Adaptive capacity on the northern Australian rangelands
Nadine A. Marshall
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
CSIRO, Land and Water, ATSIP Building, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia. Email: nadine.marshall@csiro.au
The Rangeland Journal 37(6) 617-622 https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ15054
Submitted: 10 June 2015 Accepted: 23 November 2015 Published: 22 December 2015
Abstract
This paper presents an overview of research that has recently been conducted on the northern Australian rangelands. The research has focussed on conceptualising and measuring the current capacity of cattle producers to adopt new strategies so as to better adapt to the impacts of climate change. The capacity to adapt is defined as comprising four essential elements: (i) managing risk and uncertainty, (ii) possessing strategic skill sets such as planning, experimenting, refining and learning, (iii) psychological and financial buffers, and (iv) an interest in change. However, there appears to be a lack of sufficient capacity currently existing within the industry to meet the challenges of the future: only 16% of producers are regarded to be sufficiently adaptive. Research also highlights that adaptive capacity can be enhanced, and here we highlight those factors that are known to influence adaptive capacity either positively or negatively. Producers with strong networks and trust in informal and formal connections, a strong locus of control, larger properties, a focus on profitability, and use technology, are more likely to persist within the industry through time. We propose that investing in the capacity of producers to better cope and adapt to change is a most logical approach to ensuring both the sustainability of the industry and of the rangelands. A range of strategies are proposed that may enhance adaptive capacity.
Additional keywords: adoption of new practices, climate adaptation, resilience, resource dependency, social science, vulnerability to change.
References
Adger, W. N. (2006). Vulnerability. Global Environmental Change 16, 268–281.| Vulnerability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ash, A., McIntosh, P., Cullen, B., Carberry, P., and Smith, M. S. (2007). Constraints and opportunities in applying seasonal climate forecasts in agriculture. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 58, 952–965.
| Constraints and opportunities in applying seasonal climate forecasts in agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Baker, J. T. (2004). Effects of climate change and variability on agricultural production systems. Agricultural Systems 82, 94–96.
| Effects of climate change and variability on agricultural production systems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bennett, N. J., Dearden, P., Murray, G., and Kadfak, A. (2014). The capacity to adapt?: communities in a changing climate, environment, and economy on the northern Andaman coast of Thailand. Ecology and Society 19, art 5.
| The capacity to adapt?: communities in a changing climate, environment, and economy on the northern Andaman coast of Thailand.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Berry, H. L., Hogan, A., Owen, J., Rickwood, D., and Fragar, L. (2011). Climate change and farmers’ mental health: risks and responses. Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health 23, 119S–132S.
| Climate change and farmers’ mental health: risks and responses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21447547PubMed |
Berry, A., Fahey, S., and Meyers, N. (2013). Changing of the guard: adaptation options that maintain ecologically resilient sandy beach ecosystems. Journal of Coastal Research 289, 899–908.
| Changing of the guard: adaptation options that maintain ecologically resilient sandy beach ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bestelmeyer, B. T., and Briske, D. D. (2012). Grand challenges for resilience-based management of rangelands. Rangeland Ecology and Management 65, 654–663.
| Grand challenges for resilience-based management of rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bohensky, E., Stone-Jovicich, S., Larson, S., and Marshall, N. A. (2010). Adaptive capacity in theory and reality: implications for governance in the Great Barrier Reef region. In: ‘Adaptive Capacity and Environmental Governance’. (Eds D. Armitage and R. Plummer.) pp. 23–43. (Springer-Verlag: New York.)
Briske, D. D., Bestelmeyer, B. T., Stringham, T. K., and Shaver, P. L. (2008). Recommendations for development of resilience-based state-and-transition models. Rangeland Ecology and Management 61, 359–367.
| Recommendations for development of resilience-based state-and-transition models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brooks, N., and Adger, W. N. (2005). Assessing and enhancing adaptive capacity. In: ‘Adaptation Policy Frameworks for Climate Change: Developing Strategies, Policies and Measures’. UNDP-GEF. (Eds B. Lim and E. Spanger-Siegfried.) pp. 165–181. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.) Available at: www.undp.org/cc/apf.htm.edn
Christmann, S., Aw-Hassan, A., Rajabov, T., and Rabbimov, A. (2015). Collective action for common rangelands improvement: a climate change adaptation strategy in Uzbekistan. Society & Natural Resources 28, 280–295.
| Collective action for common rangelands improvement: a climate change adaptation strategy in Uzbekistan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cinner, J. M. (2009). Vulnerability of coastal communities. In: ‘Adapting to a Changing Environment: Global Warming Consequences and Proposed Actions for the Western Indian Ocean’. Chapter 5. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)
Cinner, J. E., Huchery, C., Darling, E. S., Humphries, A. T., Graham, N. A. J., Hicks, C. C., Marshall, N., and McClanahan, T. R. (2013). Evaluating social and ecological vulnerability of coral reef fisheries to climate change. PLoS One 8, e74321s.
