HR: 10:35h
AN: GC12A-02    [Abstracts]
TI: Changing Climate, Disrupted Livelihoods: The Case of Vulnerability of Nomadic Maasai Pastoralism to Recurrent Droughts in Kajiado District, Kenya
AU: * Mwangi, M N
EM: mnm146@psu.edu
AF: Pennsylvania State University, 302 Walker Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States
AU: Desanker, P V
EM: Pdesanker@unfccc.int
AF: Pennsylvania State University, 302 Walker Building, University Park, PA 16802, United States
AU: Desanker, P V
EM: Pdesanker@unfccc.int
AF: United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, P. O. 206124, D-53153 Bonn Germany, Bonn, D-53153, Germany
AB: Pastoralism is practiced in all arid and semiarid lands (ASALs) of Africa. High interannual rainfall variability and degraded ecosystems characterize these ASALs and limits arable farming. Under these conditions, pastoralism has evolved as the most feasible livelihood system in ASALs, where total annual rainfall correlates with annual net primary productivity, especially grass. Maasai of East Africa are the largest group of nomadic pastoralists in Africa, with about two-thirds living in southern Kenya, mainly in Kajiado and Narok Districts. Maasai people of Kenya subsist by nomadic pastoralism. Nomads migrate with their livestock in search of natural pastures and water as climatic and environmental circumstances mandate. Successful migrations of nomadic pastoralists are being hampered by changing social and ecological factors both at local and broader scales. What is more, increased frequency and duration of drought constitute a major challenge with which the Maasai have to confront. Drought is a slow-developing phenomenon; therefore, it captures delayed attention. Nonetheless, the cumulative impacts of drought are more immense. Drought triggers catastrophic events that diminish adaptive capacity of inhabitants of these ASALs; this is conspicuous in Kajiado District where livestock productivity plummet as resource base erodes. What is more, global climate change is projected to intensify the occurrence, severity and duration of droughts in this region. Frequent droughts are likely to disrupt proper functioning of nomadic Maasai pastoralism. This study presents findings from an integrated research conducted in Kajiado District during the last two years. Spatiotemporal trends of drought, effects of drought on, and possible future of nomadic Maasai pastoralism are presented. This is informative to the Maasai pastoralists, policy makers and other actors in this sector. Most important, the study is contributes toward formulation of informed drought management strategies, which in turn may enhance adaptive capacity among the nomadic Maasai pastoralists.
DE: 1605 Abrupt/rapid climate change (4901, 8408)
DE: 1630 Impacts of global change (1225)
DE: 1637 Regional climate change
DE: 1812 Drought
DE: 3305 Climate change and variability (1616, 1635, 3309, 4215, 4513)
SC: Global Environmental Change [GC]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting