The transboundary Mekong River is shared by six SE Asia countries (China, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam). In this paper the livelihoods of farmers and fishers of Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam are e...The transboundary Mekong River is shared by six SE Asia countries (China, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam). In this paper the livelihoods of farmers and fishers of Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam are examined to assess impacts of Mekong River development and modernization projects on the rural peoples of the Mekong River and Delta. A high proportion of the 190 million rural people of the Mekong basin are dependent on the diverse and abundant resources of the Mekong River and its tributaries for food security and basic necessities, livelihoods, and cultural identities. Although rice farming and fisheries occupations are primary income sources, many livelihoods involve a diversity of on-farm and off-farm activities. Agricultural specialization and intensification and hydropower dam construction on the Mekong main stem and tributaries are altering traditional rural patterns of household food security, income, and cultural ways of living at an increasingly rapid pace. Rural transformation projects must better assess how these modernization efforts change the ecology of the Mekong River and in turn affect the capacity of rural people to adapt in ways that ensure food security and improve household livelihoods. It will be critical that development efforts recognize, value, and invest in rural people’s roles in producing a stable, affordable food system and managing the integrity of river ecosystems upon which future prosperity depends. Interventions are needed to prevent degradation of the Mekong Basin soil and water resources from large-scale agricultural intensification, water diversion and overbuilding of hydropower dams which are threats to small-scale land holdings and farmers and fishers capacities to provide daily food for their own consumption and to feed SE Asia’s growing urban populations.展开更多
Small-scale fisheries(SSFs)are increasingly vulnerable to climate change,particularly in data-limited regions where scientific monitoring is scarce.Local Ecological Knowledge(LEK)offers valuable insights into environm...Small-scale fisheries(SSFs)are increasingly vulnerable to climate change,particularly in data-limited regions where scientific monitoring is scarce.Local Ecological Knowledge(LEK)offers valuable insights into environmental changes and adaptive practices.This study investigated the LEK of mangrove subsistence fishers in Masinloc,Zambales,Philippines,focusing on their perceptions of climate change impacts and the influence of demographic factors on LEK utilization.A structured survey was administered to 335 fishers across four barangays(villages),employing binary and open-ended questions to assess LEK related to climate indicators such as temperature fluctuations,rainfall patterns,typhoon occurrences,and flooding events.Quantitative data were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square tests,Bonferroni-adjusted post-hoc pairwise comparisons,and Cramer’s V to identify specific associations between LEK and demographic variables.Findings revealed that while fishers possess substantial LEK pertinent to climate change,its application varies significantly with barangay,age,and educational attainment.Notably,these demographic factors influenced the depth and breadth of LEK used in predicting and responding to climate-related events.The study underscored the importance of integrating LEK into climate adaptation strategies,recognizing its potential to enhance resilience in SSFs.Although centered on a specific locale,the insights gleaned from this research contribute to the broader discourse on the role of indigenous knowledge systems in climate change resilience,offering a model for similar communities globally.展开更多
文摘The transboundary Mekong River is shared by six SE Asia countries (China, Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam). In this paper the livelihoods of farmers and fishers of Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam are examined to assess impacts of Mekong River development and modernization projects on the rural peoples of the Mekong River and Delta. A high proportion of the 190 million rural people of the Mekong basin are dependent on the diverse and abundant resources of the Mekong River and its tributaries for food security and basic necessities, livelihoods, and cultural identities. Although rice farming and fisheries occupations are primary income sources, many livelihoods involve a diversity of on-farm and off-farm activities. Agricultural specialization and intensification and hydropower dam construction on the Mekong main stem and tributaries are altering traditional rural patterns of household food security, income, and cultural ways of living at an increasingly rapid pace. Rural transformation projects must better assess how these modernization efforts change the ecology of the Mekong River and in turn affect the capacity of rural people to adapt in ways that ensure food security and improve household livelihoods. It will be critical that development efforts recognize, value, and invest in rural people’s roles in producing a stable, affordable food system and managing the integrity of river ecosystems upon which future prosperity depends. Interventions are needed to prevent degradation of the Mekong Basin soil and water resources from large-scale agricultural intensification, water diversion and overbuilding of hydropower dams which are threats to small-scale land holdings and farmers and fishers capacities to provide daily food for their own consumption and to feed SE Asia’s growing urban populations.
文摘Small-scale fisheries(SSFs)are increasingly vulnerable to climate change,particularly in data-limited regions where scientific monitoring is scarce.Local Ecological Knowledge(LEK)offers valuable insights into environmental changes and adaptive practices.This study investigated the LEK of mangrove subsistence fishers in Masinloc,Zambales,Philippines,focusing on their perceptions of climate change impacts and the influence of demographic factors on LEK utilization.A structured survey was administered to 335 fishers across four barangays(villages),employing binary and open-ended questions to assess LEK related to climate indicators such as temperature fluctuations,rainfall patterns,typhoon occurrences,and flooding events.Quantitative data were analyzed using Pearson’s chi-square tests,Bonferroni-adjusted post-hoc pairwise comparisons,and Cramer’s V to identify specific associations between LEK and demographic variables.Findings revealed that while fishers possess substantial LEK pertinent to climate change,its application varies significantly with barangay,age,and educational attainment.Notably,these demographic factors influenced the depth and breadth of LEK used in predicting and responding to climate-related events.The study underscored the importance of integrating LEK into climate adaptation strategies,recognizing its potential to enhance resilience in SSFs.Although centered on a specific locale,the insights gleaned from this research contribute to the broader discourse on the role of indigenous knowledge systems in climate change resilience,offering a model for similar communities globally.
