Impacts of climate to affect livelihoods of KAZA residents

Climate changes unfolding across the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA) will have profound impacts on the livelihoods of residents. This is according to the Livelihood-Focused Climate Risk Assessment: Stress Testing Livelihood Options in the World’s Largest Terrestrial Transboundary Conservation Area Report. The report by KAZA under the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) notes that shorter and increasingly variable rainfall patterns will decrease the reliability of rainfed agriculture, which is vital for regional food security. “Drying patterns will constrain the growth of the tourism industry, as it relies heavily on water to support the wildlife that draws thousands of tourists every year.” The report notes that a longer dry season will also affect livestock production and compound more negative human-wildlife conflicts, requiring a more concerted effort to conserve and manage water to meet agricultural, wildlife and ecological demands. It further notes that weather conditions are growing more perilous, increasing the likelihood of large, runaway fires following rainy seasons and threatening the viability of conservation and carbon storage opportunities and programmes.“Our modeling also suggests that the spatial extent of flooding will increase and extend well beyond existing floodplains during future flood events.” Standing in harm’s way is an intricate network of roadways, tourist lodges and a patchwork of rural and urban unplanned settlements, notes the report. Given the rapid amplification of climate threats alongside relatively low levels of adaptive capacity, expanded investments into new markets and new income opportunities must first pursue a deeper understanding of anticipated climate risks and what is needed to adapt to them. The report notes that solutions for adaptation exist and many resource- and climate-dependent livelihoods may endure in areas with adequate support. Activities such as farming, fishing and foraging can benefit from climate information services and expanded access to climate risk finance options. Meanwhile, authorities can help incentivise personal adaptation by making financing more accessible, promoting indigenous knowledge and practices, delivering technical guidance, and ensuring necessary climate-adaptive materials are available in local markets. “Climate change is expected to increase average annual temperatureS and the intensity, duration and frequency of extreme heat events, which will inevitably put a greater number of people at risk of heat-related medical conditions.” It will limit livestock and crop production, the time allocated to outdoor and physically demanding activities, and potentially affect the tourism season, due to a higher number of days exceeding known thresholds of thermal comfort levels, notes the report. “By mid-century, maximum temperatures during the hottest part of the year (October and November) over southern Africa are expected to increase by 2.5 to 3.5 degrees Celsius, and within KAZA, this assessment finds that very hot days (days above 35 degrees Celsius) could increase by two to threefold.

Impacts of climate to affect livelihoods of KAZA residents

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Impacts of climate to affect livelihoods of KAZA residents

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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