Browsing by Subject "Adaptive capacity"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Open Access
    Climate-related risks and coastal livelihoods: lived realities, gender and adaptation
    (2025) Benya, Anele; Mbatha, Philile
    Rural coastal people are highly susceptible to climate-related risks, which can result in a range of adverse impacts. These impacts are felt differently based on the assets people possess and their gender. This research seeks to understand how people in Tshani Mankosi, a coastal rural village in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, navigate the complex challenges presented by a changing climate onto their livelihoods. This research examines the nexuses between natural resource dependency, livelihoods and gender within the broader socio-economic and political landscape of South Africa. A qualitative research design was employed, particularly a case study approach, which allowed for an in-depth, context-specific exploration of the experiences and lived realities of the people of Tshani Mankosi within the broader socio-ecological, economic and gendered context. Empirical evidence was collected using semi-structured interviews, focus groups and direct observations of community life. In analysing the data, this study critically draws from the sustainable livelihoods framework (SLF), Dorward's livelihood aspirations theory and the concept of social reproduction, all with a gender lens. This mini dissertation argues that climate responses are influenced by how people understand and experience their natural environment and the assets they possess to reduce their vulnerability and increase adaptive capacity, ultimately leading to better livelihood outcomes. Key findings reveal that the respondents are aware of the changing climatic conditions, such as erratic rainfall, increased frequency of storm surges and winds, and longer high tide periods. The respondents noted minimal changes in their ocean-based livelihoods compared to their land-based livelihoods. While the respondents noted these changes, they attributed them to varying factors influenced by their positionality and beliefs. The study shows that climate change exacerbates existing vulnerabilities within this community, ultimately affecting people's adaptive capacity. While adaptation strategies such as diversification of livelihoods and drawing from local knowledge to enhance resilience, these efforts are often constrained by resource access, marginal government and institutional support, and gendered vulnerabilities. The findings also reveal how, in Tshani Mankosi, people have noted the increasing unreliability of local knowledge due to changing climatic conditions.
  • No Thumbnail Available
    Item
    Open Access
    Social vulnerability of fishing communities in the southern Cape to change, including additional pressures of COVID-19
    (2025) Netshithuthuni, Humbelani; Gammage, Louise; Ward, Catherine
    Marine systems are critical for providing support to the lives and livelihood of millions of people including small-scale fishers (SSFs). However, these communities are faced with many challenges such as resource scarcity, climate change and variability, policy and regulation and the more recent COVID-19 pandemic. This dissertation examines the social vulnerabilities of SSFs in the southern Cape, particularly in the two fishing towns of Bitouville and Melkhoutfontein, to better understand how challenges impact the ability of SSFs to support their livelihoods and how this has changed over the last 10 years. This research made use of a mixed-method technique that included both qualitative and quantitative aspects, drawing on the Global Understanding and Learning for Local Solutions (GULLS) survey that was first implemented in 2013/14 and amended to suit the local context of the southern Cape, which was administered through face-to-face interviews in 2023. Social vulnerability scores were calculated in line with the GULLS framework to gain a deeper insight into the vulnerabilities faced by SSFs and how these have evolved over the last decade. In both Bitouville and Melkhoutfontein communities, vulnerabilities of SSFs were exacerbated by the more recent COVID-19 pandemic, which led to the loss of income sources and available sea days, which in turn contributed to food insecurity. Regarding the evolution of the drivers of changes in 2013/14 and 2023, the results of this study revealed an increase in the social vulnerability scores in both Bitouville and Melkhoutfontein over time as a result of increased exposure to challenges linked to resource scarcity, climate change and variability, and policy and regulation. For example, the continued delay in the implementation of South Africa's small-scale fishing policy (SSFP) has contributed to increased vulnerability as this impacts SFFs' access to fishing rights. The results also revealed that SSFs in Bitouville faced more vulnerabilities compared to their counterparts in Melkhoutfontein, which was attributed to their higher social dependency on fishing, limited livelihood opportunities, higher exposure to environmental changes, and lower adaptive capacity. The vulnerability of these two fishing communities is thus increasing due to compounding stressors such as resource scarcity, climate variability, the COVID-19 pandemic and policy and regulation. This research highlighted the importance of improving the adaptive strategies of SSFs, as limited improvement in these strategies places the livelihoods of these fishing communities at greater risk and exacerbates vulnerabilities in the important, livelihood-intensive southern Cape fisheries.