How food-system resilience is undermined by the weather: the case of the Rama Indigenous group, Nicaragua

Abstract

Climate change is likely to increase both the extent of seasonal weather variation and the magnitude of extreme weather events. The food security of those living in poorer countries and in poorer communities will be disproportionately affected by this change in weather patterns. We explored how the heterogeneity that exists within the Rama Indigenous community (Nicaragua) interacts with seasonal weather variation and extreme weather events to adversely affect food-system resilience. Firstly, we show that there are different levels of food system resilience between the Rama who fish using the traditional methods of hand nets and paddle-powered canoes, and those that can afford gill nets and motorboats. Secondly, there are significant differences in the way Rama farmers respond to threats to their food security: some rely on short-term resilience-based strategies, whereas others focus on more transitional responses. These differences contribute to short-term inequalities in food security and are also likely to have a differential impact on the future food-system resilience of the Rama community. More research at the household scale is vital for understanding how to improve foodsystem resilience for the most vulnerable populations without introducing policies that are unsustainable and/or curtail future options.

University indigenous students' perspectives on climate change and survival of indigenous peoples in Brazil: a concept mapping study

“…Brazil is home to ∼900,000 indigenous peoples belonging to about 305 ethnic groups (1). Rising temperatures and changing rainfall patterns have led to crop failures and food insecurity, making it increasingly difficult for communities to maintain traditional livelihoods such as hunting and fishing (2)(3)(4). As with global indigenous populations, connection to nature is central to their daily practices and beliefs.…”