| Evaluating social and ecological vulnerability of coral reef fisheries to climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Colding, J., Elmqvist, T., and Olsson, P. (2004). Living with disturbance: building resilience in social-ecological systems. In: ‘Navigating Social-Ecological Systems. Building Resilience for Complexity and Change’. (Eds F. Berkes, J. Colding and C. Folke.) pp. 163–173. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)
Darnhofer, I., Bellon, S., Dedieu, B., and Milestad, R. (2010). Adaptiveness to enhance the sustainability of farming systems. A review. Agronomy for Sustainable Development 30, 545–555.
| Adaptiveness to enhance the sustainability of farming systems. A review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dong, S. K., and Sherman, R. (2015). Enhancing the resilience of coupled human and natural systems of alpine rangelands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The Rangeland Journal 37, i–iii.
| Enhancing the resilience of coupled human and natural systems of alpine rangelands on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fernández-Giménez, M. E., and Estaque, F. F. (2012). Pyrenean pastoralists’ ecological knowledge: documentation and application to njatural resource management and adaptation. Human Ecology 40, 287–300.
| Pyrenean pastoralists’ ecological knowledge: documentation and application to njatural resource management and adaptation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fleming, A., Marshall, N. A., Park, S., Dowd, A., and Howden, S. M. (2015). Enhancing adaptation outcomes for transformation: climate change in the Australian wine industry. Journal of Wine Research 26, 99–114.
| Enhancing adaptation outcomes for transformation: climate change in the Australian wine industry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ghorbani, M., Mehrabi, A. A., Azarnivand, H., Bastani, S., Jafari, M., and Seeland, K. (2015). Communal institutions for the management of rangeland resources and dairy production in Taleghan Valley, Northern Iran. The Rangeland Journal 37, 169–179.
Gunderson, L., and Holling, C. S. (2002). ‘Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems.’ (Island Press: Washington, DC.)
Halseth, G. (1999). ‘We came for the work’: situating employment migration in B.C.’s small, resource-based, communities. The Canadian Geographer 43, 363–381.
| ‘We came for the work’: situating employment migration in B.C.’s small, resource-based, communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harle, K. J., Howden, S. M., Hunt, L. P., and Dunlop, M. (2007). The potential impact of climate change on the Australian wool industry by 2030. Agricultural Systems 93, 61–89.
| The potential impact of climate change on the Australian wool industry by 2030.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harris, D., and Orr, A. (2014). Is rainfed agriculture really a pathway from poverty? Agricultural Systems 123, 84–96.
| Is rainfed agriculture really a pathway from poverty?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harris, C. C., McLaughlin, W. J., and Brown, G. (1998). Rural communities in the interior Columbia Basin. How resilient are they? Journal of Forestry 96, 11–15.
Howden, S. M., Soussana, J., Tubiello, F. N., Chhetri, N., Dunlop, M., and Meinke, H. (2007). Adapting agriculture to climate change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104, 19691–19696.
| Adapting agriculture to climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXitFSltg%3D%3D&md5=d0539d20817c9752a0abb5681097c5e8CAS | 18077402PubMed |
IPCC (2007). ‘Climate Change 2007 – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability – Contributions of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the International Panel on Climate Change.’ (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK.)
Joyce, L. A., Briske, D. D., Brown, J. R., Polley, H. W., McCarl, B. A., and Bailey, D. W. (2013). Climate change and North American rangelands: assessment of mitigation and adaptation strategies. Rangeland Ecology and Management 66, 512–528.
| Climate change and North American rangelands: assessment of mitigation and adaptation strategies.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kelkar, U., Narula, K. K., Sharma, V. P., and Chandna, U. (2008). Vulnerability and adaptation to climate variability and water stress in Uttarakhand State, India. Global Environmental Change 18, 564–574.
| Vulnerability and adaptation to climate variability and water stress in Uttarakhand State, India.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Li, H., Wang, J. X., and Liu, X. J. (2010). Impact of climate change and economic development on water scarcity in Haihe river basin. In: ‘Proceedings of the 4th International Yellow River Forum on Ecological Civilization and River Ethics’. Vol. I. (Eds H. Shang and X. Luo.) pp. 190–196. (Yellow River Conservancy Press)
Marshall, P. A., and Johnson, J. (2007). ‘The Great Barrier Reef and Climate Change: Vulnerability and Management Implications.’ (Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Australian Greenhouse Office: Canberra, ACT.)
