How Subsistence Communities Reconfigure Livelihood Systems in Response to Climate Change: A Coupled-Systems Perspective

A defining societal challenge in the era of climate change is ensuring consumption adequacy in subsistence communities. To understand the intricacies of this challenge, we have conducted an ethnographic study of a low-income community that relies on subsistence fishing to maintain consumption adequacy. Based on our data analysis, we advance a conceptualization of subsistence livelihood systems that models the tight coupling among its three constituent subsystems: the market system, the social system, and the environmental system. These three subsystems are highly interdependent and operate in concert to maintain consumption adequacy. We then show how climate change-induced environmental disruptions threaten consumption adequacy by disequilibrating livelihood systems in subsistence settings, as well as unpack the self-directed adaptation and mitigation strategies employed by the community in response to the threat of consumption inadequacy. These response strategies create feedback loops to either preserve or attenuate the tight coupling among the three subsystems.

A Multi-Phase Assessment of the Effects of COVID-19 on Food Systems and Rural Livelihoods in Malawi

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions to national and global economies with devastating effects on food systems and livelihoods across the globe. These effects of the pandemic on poverty, hunger, and malnutrition, among others, are likely to be greater among low and middle-income countries like those in sub- Saharan Africa, including Malawi. This is because even before the COVID-19 pandemic began the proportion of people facing poverty, and food and nutrition insecurity were already high. It is, therefore, imperative to understand the effects of COVID-19 on food systems and rural livelihoods. Using a multi-stage ‘rapid assessment’, this study provides real-time insights into how the COVID-19 crisis unfolded in Malawi and how rural people and food and livelihood systems respond.

Mining Impact on Livelihoods of Farmers of Asutifi North District, Ghana

Local communities in Ghana are heavily reliant on agriculture for their livelihoods. However, they are increasingly shifting from engaging in agriculture to mining. This study was undertaken to assess the impact of mining (both small and large scale) on the livelihoods of community members of Kenyasi, Asutifi North District in Ghana. Data were collected from 201 farming households who were selected randomly and interviewed for a variety of information. The questionnaire responses received from the respondents were classified into items and each item's responses were tallied. The results of the studies show that the farmers’ livelihood systems were affected by the mining operations occurring around their communities. Water pollution, displacement of farmers from their lands, degradation of agricultural lands, and an increase in social vices and higher dropout rates of students from schools are some of the reported consequences of the mining activities. The pollution of the water resources poses a serious threat to the health and livelihood systems of these farmers as they depend on the water resources for agriculture and domestic use. In this study, we project that there could be increased grievances over scarce land resource and food insecurity that could lead to conflicts in the mining areas. The lack of land resources could have a tremendous effect on the social, economic, and political climate of a country and must be considered and addressed as some of the most immediate threats to Ghana's national security.

Resilience through Adaptation: Innovations in Maasai Livelihood Strategies

This article examines strategies adopted by Maasai and other pastoralists in Kenya to adapt to climate change, population growth, land loss, decreasing livestock holdings and land degradation, aimed at achieving greater socio-economic resilience. Using case studies mostly from Narok County and reviewing the increasingly rich literature on pastoralism and conservation in East Africa, we show that pastoralists employ three main strategies to adapt their livelihood systems: intensification (changes in land use systems to increase productivity per hectare); extensification (through territorial expansion into unoccupied areas or territories of neighbouring communities in our cases); and diversification (the combination of pastoralism with other livelihood strategies, mainly farming, conservation, tourism, business and wage jobs, often through migration to small towns or urban centres). Maasai communities have been quick to adopt these strategies, individually or in combination, in order to overcome ecological and socio-economic stress and to pursue opportunities as they arise. Since these strategies are generally compatible with extensive pastoralism, this land use will continue to play a key role in sustaining the livelihoods of people living in semi-arid and arid rangelands. However, when intensification and diversification through the adoption of ranching and farming occur, the rangeland becomes fragmented, with severe impacts on wildlife. In such cases, incentives for sustaining conservation and wildlife tourism will need to increase to compensate land holders for foregoing these more intensive land uses, thus moving towards reconciliation of ecological sustainability and strengthened livelihoods. These findings are illuminated by Gunderson and Holling's (2002) panarchy model and its nested adaptive cycles, where resilience is achieved by providing for change through loosening and reorganising connections between elements in the system.

Representasi Unsur Budaya Novel "Swarna Alor: Impian di Langit Timur" Karys Dyah Prameswarie

