Adaptive capacity and community resilience: Lessons from the impact of hurricane Stan in Chiapas, Mexico Hallie Eakin, School of Sustainability With colleagues: Juan Francisco Barrera, Helda Morales (ECOSUR), Gustavo Cruz-Bello (INIFAP)

Resilience & Disasters “ capacity of linked social-ecological systems to absorb recurrent disturbance such as hurricanes or floods so as to retain essential structures, processes, and feedbacks.” (Adger et al 2005; Berkes 2007)

“ capacity of linked social-ecological systems to absorb recurrent disturbance such as hurricanes or floods so as to retain essential structures, processes, and feedbacks.” (Adger et al 2005; Berkes 2007)

Resilience & Disasters Community / Social-ecological system: learning, self organization, adaptiveness (Adger et al 2005; Berkes 2007) Households /Livelihoods: income portfolio, adaptive capacities (Ellis 2000; Scoones 1998; Bebbington 2000) Individuals /Human development: Motivation, self-efficacy, social support (Masten and Obradovic 2008)

Community / Social-ecological system:

learning, self organization, adaptiveness

(Adger et al 2005; Berkes 2007)

Households /Livelihoods:

income portfolio, adaptive capacities

(Ellis 2000; Scoones 1998; Bebbington 2000)

Individuals /Human development:

Motivation, self-efficacy, social support

(Masten and Obradovic 2008)

“ Adaptiveness” and Adaptive Capacity Community adaptiveness : ability to “collectively manage the resilience of the system,” (Walker et al. 2004) Household/ individual adaptive capacities : resources, assets, capitals necessary for action to diminish threat of current/future risk and stress

Community adaptiveness : ability to “collectively manage the resilience of the system,” (Walker et al. 2004)

Household/ individual adaptive capacities : resources, assets, capitals necessary for action to diminish threat of current/future risk and stress

Resilience of Coffee Farm Communities after Stan What were household responses re: land use and livelihoods? Was the event sufficient to trigger a threshold effect – ‘a shift in state’? What are sources of resilience?

What were household responses re: land use and livelihoods?

Was the event sufficient to trigger a threshold effect – ‘a shift in state’?

What are sources of resilience?

MUNICIPIOS PRODUCTORES DE CAFÉ DEL ESTADO DE CHIAPAS ESTADOS CAFETALEROS Padr ó n Nacional Cafetalero 2001 0 - 6 0 7 6 0 8 - 2 8 4 0 2 8 4 1 - 5 6 3 9 5 6 4 0 - 1 2 8 9 9 1 2 9 0 0 - 2 4 7 3 2

Impacts in Siltepec El camino de Stan. Fuente: Servicio Meteorológico Nacional Río de Vega de Guerrero después de Stan Land cover in the study area, a) Before the hurricane, February 2005, b) A four months after the hurricane, February 2006, c) 14 months after Stan.

Losses Siltepec Cacahoatán Most parcels with coffee suffered no or minimal damage to soils. 47% parcels suffered total harvest loss. 28% households no longer have coffee 52% lost their homes

Change in productivity & natural capital

Livelihood portfolio - 20% - 39% Siltepec: Overall decline in # of income sources from average of 4 to 3 Cacahoatán: No significant change in # of income sources

Change in role of income source Siltepec: increase in dependence on other crops (milpa), manual labor, subsidies Cacahoat án: little change in role of income source

Siltepec: increase in dependence on other crops (milpa), manual labor, subsidies

Cacahoat án:

little change in role of income source

Migration

Knowledge “ Diversity of income and crops enhances resilience” “ Complexity of vegetation buffers against loss”

“ Diversity of income and crops enhances resilience”

“ Complexity of vegetation buffers against loss”

Learning

Maize Majority of households who still have land in coffee have invested more time, labor, inputs in coffee Those who lost > 50% of landholding are those renting land, diversifying economic activities into maize

Organization 92% do NOT participate in any coffee organization The concept of ‘organization’ unfamiliar

92% do NOT participate in any coffee organization

The concept of ‘organization’ unfamiliar

Human Development Lack of self-efficacy? Or lack of resources?

Lack of self-efficacy?

Or lack of resources?

Summary Shift in state? No major land use change But: households increased vulnerability Learning? Interest/ investment in soil conservation, reforestation Awareness of ecological links to vulnerability Capacities? Diminished capitals & capacities No social organization Bleak outlook on future

Shift in state?

No major land use change

But: households increased vulnerability

Learning?

Interest/ investment in soil conservation, reforestation

Awareness of ecological links to vulnerability

Capacities?

Diminished capitals & capacities

No social organization

Bleak outlook on future

Actions to enhance resilience

Adaptation Policy? No tech fix … emphasis on generic adaptive capacities Motivation: knowledge to action ‘ ownership’ of risk self-efficacy Organization collective security vs. individual survival Capacities for livelihood viability & poverty reduction “ adaptive development”

No tech fix … emphasis on generic adaptive capacities

Motivation:

knowledge to action

‘ ownership’ of risk

self-efficacy

Organization

collective security vs. individual survival

Capacities for livelihood viability & poverty reduction

“ adaptive development”

Acknowledgments Study funded by UCMEXUS research grant, co-PIs: Helda Morales, Juan Fco. Barrerra, Gustavo Cruz-Bello Thanks to the farmers of Bella Vista, El Progreso, Vicente del Guerrero, Vega del Guerrero, and San Bartolo

Study funded by UCMEXUS research grant, co-PIs: Helda Morales, Juan Fco. Barrerra, Gustavo Cruz-Bello

Thanks to the farmers of Bella Vista, El Progreso, Vicente del Guerrero, Vega del Guerrero, and San Bartolo