Vulnerability to climate change/variability and Local coping strategies in Ebinat Woreda, South Gondar Zone
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Date
2011-05
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In recent times, environmental change caused by climate variability is affecting the livelihood of
people living in the country specially whose life is dependent on agriculture. However, the rate
of vulnerability is varied within areas and households. Hence, the main purpose of this study is
to understand the extent of the vulnerability of the local community of peoples of Ebinat Woreda
to climate change and to assess their local copping strategies. The study attempted to examine
the exposure of the area to climate change and its extremes, to assess the sensitivity and adaptive
capacity of the local to the existing climate change impacts, to identify most vulnerable groups
from the local people.
To achieve the objectives set, necessary data was collected from sample kebeles, which are agro
ecologically, Kolla and Dega. From the information collected, the extent of vulnerability is
assessed by using integrated vulnerability assessment to show both biophysical and socioeconomic
vulnerability.
As a result, the rainfall trend of the past three decades sowed slight decrease and the rate of
variability in Meher season is high. In addition, drought is happening frequently in the area. The
main source of income of the people is rain-fed crop production. Most of the people earn less
than 100 birr per month, low level of assets and few number livestock. The adaptation and
coping strategies are not sufficient and, cannot support the local people to sustain their life
without external aids. Poor, landless, having large family and households without their own ox
are the most vulnerable groups.
Therefore, from the result of the study it can be concluded that the area is exposed to climate
extremes, highly sensitive to the adverse impacts of climate change and the adaptive capacity of the local a people is very low. Thus, the adaptive capacity of the local people needs to be improved and additional effective adaptation and coping strategies have to implement
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Geography and Environmental Studies