Climate Change and Variability and its Impact on the Livelihood of Pastoralists: Case Study in Dire Woreda of Borana Zone, Oromia Region

Wario, Abarufa Jatani (2011) Climate Change and Variability and its Impact on the Livelihood of Pastoralists: Case Study in Dire Woreda of Borana Zone, Oromia Region. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

This thesis is about the impact of climate change and variability on the livelihood of pastoralists; case study in Dire district of Borana 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 planned 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 purposively selected kebeles, namely Madacho and Higo of Dire district. 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, regionalization 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 technological advancement backing to the root is found to be imperative to reduce compounded impacts.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Tim Khabala
Date Deposited:	19 Jun 2018 13:58
Last Modified:	19 Jun 2018 13:58
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/4636

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