Assessing the vulnerability of Morocco's arid rangeland pastoralists to climate change using the Household Livelihood Vulnerability Index

Wadii SNAIBI; Abdelhamid MEZRHAB; Mohammed LAABOUDI

Article Details

Assessing the vulnerability of Morocco's arid rangeland pastoralists to climate change using the Household Livelihood Vulnerability Index

Authors:

Wadii SNAIBI | Abdelhamid MEZRHAB | Mohammed LAABOUDI

Publisher:

INRA

Journal:

African and Mediterranean Agricultural Journal - Al Awamia Issue 143, pp.247-261

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001843596

pISSN:

2658-9184

Abstract:

 The high plateaus of eastern Morocco (HPEM), which constitutes one of the largest pastoral ecosystems in Morocco, has shown since the end of the 1970s, apparent signs of climate change (CC), namely a notable reduction in precipitation combined with an increase in temperature and the frequency of extreme weather events (drought, winds and sandstorms). These unfavorable climatic trends have accentuated the vulnerability of the livelihoods of the local population, which are essentially based on the use of natural resources, in particular the rearing of small ruminants. The study aims to examine the level of vulnerability of local household livelihoods to CC and extreme weather events (particularly drought) using a multi-criteria composite index, known as the Livelihood Vulnerability Index. This index, which refers to the Sustainable Livelihoods Analysis Framework (LVI) and the IPCC CC Vulnerability Assessment Framework (LVI-IPCC), includes 56 socio-economic and biophysical indicators obtained from a survey of 680 households to reflect the components of climate vulnerability: exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. The livelihoods of pastoralist households in the study area are moderately vulnerable, both based on the sustainable livelihoods approach (LVI = 0.494) and the IPCC vulnerability assessment approach. (LVI-IPCC = 0.014). The LVI-IPCC value indicates greater exposure to CC impacts (0.517) compared to the existing adaptive capacity of the studied socio-ecological system (0.487). The study also revealed that the HPEM area is more vulnerable in terms of the components “Financial capital: 0.772” (weakness of household assets: equipment, cultivation land and herd size), followed respectively by “Ecosystem: 0.720” (weakness of fodder and water resources, state of degradation), “Livelihood strategies: 0.596” (livelihoods very little diversified and very dependent on the use of natural resources) , “Socio-demographic profile: 0.547” (deficiency in school education and training on CC) and “Climate variability and extreme weather events: 0.517” (high exposure to climate hazards and risks). Thus, in order to improve the resilience of pastoralist households, public interventions should focus on strengthening: household assets, programs to combat poverty, rangeland development actions, actions to diversify sources of income and finally the strengthening of formal education and training programs for livestock producers in terms of impact and adaptation to CC. In addition, it is necessary to provide pastoralists with improved and updated climatic information for better awareness and preparation with regard to the climatic hazards and risks that the study area faces.

Article Details

Assessing the vulnerability of Morocco's arid rangeland pastoralists to climate change using the Household Livelihood Vulnerability Index

Authors: Wadii SNAIBI | Abdelhamid MEZRHAB | Mohammed LAABOUDI

Publisher: INRA

Journal: African and Mediterranean Agricultural Journal - Al Awamia Issue 143, pp.247-261

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 4/2024

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2001843596

pISSN: 2658-9184

Issues

Authors:

Wadii SNAIBI | Abdelhamid MEZRHAB | Mohammed LAABOUDI

Publisher:

INRA

Journal:

African and Mediterranean Agricultural Journal - Al Awamia Issue 143, pp.247-261

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

4/2024

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2001843596

pISSN:

2658-9184