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Local Perception of Risk to Livelihoods in the Semi-Arid Landscape of Southern Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Erin Bunting

    (Department of Geography, University of Florida, 3141 Turlington Hall P.O. Box 117315, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Jessica Steele

    (Department of Geography, University of Florida, 3141 Turlington Hall P.O. Box 117315, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Eric Keys

    (Department of Geography, University of Florida, 3141 Turlington Hall P.O. Box 117315, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Shylock Muyengwa

    (Center for African Studies, University of Florida, 427 Grinter Hall P.O. Box 115560, Gainesville, FL 32611,USA)

  • Brian Child

    (Department of Geography, University of Florida, 3141 Turlington Hall P.O. Box 117315, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
    Center for African Studies, University of Florida, 427 Grinter Hall P.O. Box 115560, Gainesville, FL 32611,USA)

  • Jane Southworth

    (Department of Geography, University of Florida, 3141 Turlington Hall P.O. Box 117315, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

Abstract

The United Nations and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change deem many regions of southern Africa as vulnerable landscapes due to changing climatic regimes, ecological conditions, and low adaptive capacity. Typically in highly vulnerable regions, multiple livelihood strategies are employed to enable sustainable development. In Botswana, livelihood strategies have diversified over time to include tourism and other non-agricultural activities. While such diversification and development have been studied, little is known about how locals perceive livelihood risks. This article analyzes perceptions of risk through a risk hazards framework. During the summer of 2010, 330 surveys were completed within seven villages in northern Botswana and the Caprivi Strip of Namibia. During the survey respondents were asked to list the biggest threats/challenges to their livelihoods. Responses were grouped into categories of risk according to the capital assets on which livelihoods depend: natural, physical, financial, human, and social. A risk mapping procedure was utilized, for which indices of severity, incidence, and risk were calculated. It is hypothesized that people’s perception of risk is directly dependent on environmental conditions and employment status of the household. Results indicate that problems related to natural and financial assets are the greatest source of risk to livelihoods. Furthermore, flood, drought, and other measures of climate variability are perceived as influential, typically negatively, to livelihood strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Erin Bunting & Jessica Steele & Eric Keys & Shylock Muyengwa & Brian Child & Jane Southworth, 2013. "Local Perception of Risk to Livelihoods in the Semi-Arid Landscape of Southern Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 2(2), pages 1-27, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:2:y:2013:i:2:p:225-251:d:25734
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Alpo Kapuka & Tomáš Hlásny, 2020. "Social Vulnerability to Natural Hazards in Namibia: A District-Based Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Mustafa Hakki Aydogdu & Kasim Yenigün, 2016. "Farmers’ Risk Perception towards Climate Change: A Case of the GAP-Şanlıurfa Region, Turkey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-12, August.
    3. Joseph K. Kamara & Blessing J. Akombi & Kingsley Agho & Andre M. N. Renzaho, 2018. "Resilience to Climate-Induced Disasters and Its Overall Relationship to Well-Being in Southern Africa: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-27, October.
    4. Maurizio Tiepolo & Maurizio Bacci & Sarah Braccio & Stefano Bechis, 2019. "Multi-Hazard Risk Assessment at Community Level Integrating Local and Scientific Knowledge in the Hodh Chargui, Mauritania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-23, September.
    5. Roengchai Tansuchat & Sittichok Plaiphum, 2023. "Assessing Food and Livelihood Security in Sea Salt Community: A GIAHS Study in Ban Laem, Phetchaburi, Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-29, October.
    6. Elissa Z Cameron & Sadie J Ryan, 2016. "Welfare at Multiple Scales: Importance of Zoo Elephant Population Welfare in a World of Declining Wild Populations," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(7), pages 1-4, July.
    7. Yaping Liu & Huike Shi & Zhen Su & Tafazal Kumail, 2022. "Sustainability and Risks of Rural Household Livelihoods in Ethnic Tourist Villages: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-26, April.
    8. Jacqueline Meijer-Irons, 2015. "Who perceives what? A demographic analysis of subjective perception in rural Thailand," Vienna Yearbook of Population Research, Vienna Institute of Demography (VID) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, vol. 13(1), pages 167-191.
    9. John Tyler Fox & Mark E. Vandewalle & Kathleen A. Alexander, 2017. "Land Cover Change in Northern Botswana: The Influence of Climate, Fire, and Elephants on Semi-Arid Savanna Woodlands," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(4), pages 1-23, October.

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