Marshall, N. A., and Marshall, P. A. (2007). Conceptualizing and operationalizing social resilience within commercial fisheries in northern Australia. Ecology and Society 12, .
Marshall, N. A., and Smajgl, A. (2013). Understanding variability in adaptive capacity on rangelands. Rangeland Ecology and Management 66, 88–94.
| Understanding variability in adaptive capacity on rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marshall, N. A., Fenton, D. M., Marshall, P. A., and Sutton, S. G. (2007). How resource dependency can influence social resilience within a primary resource industry. Rural Sociology 72, 359–390.
| How resource dependency can influence social resilience within a primary resource industry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marshall, N. A., Marshall, P. A., Tamelander, J., Obura, D., Mallaret King, D., and Cinner, J. M. (2010a). Sustaining tropical coastal communities and industries: a framework for social adaptation to climate change. In: ‘IUCN – The International Union for the Conservation of Nature’. (IUCN: Gland, Switzerland.) Available at: http://cmsdata.iucn.org/downloads/a_framework_for_social_adaptation_to_cc_pre_release_version.pdf
Marshall, N. A., Stokes, C. J., Howden, S. M., and Nelson, R. N. (2010b). Enhancing adaptive capacity. In: ‘Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: Preparing Australian Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries for the Future’. (Eds C. Stokes and S. M. Howden.) pp. 245–256. (CSIRO Publishing: Canberra, ACT.)
Marshall, N. A., Gordon, I. J., and Ash, A. J. (2011). The reluctance of resource-users to adopt seasonal climate forecasts to enhance resilience to climate variability on the rangelands. Climatic Change 107, 511–529.
| The reluctance of resource-users to adopt seasonal climate forecasts to enhance resilience to climate variability on the rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marshall, N. A., Park, S. E., Adger, W. N., Brown, K., and Howden, S. M. (2012). Transformational capacity and the influence of place and identity. Environmental Research Letters 7, .
| Transformational capacity and the influence of place and identity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marshall, N., Tobin, R., Marshall, P., Gooch, M., and Hobday, A. (2013). Social vulnerability of marine resource users to extreme weather events. Ecosystems 16, 797–809.
| Social vulnerability of marine resource users to extreme weather events.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marshall, N. A., Stokes, C. J., Webb, N. P., Marshall, P. A., and Lankester, A. J. (2014). Social vulnerability to climate change in primary producers: A typology approach. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 186, 86–93.
| Social vulnerability to climate change in primary producers: A typology approach.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morton, J. F. (2007). The impact of climate change on smallholder and subsistence agriculture. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 104, 19680.
| The impact of climate change on smallholder and subsistence agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD1cXitFSlsA%3D%3D&md5=19adc7b76ef775c6edd6d8add991120aCAS | 18077400PubMed |
Olsson, P., Folke, C., and Hahn, T. (2004). Social-ecological transformation for ecosystem management: the development of adaptive co-management of a wetland landscape in southern Sweden. Ecology and Society 9, .
| 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXjtFCltw%3D%3D&md5=9bfee888556a0152cba0f02b0fc5682fCAS |
Rickards, L., and Howden, S. M. (2012). Transformational adaptation: agriculture and climate change. Crop & Pasture Science 63, 240–250.
| Transformational adaptation: agriculture and climate change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ritchie, J. W., Zammit, C., and Beal, D. (2004). Can seasonal climate forecasting assist in catchment water management decision-making? Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment 104, 553–565.
| Can seasonal climate forecasting assist in catchment water management decision-making?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smit, B., and Wandel, J. (2006). Adaptation, adaptive capacity and vulnerability. Global Environmental Change 16, 282–292.
| Adaptation, adaptive capacity and vulnerability.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walker, B., Holling, C. S., Carpenter, S., and Kinzig, A. (2004). Resilience, adaptability and transformability in Socio-Ecological Systems. Ecology and Society 9, art 5.
Watterson, I., et al. (2015). Rangelands cluster report, climate change in Australia. Projections for Australia natural resource management regions: Cluster Reports. CSIRO and Bureau of Meteorology, Australia.
Wreford, A., and Adger, W. N. (2010). Adaptation in agriculture: historic effects of heat waves and droughts on UK agriculture. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 8, 278–289.
| Adaptation in agriculture: historic effects of heat waves and droughts on UK agriculture.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wu, X. Y., Zhang, X. F., Dong, S. K., Cai, H., Zhao, T. R., Yang, W. J., Jiang, R., Shi, Y. D., and Shao, J. L. (2015). Local perceptions of rangeland degradation and climate change in the pastoral society of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The Rangeland Journal 37, 11–19.
| Local perceptions of rangeland degradation and climate change in the pastoral society of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
