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Community vulnerability to the health effects of climate change among indigenous populations in the Peruvian Amazon: a case study from Panaillo and Nuevo Progreso

Author

Listed:
  • I. Hofmeijer
  • J. Ford

  • L. Berrang-Ford
  • C. Zavaleta
  • C. Carcamo
  • E. Llanos
  • C. Carhuaz
  • V. Edge
  • S. Lwasa
  • D. Namanya

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an exploratory study working with two Amazonian communities in Peru to identify key climate-related health risks from the perspective of local residents, and characterize how these risks are experienced and managed. The work adopts a vulnerability-based approach and utilizes participatory methodologies to document and examine local perspectives on vulnerability and adaptive capacity. Thirty nine community members were engaged in participatory photography (photovoice), and rapid rural appraisal workshops were conducted with a total 40 participants. Contextual information was obtained from 34 semi-structured interviews with key informants and participant observation during fieldwork. Three climate-related health risks were identified by the communities as pressing issues (food insecurity, water insecurity, and vector-borne disease), all of which are climate-dependent and reported to be being affected by observed changes in climatic conditions. Sensitivity to these risks is high due to social and economic disadvantages which force people to live in suboptimal conditions, partake in dangerous activities, and engage in unhealthy behaviors. Traditional approaches to health and strong social networks are important in moderating health risks, but are placed under increasing stress in the context of local social and economic changes due to larger scale influences, including resource development, deforestation, and changing social relations. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2013

Suggested Citation

  • I. Hofmeijer & J. Ford & L. Berrang-Ford & C. Zavaleta & C. Carcamo & E. Llanos & C. Carhuaz & V. Edge & S. Lwasa & D. Namanya, 2013. "Community vulnerability to the health effects of climate change among indigenous populations in the Peruvian Amazon: a case study from Panaillo and Nuevo Progreso," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 18(7), pages 957-978, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:18:y:2013:i:7:p:957-978
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-012-9402-6
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    1. Mya Sherman & James Ford & Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas & María Valdivia & Alejandra Bussalleu, 2015. "Vulnerability and adaptive capacity of community food systems in the Peruvian Amazon: a case study from Panaillo," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 77(3), pages 2049-2079, July.
    2. Jonas Bergmann, 2021. "Planned relocation in Peru: advancing from well-meant legislation to good practice," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 11(3), pages 365-375, September.
    3. Paola A. Torres-Slimming & Carlee J. Wright & Guillermo Lancha & Cesar P. Carcamo & Patricia J. Garcia & James D. Ford & IHACC Research Team & Sherilee L. Harper, 2020. "Climatic Changes, Water Systems, and Adaptation Challenges in Shawi Communities in the Peruvian Amazon," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, April.
    4. Bussalleu, Alejandra & King, Nia & Pizango, Pedro & Ford, James & Carcamo, Cesar P. & Harper, Sherilee L., 2021. "Nuya kankantawa (we are feeling healthy): Understandings of health and wellbeing among Shawi of the Peruvian Amazon," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 281(C).
    5. Dafne E. Lastra Landa & Claudia V. Grados Bueno, 2022. "“Climate change might have caused our small harvest”: indigenous vulnerability, livelihoods, and environmental changes in lowland and high jungle indigenous communities in Peru," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 12(2), pages 216-231, June.
    6. Mya Sherman & James Ford & Alejandro Llanos-Cuentas & María José Valdivia, 2016. "Food system vulnerability amidst the extreme 2010–2011 flooding in the Peruvian Amazon: a case study from the Ucayali region," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 8(3), pages 551-570, June.
    7. Rutty, Michelle & Scott, Daniel & Johnson, Peter & Pons, Marc & Steiger, Robert & Vilella, Marc, 2017. "Using ski industry response to climatic variability to assess climate change risk: An analogue study in Eastern Canada," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 196-204.
    8. Isabel Ruiz-Mallén & Álvaro Fernández-Llamazares & Victoria Reyes-García, 2017. "Unravelling local adaptive capacity to climate change in the Bolivian Amazon: the interlinkages between assets, conservation and markets," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 140(2), pages 227-242, January.
    9. Patrícia F. Pinho & Rafaella Silvestrini & Martha Fellows & Letícia Perez & Ane Alencar & Carolina Guyot & Paulo Moutinho & David Lapola & Lindsay Stringer, 2025. "“Vulnerabilities and compound risks of escalating climate disasters in the Brazilian Amazon”," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.

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