Editorial for Special Issue: “Livelihood and Landscape Change in Africa: Future Trajectories for Improved Well-Being under a Changing Climate”
1. Introduction
2. Highlights and Emerging Commonalities and Issues
2.1. Complex Drivers of Change and Implications
2.2. Unpacking Responses and Uptake of ‘Solutions’
2.3. Future Research: Needs and Opportunities
Funding
Acknowledgments
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Article | Thematic Area | Main Focus | Key Messages Related to Landscape and Livelihoods Dynamics |
---|---|---|---|
Scheba [12] | Governance | REDD+, local politics, power dynamics and livelihood outcomes in Tanzania | A mismatch between formal governance institutions and local practices, and the instability of carbon sales and livelihood options pose significant challenges to market-based conservation. REDD+ without major reconceptualization and greater funding and inclusion is unlikely to facilitate sustainable and resilient livelihoods and landscapes into the future. |
Pas [11] | Landscape changes, pastoral mobility and rangeland management policies and institutions in Samburu, Kenya | A range of factors including climate change, land degradation, and constraints on mobility across landscapes has impacted on livelihood outcomes of pastoralists, with pastoral mobility involving longer periods and distances due to fewer resources and new rules of access. New institutions to support mobility that build on local knowledge and practices are needed. | |
Kariuki, Willcock and Marchant [14] | Impact of interacting biophysical and socio-economic factors in driving land use and livelihood strategies in rangelands in Southern Kenya | Simulation models can be useful in exploring changes, challenges and practical solutions in rangeland landscapes. For example, policy goals to promote intensive livestock production through privatization were found to discourages pastoral mobility and encouraged agriculture, settlement expansion and sedentarization, while conservation subsidies promoted income, livestock, wildlife and rangeland connectivity. | |
Findaly and Twine [15] | Trends in natural resource governance in South Africa, focusing on fuelwood | Weak natural resource management is driven by complex socio-political factors including political expediency. Societies need to adapt and innovate new forms of governance, which build on what is appropriate locally to ensure previously effective (traditional) systems and institutions do not become ineffective under new conditions, and lead to ecosystems service degradation and livelihood insecurity. | |
Akrofi-Atitianti, Ifejika Speranza, Bockel and Asare [16] | Small-holder farming/farm dwellers | Exploration of the adoption and benefits of climate smart agriculture (CSA) as a solution to unsustainable cocoa faming in Ghana | CSA/Agroecology practices result in higher average farm income, improved livelihood capitals and better self-organization amongst cocoa farmers than those practicing conventional farming methods, as well as improved forest conservation and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. However, there are barriers to the uptake of this practice for the majority of farmers. There are also tradeoffs between CSA and livelihood diversification as a climate change adaptation strategy. |
Mango, Makate, Tamene, Mponela and Ndengu [17] | Adoption, benefits and determinants of farmer-driven small-scale irrigation in southern Africa | Where there are sufficient water resources, access to small-scale irrigation can significantly reduce farmer vulnerability to climate change and other stressors and enhance income. But there are constraints to the adoption of this option for many farmers. These include weak institutions, access to surface water, equipment and markets. Greater local uptake needs to be supported by policy change and appropriate support. | |
Mwavu, Kalema, Bateganya, Byakagaba, Waiswa, Enuru and Mbogga [18] | Impacts of the expansion of sugar cane as a commercial crop on household food security and local landscapes, Uganda | The assumption that commercial crop production amongst smallholder farmers contributes to improved income and food security is challenged, with study results indicating this farming strategy tends to increase food insecurity and the future vulnerability of farmers under climate change (contrasting with the findings of Östberg et al. [19]). Sugar cane has replaced areas previously used for food crop cultivation, especially nutritious foods and contributed to forest loss and ecosystem service degradation. | |
Spear and Chappel [20] | Vulnerability and barriers to farm based adaptation in semi-arid Namibia | Multiple barriers within an increasingly harsh environment as well as high dependency on grants and drought relief support were observed to thwart adaptation and livelihood improvement amongst smallholder farmers. Solutions such as more information on options, demonstration sites and development of self-help groups are suggested as solutions. | |
Hornby, Nel, Chademana and Khanyile [21] | Increasing precarity of farm dwellers in South Africa | Double exposure to climate change and the social dynamics underlying structural agrarian change is increasing the vulnerability of neglected farm dwellers. Future policy pathways need to be orientated towards social justice as well as climate change adaptation to ensure this group does not become more vulnerable. | |
Östberg, Howland, Mduma and Brockington [19] | Long-term change in livelihoods and landscapes | Repeat longitudinal study of livelihood change in Central Tanzania | Livelihoods have improved since the 1990s and households had become more prosperous. The local economy had diversified. Multiple factors contributed to this, but it came at a price. Increased clearing of land for sunflowers as a cash crop has negatively impacted biodiversity, forest cover and soil retention and fertility. At the same time there are no institutions for land management and rehabilitation, which could impact long-term sustainability. |
Masunungure and Shackleton [22] | Analysis of long-term change in livelihoods and landscapes applying human-environmental timelines in Zimbabwe and South Africa | Both negative and positive drivers of change were identified, but the negative changes appeared to outweigh the positive changes in Zimbabwe contributing to asset erosion and vulnerability and increased pressures on natural resources. In South Africa better service provision, as well as access to social grants mitigated the impacts of negative changes (including declining agriculture) on livelihoods. |
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Shackleton, S.; Masterson, V.; Hebinck, P.; Speranza, C.I.; Spear, D.; Tengö, M. Editorial for Special Issue: “Livelihood and Landscape Change in Africa: Future Trajectories for Improved Well-Being under a Changing Climate”. Land 2019, 8, 114. https://doi.org/10.3390/land8080114
Shackleton S, Masterson V, Hebinck P, Speranza CI, Spear D, Tengö M. Editorial for Special Issue: “Livelihood and Landscape Change in Africa: Future Trajectories for Improved Well-Being under a Changing Climate”. Land. 2019; 8(8):114. https://doi.org/10.3390/land8080114
Chicago/Turabian StyleShackleton, Sheona, Vanessa Masterson, Paul Hebinck, Chinwe Ifejika Speranza, Dian Spear, and Maria Tengö. 2019. "Editorial for Special Issue: “Livelihood and Landscape Change in Africa: Future Trajectories for Improved Well-Being under a Changing Climate”" Land 8, no. 8: 114. https://doi.org/10.3390/land8080114