Artikel ini akan mengungkapkan unsur budaya serta upaya pelestarian budaya yang dilakukan tokoh dalam novel "Swarna Alor" oleh Dyah Prameswarie. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Data dalam penelitian ini meliputi kutipan terkait unsur budaya yang berupa kata, frasa, klausa, dan kalimat. Sumber data dalam penelitian diperoleh dari dua sumber yaitu sumber data primer dan sumber data sekunder. Teknik pengumpulan data pada penelitian ini menggunakan dua teknik yaitu teknik baca dan teknik catat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya (1) unsur budaya sistem religi berupa anismisme dan dinamisme, (2) unsur budaya sistem pengetahuan, menciptakan bahan pewarna alami, (3) unsur budaya sistem mata pencaharian hidup berupa menenun dan menjual, (4) unsur budaya sistem kesenian berupa tari lego-lego dan (5) hubungan timbal balik antara budaya dengan manusia, berupa peningkatan ekonomi manusia.Katakunci: budaya, mata pencaharian, pengetahuan, religi Abstract:This paper is going to reveal cultural aspect and cultural preservation efforts made by the character in the novel “Swarna Alor” by Dyah Prameswarie. This is a qualitative research with descriptive approach. The data in this study include cultural elements in the form of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences. Sources of data in the study were obtained from two sources: primary data sources and secondary data sources. Data collection techniques in this study used two techniques: reading and note taking techniques. The results showed (1) culture elements of religious system of animism and dynamism, (2) culture elements of knowledge system, creating natural dyes, (3) culture elements of livelihood systems in the form of weaving and trading, (4) cultural elements of the arts system in the form of lego-lego dance and (5) the reciprocal relationship between culture and humans, in the form of the human’s economy improvement.Keywords: culture, livelihood, knowledge, religion

REPRESENTASI SOSIAL BUDAYA SUKU AMBAI DALAM CERITA RAKYAT (THE SOCIAL REPRESENTATION OF THE AMBAI TRIBE IN AMBAI’S FOLKLORES)

Cerita rakyat Ambai merupakan produk budaya yang mengandung nilai-nilai. Sosial budaya yang mencerminkan masyarakat penutur, seperti pola pikir, sistem kepercayaan, sistem sosial, falsafah kehidupan masyarakat Ambai. Ekspresi dan simbol dalam cerita rakyat Ambai merupakan representasi sosial budaya masyarakat Ambai terkait dengan nilai sosial budaya pendidikan mereka. Representasi sosial budaya suku Ambai terkandung dalam tujuh unsur budaya menurut Koentjaraningrat, yaitu agama dan upacara keagamaan, sistem sosial, sistem pengetahuan, sistem bahasa, sistem peralatan hidup, sistem mata pencaharian, dan seni. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan sastra sosiologis dengan mengkaji makna representasi berdasarkan pendapat Sumarjo. Kehadiran peneliti dalam penelitian ini adalah sebagai instrumen kunci. Kegiatan yang dilakukan peneliti adalah membaca teks, mengidentifikasi, menyusun, mengklasifikasikan, dan menginterpretasikan data yang bersumber dari teks cerita rakyat Ambai. Kata kunci: Representasi, Nilai Pendidikan, Sosial Budaya, Suku Ambai. The folktale of Ambai is a cultural product that were contain of values. Socio-culture that are reflects of the speaking community, such as the mindset, belief system, social system, philosophy of life of the Ambai people. The expressions and symbols in the Ambai folktale are socio-cultural representations of the Ambai community related to their socio-cultural educational values. The socio-cultural representation of the Ambai tribe is contained in seven cultural elements according to Koentjaraningrat, namely religion and religious ceremonies, social systems, knowledge systems, language systems, living equipment systems, livelihood systems, and arts. This research is a qualitative research using sociological literary approach with a review of the meaning of representation based on Sumarjo's opinion. The presence of researchers in this study are as a key instrument. The activity carried out by the researcher was reading text, identify, codify, classify, and interpret or interpreting data, which is sourced from Ambai folktale texts. Keywords: Representation, educational values, socio-culture, Ambai tribe.

Patterns of Resource Use for Tourism Development in Mountainous Communities in Ukraine

The purpose of this article is to identify the problems associated with the tourism resource utilization in mountainous communities of Ukraine. Developing tourism at local level is a priority in the region of Ivano-Frankivsk, especially in the context of decentralization process in Ukraine. A survey was conducted involving the managers of hospitality establishments during the "active" tourist season from July to August 2019. Main parameters selected for this inquiry included the water consumption (in the form of drainage), solid waste disposal, and the quantum of electricity consumed. Data of water consumption (drainage), consumed electricity, and solid waste disposal in the surveyed hospitality establishments reflects proportional growth of the tourism manifesting accommodated tourists, capacity, and category of the hospitality establishments. On priority, identified problems of resource utilization encompass waste management, water supply, sewerage, energy supply and incom ing tourist flows. Quantitative forecasting of environmental load to be exerted by tourism development is necessary when planning resource utilization and livelihood systems of mountainous communities.

Agricultural Innovations to Reduce the Health Impacts of Dams

Dams enable the production of food and renewable energy, making them a crucial tool for both economic development and climate change adaptation in low- and middle-income countries. However, dams may also disrupt traditional livelihood systems and increase the transmission of vector- and water-borne pathogens. These livelihood and health impacts diminish the benefits of dams to rural populations dependent on rivers, as hydrological and ecological alterations change flood regimes, reduce nutrient transport and lead to the loss of biodiversity. We propose four agricultural innovations for promoting equity, health, sustainable development, and climate resilience in dammed watersheds: (1) restoring migratory aquatic species, (2) removing submerged vegetation and transforming it into an agricultural resource, (3) restoring environmental flows and (4) integrating agriculture and aquaculture. As investment in dams accelerates in low- and middle-income countries, appropriately addressing their livelihood and health impacts can improve the sustainability of modern agriculture and economic development in a changing climate.