Jere L. Gilles

Adapting to climate change in Andean ecosystems: Landscapes, capitals, and perceptions shaping rural livelihood strategies and linking knowledge systems

In the Bolivian Altiplano, indigenous systems for dealing with weather and climate risk are failing or being lost as a result of migration, climate change, and market integration. Andean rural communities are particularly vulnerable to changing social and environmental conditions. Changing climate over the past forty years and current forecast models point to increasing temperatures and later onset of rains during the growing season. Current meteorological models are coarse grained and not well suited to the complex topology of the Andes—so local-scale information is required for decisions. This article outlines a process for developing new local knowledge that can be used to enhance adaptive processes. This is a three-step process that includes assessment of local knowledge, the development of future scenarios, and the use of participatory research methods to identify alternative adaptation strategies. Initial analyses based on the survey of 330 households in nine communities indicate that northern Alitplano communities are more vulnerable than central Altiplano ones. In both areas, losses from climate shocks are high, but the types of hazards vary by location. The use of local knowledge indicators of climate is declining, and downscaling of climate forecasts is unlikely to occur due to the lack of data points and the large number of microclimates. Participatory mapping and research, where knowledge is shared, are processes that enhance adaptive capacity and are critical to building resilience. This article outlines a strategy for linking science-based and indigenous methods to develop early warning systems that are an important part of coping strategies. This approach combines science and indigenous knowledge to enhance adaptive capacity.

Gender and resource management: Households and groups, strategies and transitions

Rural families must constantly negotiate their livelihoods by obtaining access to natural resources, labor, capital, knowledge, and markets. Successful negotiation leads to enhanced family well-being and sustainable use of natural resources. Unsuccessful negotiation threatens family survival, threatens sustainable use of natural resources, and reduces bio-diversity. These negotiation processes are mediated by gender relations. The ideas of negotiation and of survival strategies outlined here provide a framework within which the articles of this issue can be situated. The articles are the result of research on gender and natural resource management conducted in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and North America. Each experience illustrates the consequences for natural resources and family well being when they have voice and when they do not have voice in household decisions.

LOCAL FORECAST COMMUNICATION IN THE ALTIPLANO

Forecasts play an important role in planting decisions for Andean peasant producers. Predictions of the upcoming cropping season determine when, where, and what farmers will plant. This research looks at the sources of forecast information used by farmers in three indigenous communities in the Bolivian and Peruvian Altiplano by examining networks used to access weather forecasts. The Altiplano is impacted by the ENSO phenomenon and by frequent droughts and frosts so weather- and climate-related risks are the greatest threats to food security. While both Peru and Bolivia have forecasting systems that widely broadcast forecasts via mass media, farmers do not take them into account when they make production decisions. Instead, they rely on traditional forecasting techniques even though confidence in these indicators is declining. Even though traditional forecast indicators are understood by most producers, few make their own forecasts. Instead they depend upon a few local experts who appear to have little co...

Social research in international agricultural R&D: Lessons from the small ruminant CRSP

The uses of the most “social” of the social sciences—sociology and anthropology—in international agricultural research and development (R&D) have often been poorly understood. Drawing upon a decade of work by the Sociology Project of the Small Ruminant Collaborative Research Support Program, this article exemplifies how and where social scientists can and have contributed to major development initiatives, and it illustrates some of the larger lessons to be learned for human values concerns in international agriculture.

Planning livestock development: Themes from indigenous systems

Abstract The rangelands of the world are declining in productivity in spite of the introduction of programmes designed to modernise these traditional pastoral systems of livestock production. This paper suggests that, in designing the modern systems, planners have failed to appreciate the factors influencing success in the traditional systems and that disadvantages have resulted from the introduction of modern systems which reflect only ‘western’ conditions. The maintenance of animal mobility and the common use of range pastures, together with a proper appreciation of critical resources and feedback information in traditional systems, should be the constituents of plans to improve productivity.

Andean Pastoral Women in a Changing World: Opportunities and Challenges

On the Ground The high Andes of South America include rangelands where pure pastoralists herd llama and alpaca and agro-pastoralists produce tubers, grains, sheep, and cattle. Women of the Aymara ethnic group live in both pastoral and agro-pastoral systems and have traditionally been responsible for many aspects of crop and livestock management. They also have ownership rights for land and most types of animals. The Aymara have adapted to large political and economic changes. Leadership profiles for women are increasing as rural communities diversify, men migrate in search of work, and females gain access to formal education. The way forward is to continue to engage Aymara women in ways that encourage their participation in development processes, yet minimize additional, work-related burdens.