Participatory Adaptation by Small-scale Rooibos - PowerPoint Presentation

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Participatory Adaptation by Small-scale Rooibos

T

ea

F

armers in the arid west of

South Africa

Drynet Side Event, Ankara 13 October 2015

Noel Oettle, Environmental Monitoring GroupSlide2
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Livelihoods depend on

Rooibos production from cultivated lands and wild populationsSeasonal and full-time incomes from labour on neighbouring farms, and from the Heiveld Co-operativeSmall stock farmingSome residual small grain production (now mostly used as a protective companion crop for rooibos, and for fodder)Slide5

Land degradation and loss of topsoil:Cause and result of material povertySlide6

Climate change predictions for this area:

higher temperatures

projected pole-ward retreat of rain-bearing mid-latitude cyclones (with reasonable agreement across the models) by the late twenty-first century

later

onset of the rainy

season

earlier

cessation

of the rainy season

overall

reduction in the winter rains

upon which the local ecology is primarily

dependentSlide7

Climatic

stress is only one of the many factors that shape livelihoods in the Suid Bokkeveld

People’s adaptation strategies must respond climatic, social, political, economic and other stresses

Adaptation

is

thus a

complex,

dynamic and on-going process

We have been engaged in this process in the Suid Bokkeveld for the past decadeSlide8

This process has been an exploration of …..‘how to

facilitate learning, information exchange, reflection, innovation, and anticipation, all of which are key elements in the practical reality of the adaptation process…….’(Tschakert and Dietrich 2010) Slide9

Extreme weather events have

had catastrophic impacts on farmer enterprises the Suid Bokkeveld

This has stimulated their on-going efforts to ‘adjust’ their farming systems to anticipated climatic extremes

Drought has increased appreciation for endemic wild rooibos ecotypes

Participatory research has established sound practice for sustainable management of wild rooibos

Soil

and water conservation using

traditional and innovative practices has been crucialSlide10

The learning approach

of PAR has been based on local knowledge, which has been used to:Collaboratively develop and test hypotheses (farmer participatory research)

broaden knowledge through synthesis of local and scientific knowledge systems

Create opportunities, pathways and institutions that enable farmers to enhance their capacities and

respond

proactivelySlide11

Anticipatory capacity (Tschakert

& Dietrich):‘the ability to shift from envisioning possible futures to

the ability to develop a dynamic plan for how to deal with potential uncertainties.’Slide12
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Heiveld sales team and stall, BioFach Trade Fair, Nuremberg, GermanySlide23

Important

lessons learntSound methodology can guide the practitioner at all stages

Create opportunities for regular individual and collective reflection on practice

Celebrate successesSlide24

Provide opportunities for recognition to support the development of a more appreciative sense of self

;.Value the uniqueness of each person and their knowledge and identity

Engender enthusiasm: create opportunities for people to share and record their history and perceptions in well-facilitated and empowering processes

Live your commitment:

setting a sound example of committed solidarity can strengthen the societal

web

Be flexible in the face of the

unexpected:

often

the serendipitous is ushered in by the inconvenient. Slide25
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Promote an ethical approach that is aligned with the values of the community and is understood and supported by its

membersExpress empathy, and avoid charity

Recognise that everyone’s skills, capacities, perceptions and analytic powers differ: diverse perspectives and experiences can enabled mutual learning Balance

innovation with trusted approaches:

the side-effects

and externalities

of innovations may

still be unknown;

the

familiar is

accessible.

To achieve collective goals, people need to create and sustain institutions that can support

them

Include younger people and women

in management and governance

structures Slide27

Some conclusions…

Sound development practice and healthy adaptation are parts of the same whole

Agency on the part of persons and communities affected by climatic variability and

change is essential for successful adaptation

Largesse creates dependencies

Strive to

prevent

adaptation resources creating

dependencies and

undermining

the

agency

of individuals and communities to adapt effectively.Slide28

Thank you…..