From El Niño Risk to Resilient Social-Ecological Systems

From El Niño Risk to Resilient Social-Ecological Systems

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  Funded by CoalitionPartners Presented by: From El Niño Risk to Resilient Social- Ecological Systems July 23, 2026 Presentation 2 Soil Values program Dr. Ermias Betemariam Land Health Scientist b.ermias@landscapeallaince.org LANDSCAPE ALLIANCE
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  Funded by CoalitionPartners El Niño as a risk multiplier Climate shock + existing vulnerabilities → cascading impacts across connected systems
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  Funded by CoalitionPartners Drought resilience requires multiple buffers Trade No single intervention is sufficient: resilience comes from combining ecological, water, livelihood and economic buffers across scales Aynekulu et al. 2026
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  Funded by CoalitionPartners Why degraded soils amplify climate shocks? Underlying vulnerability
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  Funded by CoalitionPartners Why a social–ecological systems transformation? Social–ecological system People & Nature Governance shapes access to land, water, mobility and finance
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  Funded by CoalitionPartners Soil values response framework Resilient productivity = f (Genetics × Environment × Management) G Genetics • Climate-resilient crop varieties • Locally adapted livestock breeds • Drought-tolerant forage and tree species Drought-, heat- and flood-tolerant varieties E Environment • Healthy soils and reliable water • Restored rangelands and watersheds • Reduced erosion and land degradation M Management • Integrated soil and water management • Grazing, fodder and herd management • Agroforestry and crop– livestock integration D Digital intelligence • Early warning, • Pasture and water monitoring, • Localized advisories for farmers and pastoralists ! Key message: The right variety will not deliver resilience unless it is matched with healthy soils, restored landscapes and good management
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  Funded by CoalitionPartners What can we do, and how to scale it Anticipate → Prepare → Demonstrate and scale Anticipate Prepare Demonstrate and scale Understand climate risks and vulnerabilities Integrate soil, weather and livelihood information Integrate drought preparedness into implementation plans Train local partners and extension agents Establish learning and demonstration sites Track results and scale effective options through partnerships A practical pathway from climate information to locally led resilience at scale
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  Funded by CoalitionPartners Key points Healthy soils and rangelands as the foundation Healthy soils and functioning rangelands underpin crop production, livestock productivity and resilient Sahelian livelihoods Locally adapted soil–water– crop–livestock–tree solutions Combine suitable crop and livestock genetics with soil, water, grazing, forage, tree and farm-management options tailored to local rainfall, soils and livelihood conditions Farmer and pastoralist agency through advisory and extension services Extension, digital advisories, early warning, animal-health support, and guidance on grazing, fodder, water and markets strengthen local decision-making Preparedness to long-term resilience and water security Investment in soil health, water management, rangeland restoration and integrated systems can turn El Niño preparedness into sustained resilience Foundation → Integrated soil–water–crop–livestock solutions → Informed and enabled farmers and pastoralists → Resilience and water security
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  Funded by CoalitionPartners THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION