Aggrey Siya, Varela Elsa, Batumike Rodrigue, Cuni-Sanchez Aida
Department of Environmental Management, Makerere University, P.O. Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda.
Uganda Wildlife Research and Training Institute, P.O. Box 173, Kasese, Uganda.
J Ethnobiol Ethnomed. 2024 Dec 2;20(1):102. doi: 10.1186/s13002-024-00743-3.
Pastoralists' sedentarisation and agriculturalisation might increase their vulnerability to climate change impacts, but few studies have investigated if this is the case in mountain areas. In Uganda, little is known about how Sebei pastoralists have perceived and adapted to such changes. This study sought to establish perspectives of Sebei pastoralists on climate change in terms of its occurrence and impacts as well as access to livelihood assets and or opportunities to withstand such challenges.
This study was conducted in Mount Elgon areas of Uganda. A cross-sectional study design was employed using qualitative approaches. Data were collected using focus-group discussions with men and women village elders to assess their perceptions regarding climatic changes, impacts and adaption strategies used. Data were analysed using thematic and content analysis approaches. All analyses were done using NVivo version 14.
Respondents reported changes in the amount and distribution of rainfall, fog and temperatures, with negative impacts on fodder availability, milk production and pests and diseases. Study participants mentioned using several adaptation strategies with regard to animal rearing, crop farming and livelihood diversification. Among others, participants reduced herd size, migrated longer distances, stored wild grass, used crop residues as feed and increased 'self-medication' of their cattle.
Access to funds, markets and technical advice were the main barriers to adaptation identified. Institutional support-now only focused on improved breeds-should consider the multiple strategies used by pastoralists, and the constraints they highlighted, including the need for mutual learning space.
牧民的定居化和农业化可能会增加他们对气候变化影响的脆弱性，但很少有研究调查山区是否也是这种情况。在乌干达，人们对塞贝伊牧民如何感知和适应这些变化知之甚少。本研究旨在从气候变化的发生、影响以及获得生计资产和应对此类挑战的机会等方面，确定塞贝伊牧民对气候变化的看法。
本研究在乌干达的埃尔贡山地区进行。采用定性方法进行横断面研究设计。通过与男女村长老进行焦点小组讨论来收集数据，以评估他们对气候变化、影响和所采用的适应策略的看法。使用主题分析和内容分析方法对数据进行分析。所有分析均使用NVivo 14版本完成。
受访者报告了降雨量、雾和温度的数量及分布变化，对饲料供应、牛奶产量以及病虫害产生了负面影响。研究参与者提到在动物饲养、作物种植和生计多样化方面采用了多种适应策略。其中，参与者减少了畜群规模、迁移到更远的距离、储存野草、将作物残渣用作饲料并增加了对牛的“自我治疗”。
获得资金、市场和技术建议是确定的适应主要障碍。目前仅专注于改良品种的机构支持应考虑牧民使用的多种策略以及他们强调的制约因素，包括对相互学习空间的需求。
