Climate Exchange

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griculture

Similarly, herders in arid and semi-arid areas are

vulnerable because of highly variable and scarce rainfall.

Over-exploitation and degradation of natural resources,

remoteness, poor livelihood assets and fewer opportuni-

ties for diversificationmake themmore vulnerable. Timely

and accurate climate information can be of great help to

reduce their vulnerability.

Food security information systems

Climate information can be combined to livelihood

analysis and market information systems, to improve

early action planning to overcome food stress situations.

As large and widely dispersed populations depend on

rain-fed agriculture and pastorals, climate monitoring

through automatic weather stations and forecasting are

important inputs to food security analysis and humani-

tarian responses.

Satellite rainfall estimates, remote sensing techniques,

ensemble forecasting and crop yield forecasting offer

significant opportunities for protecting agricultural liveli-

hoods and better responding to food-related emergencies.

Timely and effective humanitarian aid will provide

households with opportunities to engage in productive and

sustainable livelihood strategies. FAO’s Global Information

and Early Warning Systems (GIEWS) is mandated to keep

risk management plans if exists. Strengthening of fishers’ coopera-

tives, community networks on interpretation of climate information

and decision-making are the priority.

Reaching the most vulnerable

Mountain regions cover about one fifth of the Earth’s conti-

nental areas, and are characterized as sensitive ecosystems.

Remoteness, marginal environment, heavy dependence on agri-

culture and livestock, land degradation, frequent occurrence of

extreme climate events and non-availability of proper agricul-

tural support services make them highly vulnerable to climate

variations. There is a need for locally relevant early warning

systems which are often felt to reduce vulnerability and protect

lives and livelihood assets.

FAO’s work in many countries promotes locally relevant commu-

nication protocols, and community networks to facilitate sharing of

climate information between farmers and herders, enabling them to

better manage climate risks and reduce their dependence on external

assistance. For example, in the Bolivian Andes, technical assistance

was provided to improve weather stations, prepare vulnerability and

risk maps, and set up an automated early warning system proto-

col linking the national meteorological and hydrological services

(SENAHMI), risk management centres and community risk manage-

ment teams in Potosi Department, which is more than 4,000 metres

above mean sea level.

Farmer groups in Highlands of Peru discussing climate risk management options

Image: FAO