr, H., Hewitson, B. (2011). Adaptation to Climate Change and Variability: Farmer Responses to Intra-seasonal Precipitation Trends in South Africa. In: Williams, C., Kniveton, D. (eds) African Climate and Climate Change. Advances in Global Change Research, vol 43. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-3842-5_7

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