Document Type
Report
Publication Title
HPG Commissioned Report
Abstract
The effects of climate change on the drylands of the Horn of Africa pose particular and difficult policy challenges. The arid nature of the climate together with the poverty levels faced by those people living in the drylands mean that the increasing temperatures, the intensifying rains and the increased frequency of extreme weather events that climate science projects for the region can only exacerbate the problems of development. However, as discussed here, the drylands have under-exploited development potential and the dominant land use system – pastoralism – has unique adaptive characteristics that, together with the right enabling policies, mean that climate change can be adapted to and the development of the region and the people achieved. Drylands are a large part of the Horn and East Africa. Their main defining characteristic is extreme climatic variability. Despite this variability, the drylands make significant contributions to national economies and support millions of people. They are also areas of great untapped potential, and can play an important role in supplying an increasing demand for livestock, fuels, wild products and sequestering carbon. Despite these opportunities the drylands in the region receive little investment and continue to be marred by poverty, food insecurity and conflict.
Publication Date
4-2009
Recommended Citation
Nassef, Magda; Anderson, Simon; and Hesse, Ced, "Pastoralism and climate change: Enabling adaptive capacity" (2009). East Africa. 21.
https://repository.fit.edu/africa_ea/21