Suchergebnisse

Lao PDR and the Philippines are among the Asian countries whose exposure to climate risks seriously threatens livelihood, particularly of those in the agriculture sector. The paper provides a comparative analysis of the adaptive capacity and current adaptation strategies of small-scale rice farm households in these countries. The analysis focused on two top rice-producing provinces in each country that are vulnerable to climate risks. It covered three rice production environments or ecozones - irrigated lowland, rainfed lowland and rainfed upland in two cropping seasons, wet and dry. Sources of data include survey of rice farmers; key informant interviews with local government officials; focus group discussions with farmer and village leaders and extension workers; and local government reports. Calculation of adaptive capacity index adopted the procedure applied by the United Nations Development Program (cited in Swanson et al. 2007) on the Human Development Index. It incorporates various bio-physical and socio-economic factors affecting adaptive capacity. The analysis shows specific interventions that could improve household adaptive capacity to a changing climate, particularly extreme events and draw comparative lessons for possible uptake of other countries. The losses and damages experienced by the households show that livelihood, particularly of the poor farmers, is largely natural resource-based which is highly vulnerable to climate risks. The impacts of extreme events such as drought and typhoon vary by location, ecozone and cropping season. Farmers, particularly in the rainfed areas, have limited access to adaptation technologies and alternative livelihood sources. In the Philippines, farmers expressed the need for improved farming technologies, funding, skills and knowledge on adaptation to changing climate and advance warning on climate events. In Lao PDR, farmers need support for flood resistant rice varieties and better infrastructure because of their farms' vulnerability to flooding and landslide. © IDOSI Publications, 2013.

The Central Visayas Regional Project Central Visayas Regional Project (CVRP) is a region-based rural development effort aimed at improving both the resource base and the living standards of small-scale upland farmers, nearshore fishermen and marginal forest dwellers through a community-based resource management. This project has three major components: upland agriculture, nearshore fisheries and social forestry. Each of these components has introduced various interventions depending on the nature of the resource involved and the kind of intervention necessary to arrest resource degradation. This paper conducts an impact assessment of CRVP-I relative to its objectives: improving welfare of target beneficiaries, strengthening regional, local government and communities' management capabilities and monitoring sustained use of the region's natural resources.

This chapter determines the role of the government extension system in a private-led technological innovation by investigating farmer adoption of genetically engineered (GE) corn varieties and reviews policies governing the Philippine agricultural extension system. The data used were gathered through interviews with 1,200 corn farmers and key informant interviews with private and government stakeholders. The following results were obtained from the study: GE corn is widely adopted; farmers consider GE corn varieties safe for humans, animals, environment, and other crops; the promotional campaign of the private companies focus on the economic benefits associated with its use; co-farmers and government extension workers were the major sources of agricultural information; farmers and extension workers lack accurate knowledge about GE corn varieties; and the number of GE corn farmers and GE corn hectarage at the local level is not adequately monitored. The study concludes that orientation about GE corn varieties should be provided for the local extension workers, who serve as the farmers' direct source of agricultural information, so they can guide farmers to make informed decisions; and local extension workers should take an active role in the monitoring of GE corn adoption within the locality to provide data for policy decision making.

Purpose: The Philippines is among the countries vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change. However, many local government units (LGUs) and the people themselves are not aware of the climate change phenomenon and do not have the capacity to undertake appropriate climate change adaptation measures. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the climate change adaptation strategies of communities and LGUs and the barriers and recommendations to enhance their adaptive capacity. Design/methodology/approach: The study covered five communities vulnerable to climate change impacts. Information on extreme climatic events and their impacts and adaptation strategies undertaken were gathered through focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews. LGU staff members were assisted in the preparation of their climate change adaptation plan (CCAP). Findings: The LGUs and communities have low adaptive capacity and employed temporary adaptation strategies. Strong social cohesion and spontaneous collective action are factors that could enhance the communities' adaptive capacity. The pursuit of awareness raising and capacity building activities on climate change phenomena, alternative livelihood, preparedness and adaptation possibilities, technology and infrastructure development and collective action, which are critical adaptive capacity enhancement factors were laid-out in the CCAP. Originality/value: The paper presents the barriers that constrain the adaptive capacity of communities and LGUs, the recommended adaptive capacity enhancement measures to overcome these barriers and the highlights of the CCAP jointly prepared by the partner LGUs and scientists. © Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Projected change in climate in the coming decades adds a layer of complexity in the search for sustainability. Warming temperatures, rising sea levels, changing precipitation patterns and their impacts on natural and human systems could threaten the attainment of development goals. Many countries in Asia and the Pacific are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and there is growing recognition that climate change adaptation must be tackled as an integral part of the development process, for example in mainstreaming climate change adaptation into national plans and programmes. The aim of Chap. 6 is to explore linkages between sustainable development and efforts to address climate change in Asia and the Pacific, particularly focussing in two areas of low carbon development (LCD) pathways for the region, and the importance of natural ecosystems in sustaining the delivery of ecosystem services that are essential for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The challenges posed by climate change will be felt in the coming decades in Asia and the Pacific. In parallel, nations in the region will continue to aspire for sustainable development. Policy makers and development workers must find ways to ensure that both these concerns are addressed synergistically while avoiding negative outcomes. One way to mitigate climate change while pursuing sustainable development is through LCD, which will require negotiations across many stakeholders of governments, non-government agencies, industry and broader communities. In Asia and the Pacific natural ecosystems will continue to play a critical role in addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation. Nations in the region will have to find innovative ways to manage and rehabilitate natural ecosystems for a multiplicity of functions and services. This will involve greater collaboration and communication between scientists and policy makers as well as between natural and social scientists. In many developing countries, there is still very limited empirical information and research needs to be ramped up. North-South and South-South partnerships could help fill the gap.