Ecosystem-based adaptation options for smallholder farmers in Central America: an approach from experts interviews

Transcription

1 Ecosystem-based adaptation options for smallholder farmers in Central America: an approach from experts interviews Ruth Martínez-Rodríguez 1, Celia Harvey 1, Raffaele Vignola 2, Pável Bautista 2, Camila Donatti 1, Milagro Saborío Rodríguez 2, Jacques Avelino 3, Bruno Rapidel 3 1. Conservation International Foundation; 2. Tropical Agricultural Center for Research and Higher Education, (CATIE); 3. International Research Center for Agriculture, France CIRAD

2 Francisco Alpizar CATIE - CI Smallholder farming in Central America Smallholder farmers in Central America = 41.4% of population Main systems: coffee, basic grains (maize/beans) Smallholders are highly dependent on natural resources and ecosystem services, for provision of firewood, water, etc. Smallholder farmers are very vulnerable to extreme weather events and climate change

3 Why is adaptation critical for smallholder coffee farmers in Central America? Central America is one of the regions with the highest projected changes in future climatic conditions Farmers already face a variable climatic regime, risk of drought, changes in the on-set of the dry season, and major storm damage. There is an urgent need for adaptation, but it is not clear whether there is sufficient information on what strategies can help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change and whether these strategies are being promoted.

4 Ecosystem based Adaptation (EbA) could help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change EbA= the use of biodiversity and ecosystem services as part of an overall adaptation strategy to help people to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. (CBD 2009) Restoration or protection of riparian areas to ensure future water supply Farm diversification to reduce production losses due to extreme weather events, among others. Use of windbreaks to protect crops and animals

5 There is a gradient of EbA ness among adaptation options in agriculture Not EbA Construction of infrastructure or drainage channels to manage water Construction of walls or barriers to prevent salinization or soil erosion Relocation of crop production Increased use of inorganic inputs (fertilizers, pesticides) to maintain productivity Use of drought or heat resistant varieties Changes in harvesting and sowing dates Changes in cropping systems Use of improved soil and water conservation practices Use of improved pest and disease management practices Agroforestry EbA Silvopastoril systems Conservation or restoration of riparian forests and forest patches Use of windbreaks and live barriers Use of conservation agriculture Restoring degraded areas Crop and landscape diversification

6 Objective of CASCADE project: To assess the vulnerability of smallholder and coffee farming communities to climate change, and develop and test strategies for Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) to help highly vulnerable farming communities cope with climate change. Objective of this work: obtain information from experts about their perception of extreme weather events in the last 10 years, their practices recommendations and problems for promoting the practices.

7 Specific research questions Are coffee experts familiar with agricultural practices that can help smallholder farmers adapt to climate change? And what knowledge do they have about these practices? What is their understanding of the mechanisms by which different agricultural practices reduce the impacts of climate change? Which of these adaptation strategies (if any) can be considered Ecosystem-based Adaptation? What are the necessary conditions for scaling up the use of known EbA management practices?

8 Number of subjects Methodology Profile of interviewed coffee experts (in Honduras, Guatemala and Costa Rica; 76 total; 42% national level, 58% local level) Technician Private farm manager/trading Researcher Producer Extensionist Occupation profile of the experts interviewed Average experience in coffee: 19.30

9 RESULTS:Extreme weather events affecting smallholder coffee farmers in Central America Extreme events Guatemala Honduras Costa Rica Total Extreme rainfall 64% 74% 80% 75% Drought 41% 21% 60% 45% Extreme winds 41% 21% 49% 39% Rainfall variability 36% 53% 34% 39% Tropical Storms 59% 26% 26% 36% Heat waves 32% 32% 23% 28% Cold waves 18% 16% 23% 20% Extreme temperature 23% 21% 17% 20%

10 Practices recommended for reducing impact of extreme weather events Practices # Extreme (number of Extreme rainfall respondents events (%) ) associat ed Extreme events that practice helps to reduce its impact (% answers) Extreme drought Extreme Storms tempera ture Variabili ty in precipit ation Extreme winds Extreme fog Heat waves Shade (65) Live barriers (31) Level curves (30) Windbreaks (20) Tolerant varieties (20) Terraces (14) Live cover (14) Synthetic fertilizer (10) Reforestatio n (8) Soil Conservation 4 75

11 Mechanisms by which EbA practices help to reduce impacts of extreme weather events (% of answers) Mechanism Practice Shade management (65) Live Barriers (31) Windbreaks (20) Buffers Buffers ProtectImpro tempert s ves ature impact against soil extrem s of es strong fertilit winds y heavy rainfall Improv es soil structu re Reduc es soil erosio n Increa se water infiltra tion and retent ion Increas es toleran ce to radiati on Increasmainte Regula es nance tes toleranin crop humidi ce/avoiphenol ty ds ogy pests and and resilien diseas ce e Live Cover (14) Reforestation (8)

12 Examples of practices that promote adaptation to climate change Coffee shade management Live barriers BUENA DE SOMBRA Extreme rainfall, temperature extremes, tolerance to radiation, regulation of humidity in the air, avoids pests and diseases, keeps resiience, improves soil fertility ; also keeps biodiversity. Improves soil structure, reduces erosion, increases water infiltration, buffers heavy rainfall

13 Multiple barriers prevent the wide-spread use of adaptation measures in smallholder coffee farms.. but barriers are often sitespecific farmers' lack of technical knowledge/awareness of importance of Lack of economic incentives/credits Lack of transfer/technical assistance from the relevant organizations Institutional weakness for research and development HN GT CR Farmer's lack of funds/coffee low price Lack of interest in changing practices

14 Conclusions Experts are already very familiar with measures that we consider EbA in agriculture, detailed knowledge about their benefits, and events they help to adapt to. However, there are barriers that must be overcomed to scale up EbA. Many barriers are country-specific and therefore require different approaches.

15 Conclusions Interested parties could promote the adoption of these approaches by smallholder farmers by: Strengthening of extension and research centres Getting farmers interest by showing positive results of practices Providing relevant, culturally situated, hands-on training for farmers to increase their knowledge and awareness of importance of practices Providing farmers with incentives for EbA adoption Providing better prices for coffee from smallholder farmers who adopt EbA Need to keep in mind that the promotion has to be done on a country basis, taking account their current governance (political instruments)

16 Acknowledgements: The ideas presented here are part of the CASCADE project Ecosystem-based Adaptation for Smallholder Coffee and Subsistence Farmers in Central America. This CASCADE project is part of the International Climate Initiative (ICI), and is funded by German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) Key project members: Francisco Alpízar, Jacques Avelino, Pavel Bautista, Camila Donatti, Lee Hannah, Celia Harvey, Pablo Imbach, Bruno Rapidel, Milagro Saborío, Karyn Tabor, Leo Saenz, and Raffaele Vignola THANK YOU

17 Thank you! Proyecto CASCADA - WP4 17