The Occurrence of Drought in Mopani District Municipality, South Africa: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation
Mopani District Municipality in the northeast of South Africa is largely semi-arid and frequently affected by meteorological droughts. The recent 2015/16 event had devastating impacts on water levels, crop yields, livestock herds and rural livelihoods. We investigated the nature of the drought hazar...
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MDPI AG
2021-04-01
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| Series: | Climate |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/9/4/61 |
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| author | Ndamulelo Nembilwi Hector Chikoore Edmore Kori Rendani B. Munyai Tshilidzi C. Manyanya |
| author_facet | Ndamulelo Nembilwi Hector Chikoore Edmore Kori Rendani B. Munyai Tshilidzi C. Manyanya |
| author_sort | Ndamulelo Nembilwi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mopani District Municipality in the northeast of South Africa is largely semi-arid and frequently affected by meteorological droughts. The recent 2015/16 event had devastating impacts on water levels, crop yields, livestock herds and rural livelihoods. We investigated the nature of the drought hazard; its impacts, including vulnerability of rural communities in Mopani District and adaptation strategies they have employed to cope with drought. A mixed methods approach with both quantitative and qualitative datasets was used. The district was divided into two distinct climatic areas: the drier eastern lowveld and the wetter western bushveld. Questionnaires were administered among community members whilst key informant interviews were conducted among relevant government and municipal officials. Climate data was used to characterize historical drought using a Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index whilst vegetation anomaly maps were used to demonstrate impacts. Spatially distinct patterns of drought conditions were evident with harsh and dry conditions towards the east. It was found that nearly half the time there is some form of drought or another in the district mostly linked to the remote El Nino phenomenon. In several areas, rain-fed agriculture is no longer tenable, with a direct impact on rural livelihoods. A Household Vulnerability Index determined variable levels of vulnerability such that different strategies are employed to adapt to drought some of which cause environmental problems. Local government intervention strategies include supply of seeds and fertilisers, providing cheap fodder and supplying water using trucks. The findings of this study contribute to disaster risk reduction efforts in a region that is highly vulnerable to current and future climate-risks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:29:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6d316f89ea3d4a689df32d14c3a7105a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2225-1154 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T12:29:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Climate |
| spelling | doaj.art-6d316f89ea3d4a689df32d14c3a7105a2023-11-21T14:49:30ZengMDPI AGClimate2225-11542021-04-01946110.3390/cli9040061The Occurrence of Drought in Mopani District Municipality, South Africa: Impacts, Vulnerability and AdaptationNdamulelo Nembilwi0Hector Chikoore1Edmore Kori2Rendani B. Munyai3Tshilidzi C. Manyanya4Department of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South AfricaUnit for Environmental Sciences and Management, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Vanderbijlpark 1900, South AfricaDepartment of Geography and Geo-Information Sciences, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, South AfricaDepartment of Geography, University of South Africa, Science Campus, Florida 1709, South AfricaDivision of Nature, Forest and Landscape, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, BelgiumMopani District Municipality in the northeast of South Africa is largely semi-arid and frequently affected by meteorological droughts. The recent 2015/16 event had devastating impacts on water levels, crop yields, livestock herds and rural livelihoods. We investigated the nature of the drought hazard; its impacts, including vulnerability of rural communities in Mopani District and adaptation strategies they have employed to cope with drought. A mixed methods approach with both quantitative and qualitative datasets was used. The district was divided into two distinct climatic areas: the drier eastern lowveld and the wetter western bushveld. Questionnaires were administered among community members whilst key informant interviews were conducted among relevant government and municipal officials. Climate data was used to characterize historical drought using a Standardized Precipitation and Evapotranspiration Index whilst vegetation anomaly maps were used to demonstrate impacts. Spatially distinct patterns of drought conditions were evident with harsh and dry conditions towards the east. It was found that nearly half the time there is some form of drought or another in the district mostly linked to the remote El Nino phenomenon. In several areas, rain-fed agriculture is no longer tenable, with a direct impact on rural livelihoods. A Household Vulnerability Index determined variable levels of vulnerability such that different strategies are employed to adapt to drought some of which cause environmental problems. Local government intervention strategies include supply of seeds and fertilisers, providing cheap fodder and supplying water using trucks. The findings of this study contribute to disaster risk reduction efforts in a region that is highly vulnerable to current and future climate-risks.https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/9/4/61drought trendsvulnerabilityadaptationclimatic changehazard |
| spellingShingle | Ndamulelo Nembilwi Hector Chikoore Edmore Kori Rendani B. Munyai Tshilidzi C. Manyanya The Occurrence of Drought in Mopani District Municipality, South Africa: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation Climate drought trends vulnerability adaptation climatic change hazard |
| title | The Occurrence of Drought in Mopani District Municipality, South Africa: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation |
| title_full | The Occurrence of Drought in Mopani District Municipality, South Africa: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation |
| title_fullStr | The Occurrence of Drought in Mopani District Municipality, South Africa: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Occurrence of Drought in Mopani District Municipality, South Africa: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation |
| title_short | The Occurrence of Drought in Mopani District Municipality, South Africa: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation |
| title_sort | occurrence of drought in mopani district municipality south africa impacts vulnerability and adaptation |
| topic | drought trends vulnerability adaptation climatic change hazard |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2225-1154/9/4/61 |
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