Tropentag, September 19 - 21, 2012 in Göttingen "Resilience of agricultural systems against crises"

Assessing Adaptation to Climate Change: Environmental and Socioeconomic Changes in the Andes of Bolivia

Technische Universität Dresden, Institute of International Forestry and Forest Products - Tropical Forestry, Germany

Abstract

Bolivia contributes only 0.04% carbon dioxide emission of the world, yet smallholders are particularly vulnerable to changing social and environmental conditions. These changes have led to an increase in food insecurity and losses in production due to drought, frost, disease, and pests. This article outlines the understanding of adaptation to climate change and its impact on environmental and socioeconomic changes that are affecting the livelihoods in communities of the Andean region. We use a case study of Charazany valley in The Apolobamba National Park; northwest of La Paz – Bolivia. Mainly qualitative methods were used to collect and analyse data following the framework for participatory vulnerability assessments. Primary data was collected at the community level applying different participatory research methods. According to the Bolivian National Institute of Statistics (INE 2010), the occurrence of extreme weather events are increasing since 2002, particularly drought, frost, hailstorms, landslides and fire. Equal observation has been made by local communities which highlight them as the principle reasons for their losses in production. Community members are forced to search for new off-farm alternatives beyond agriculture for subsistence, like working in construction, mining, and manufacturing (INE 2004). This means a significant impact on the structure of the families and their respective role in the agriculture activities. Nevertheless there is a correspondingly large array of possible adaptation options that families are implementing. Most of them are related to ancient traditional techniques in agriculture; as example the use of local bio-indicators to forecast the weather, variation in time and space of plantations, conservation in situ of indigenous crop varieties. Intensification of land use, diversification of irrigation system and water storage practices and the use of artificial products are some techniques adopted as conventional practices that can prevent losses in production. The local organisation is aware of the problem, however, testimonies point out that farmers don't have the capacity or the economical resources to mitigate the risk in production. Several actions have been considered to promote the adaptive capacity; nevertheless the current target is to improve existing livelihoods and reducing vulnerability in the long term in comparable short time.

Keywords: Adaptation, Andes, climate change, participatory vulnerability assessments

Contact Address: Marolyn Vidaurre de La Riva, Alexander von Humboldt Foundation - TU Dresden, International Climate Protection Fellowship - Tropical Forestry, Pienner Str. 7, 01737 Tharandt, Germany, e-mail: marolynvidagmail.com