Drought Disaster Risk Adaptation through Ecosystem Services-Based Solutions: Way Forward for South Africa

Abstract

Ecosystem services refer to the direct and indirect benefits to humanity from an ecosystem. The ability to spatially incorporate multiple biophysical environments is crucial to ecosystem services, thus promoting cooperation between science and policy in seeking solutions to global challenges, including drought disasters. Therefore, understanding ecosystem services, for instance, from forest/vegetation in view of contributing to drought disaster risk adaptation is critical to human-nature interactions and proper sustainable conservation thereof. No known study has been done on ecosystem services and their contributions to drought management or other climate adaptation in South Africa. This study aimed at quantifying drought disaster risk adaptation based on ecosystem services in South Africa. It was identified that ecosystem services to society have been directly affected by anthropogenic and natural phenomena, thereby influencing drought severity and its impacts. These impacts and their associated risks are evident globally, including in South Africa. We found out that ecosystems in South Africa have been affected and extremely vulnerable to recurrent natural disasters, such as droughts. To achieve long-term solutions to such drought-related risks and challenges, feedback mechanisms between human-natural and related factors and ecosystem services-based drought adaptation need to be understood and planned. Timely spatiotemporal assessment, planning and management strategies need to be considered to find solutions or ways forward to South Africa in combating drought disasters.

Adaptation to Disaster Risk—An Overview

“…A single indicator inevitably leads to misunderstandings and one-sided conclusions about disaster adaptation. At present, there are several research cases on disaster adaptation, and multiple indicators have been designed from different angles for comprehensive expressions [ 138 , 139 , 140 , 141 ]. The combination, division, and relationship determination of disaster adaptation factors gradually reveal the formation of disaster adaptation.…”

Agricultural Drought and Its Potential Impacts: Enabling Decision-Support for Food Security in Vulnerable Regions

“…However, in November, December, and January, the region enjoys monthly mean sunlight hours of around 319.5, 296.5, and 296.3 h, respectively, with annual sunshine hours and total precipitation of ∼3,312.3 and 559 mm, respectively. The region receives the least amount of rain (0 mm) in July and the most amount of rain (70 mm) in January, which correspond to the winter and summer seasons, respectively (Orimoloye et al, 2021b). In June, daily mean temperatures vary from 17 to 29 • C. In January, daily mean temperatures range from 17 to 29 • C. During the months of June and July, the coldest temperatures occur at night.…”

Water, Energy and Food Nexus: Policy Relevance and Challenges

“…Limited arable and land water resources are among some of the barriers to the implementation of WEF nexus. Several measures, such as the installation of greenhouses and the use of tankers to transport water to the greenhouses, have been made to address the challenges connected with limited arable and land water resources (Adedeji et al, 2020;Adetoro et al, 2020;Orimoloye et al, 2021b). Natural phenomena such as excessive rainfall caused by cyclones and other climatic events, however, pose many obstacles to the long-term viability of these programs (Martinez et al, 2018;Boluwade, 2021).…”