"Serendipitous" Adaptation

Zimbabwe: Wind Power Development in Temaruru and Dumbamwe

A wind turbine installed in a village in Zimbabwe may help decrease vulnerability, thus improving villagers’ ability to cope with the effects of climate change. A study of the project concluded that "[i]n this case study, small-scale windpower eases water resource stress and contributes to climate change adaptation in two ways: (1) by providing energy for water pumping in otherwise energy-deprived areas, and (2) by easing fuelwood consumption in households whose livelihood opportunities have expanded with electrification."

Zimbabwe: Improving Water Efficiency in Mudzi and Gwanda

In 1993, the Community Drought Mitigation project embarked on providing technical support to farmers to improve their crop production while conserving soil and water.  A number of demonstrations were conducted.

Uganda: Mainstreaming Adaptation to Climate Change in the Development Process

The Radio and Internet Project (RANET) implemented in Nakasongola district by World Vision and the Department of Meteorology enhanced collection and dissemination of early warning and climate information at the local level through radio and internet. Using a computer connected to the internet, the project provided timely information on climate and other development information for the people in the district. Through established channels of communication, the project then disseminated climate information to local farming communities in a timely manner.

Uganda: Goat Breeding in Moroto and Nakapiripirit

The Karamoja Agro-pastoral Development Programme (KADP) implements an agro-pastoral development program in the semi-arid Moroto and Nakapiripirit districts in Karamoja, North East Uganda.  The most viable economic activities are extensive livestock keeping and growing of seasonal crops to supplement livestock and livestock products.  During drought, Karamojong women, children and old people are often left for months at a time without animals to provide them with milk.  Thus, the KADP started a breeding and propagation centre to produce crossbred dairy goats.  Each woman was given a goat, t

Thailand: Mangrove Reforestation and Protection

Mangrove forests are located in 23 coastal provinces in Thailand.  These forests used to cover 368,000 ha in Thailand in 1961, but the area dropped to 240,000 ha by 2002.  The major causes of the loss of mangrove forests are timber and charcoal industries, while some areas were converted for urbanization, agriculture, and aquaculture especially shrimp farms.  In 2004, a five-year Action Plan for Mangrove Management in the Gulf of Thailand was established to preserve mangrove forests, as well as to promote the sustainable use of mangrove resources.

Thailand: Preparing for Floods by Diversifying Livelihoods

In a case of autonomous adaptation, communities in the Lower Songkram River Basin have developed a number of coping mechanisms to deal with floods and droughts. One is indigenous forecasting methods (for example, ants removing their eggs from the nest is seen as a sign of rain, and a decrease in mushrooms can signal drought). Another is modification in fishing gear to conform to climate changes (for example, when the water level is high, they use traps or fishing hooks. When it is low, they use mong and uan tap taling, a type of net that is anchored along the riverbank).

Tanzania: Water Sector Support Project

The Water Sector Support Project aims to strengthen sector institutions for integrated water resources management and improve access to water supply and sanitation services.

Tanzania: Formation of Water User Associations and River Namwi Catchments for Sustainable Irrigation

This project will use participatory methods in planning and implementation to set up water user groups in charge of assuring operation and maintenance of a sustainable irrigation scheme. The project will train the community in proper water management and operation and maintenance of the irrigation furrow, in agricultural extension and agribusiness skills, and in soil and water conservation. The goal is to assure sufficient water to supply agricultural production and domestic use, thus improving living standards.

Tanzania: Hifadhi Ardhi Shinyanga (HASHI) Project

The Shinyanga region in the north of Tanzania is occupied mainly by the agropastoral Sukuma people.  The Hifadhi Ardhi Shinyanga (HASHI) project, which means “soil conservation” in Kiswahili, is a government initiative under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism.  It has been instrumental in reviving the Sukuma people’s traditional practice of conservation.  Using indigenous knowledge, they are practising a natural resource management system called ngitili - a Sukuma word meaning enclosure.  Traditionally ngitili were used to provide animal fodder for very young, old or sick an

Tajikistan: Climate Change and the Water Crisis in Central Asia

This project includes (1) the provision of  200 hand pumps, several large pumped water systems, 11 gravity-fed water systems, several rooftop water harvesting systems in schools and over 600 household water storage cisterns, altogether supplying water to 45,000 people in 28 villages; (2) the introduction of new drought-resistant and less water-thirsty plants, rain-fed cultivation technologies, greenhouses and irrigation systems to help agricultural activities withstand drought; (3) the creation of community-based organizations that can not only address ongoing food and income problems, but al

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