Climate Change and Variability and Its Impact on the Livelihood of Pastoralists: Case Study in Dire Woreda of Borana Zone, Oromia Region
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This thesis is about the impact of climate change and variability on the livelihood of
pastoralists; case study in Dire district of BOI'ana zone, Oromia region. This study
initiated as the result of impacts of climate change particular recurrent drought which has
been affecting the livelihoods of Borana pastoralists due to weakening of indigenous
adaptation mechanisms used by community for centuries.
The study plalmed to assess the impacts of climate change and variability on pastoralists'
livelihood and the local adaptation mechanisms that have been practiced by local
communities to mitigate its impacts. The materials for the study were mainly drawn from
primary sources on'the basis of fieldwork conducted in two purposi vely selected kebeles,
namely Madacho and Higo of Dire di strict. The qualitative methods such as key
informant interviews, focus group discussions, observation and case studies were
employed to understand climatic impacts on pastoralist livelihood and status of their
indigenous adaptation mechanisms in reversing the impacts. Furthermore, secondary data
sources were reviewed to supplement the findings .
The results of the study depict that Borana pastoralists, who are residing in drought prone
area and repeatedly hit by recurrent drought with weakening indigenous adaptation
mechanisms, have been affected by climatic impacts and put their livelihoods at risk.
Other compounded factors like inappropriate settlement pattern, top-down development
approaches, inappropriate water development interventions without considering
rangelands management, regionali zation policy of Ethiopian government which doesn't
consider pastoral ways of life, population pressure, interethnic conflict, imposition of
'modern' structure, on customary once without appropriate replace, bush encroachment,
deforestation and individualizing communal resources have escalated the impacts on their
livelihoods.
The research concludes that pastoralists whose livelihood depend on and sensitive to
climatic factors with weakened indigenous adaptation mechanisms are the most affected
one and alternative ways of improving their resilient capacity need to be sought. As the
indigenous adaptation mechanisms used by the pastoralists are ineffective during the
epoch of teclmological advancement backing to the root is found to be imperative to
reduce compounded impacts.
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Keywords
Climate Change