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Author
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Manyakaidze, Pasca
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Title
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Resilience building strategies for farmer-managed wetland-based agroecosystems in Mberengwa District, Zimbabwe
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Abstract
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The resilience of smallholder farming communities has been put under test due to the increasing magnitude and frequency of shocks and hazards. Wetlands have been providing critical life support to people, nature, and climate in local communities whose livelihoods are dependent on the utilization of natural resources. Trends in wetland shrinkage, degradation, species extinction, and loss of habitats triggered worrisome discussions across the globe. The study aimed to evaluate the resilience-building strategies for farmer-managed wetlands-based agroecosystems in semi-arid and rainfall marginal areas, with a focus on the Nyororo wetland in the Mberengwa district. Determining the resilience of wetlands agroecosystems in sustaining pressure from the changing climate and human needs was a key aspect of the study. A mixed method was used in data collection and analysis as informed by the interpretivism and objectivism research philosophies underpinning the study. The mixed methods approach enabled the study to benefit from multiple knowledge domains including professional ecological knowledge (PEK) scientific ecological knowledge (SEK), bureaucratic ecological knowledge (BEK), technological ecological knowledge (TEK), and local ecological knowledge (LEK). Information gathered through various tools including questionnaires, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, secondary data, remote sensing, and scientific measurements informed by different knowledge domains were synthesized to bring the resilience picture around wetland-based agroecosystems. The study findings on wetland degradation, species extinction, invasion by noxious weeks and alien plant species, and shrinking in wetlands call for urgent action. The lack of information about wetlands species and their diversity was a hindrance to community conservation efforts. Due to increasing aridity, communities were identified to have increased dependence on wetlands than dry land areas for agriculture. Resilience-building strategies including the adoption of seasonal livelihoods programmes, ecosystems-based adaptation (EbA), and anticipatory action planning (AAP) proved to be effective and sustainable ways of wetlands agroecosystems conservation. The study recommended the need for financial mechanisms to support scientific research needed to close the gap in the lack of data on species and their diversity. Stakeholders need to swiftly implement the promising wetland agroecosystems resilience-building strategies that bring positive outcomes for people, nature, and climate.
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Date
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MAY 2024
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Publisher
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BUSE
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Keywords
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wetlands management, Mberegra Agro economic system
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Supervisor
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Dr R Masponga
