The Dynamic Nature of Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate-Related Risks and Change: The Iqaluit Land Use Monitoring Project
0 likes1,719 views
The document summarizes the Iqaluit Land Use Monitoring Project (ILMP) which aims to understand how Inuit hunters in Iqaluit, Nunavut are experiencing and adapting to climate-related risks and changes over time. The ILMP utilizes GPS tracking of hunters, accompanied hunting trips, interviews and weather/ice data to analyze changing environmental conditions, constraints on land access, adaptations to hunting terrestrial species like caribou, and the dynamic nature of vulnerability. Preliminary results from 2008-2010 show impacts like later freeze-up reducing hunting days as well as high flexibility and adaptability of hunters, but also the potential for maladaptive trajectories if short-term responses undermine long-term sustainability.
The Dynamic Nature of Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate-Related Risks and Change: The Iqaluit Land Use Monitoring Project
- 1. THE DYNAMIC NATURE OF VULNERABILITY AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE-RELATED RISKS AND CHANGE: THE IQALUIT LAND USE MONITORING PROJECT Dr James D. Ford, Graham McDowell, Jamal Shirley www.jamesford.ca
- 2. Background 2 ¨ Key theme in scholarship: CC and subsistence hunting ¨ Baseline understanding ¤ Widespread evidence of CC and impacts (safety, food security, culture) ¤ Vulnerability / resilience mediated by socio-economic factors ¨ Deficiencies in understanding (see Ford & Pearce 2012, The Canadian Geographer) ¤ Static understanding yet vulnerability dynamic (e.g. adaptive learning, feedback, thresholds) ¤ Nature of climate - impact links not fully understood ¨ Methodological limitations ¤ Retrospective study design (recall bias, seasonal influences) ¤ Absence of longitudinal studies, reliance of limited field seasons
- 3. The Iqaluit Land Use Monitoring Project (ILMP) 3 ¨ Obtain real-time longitudinal data on Inuit- environment interactions to understand how climate risks are experienced and managed
- 4. GPS Tracking 4 ¨ 2 full-time hunters equipped with GPS ¨ 2007 – ongoing
- 5. Regular interviews 5 ¨ >100 post hunt interviews ¨ Examine GPS data, review land use, dangers encountered, coping mechanisms employed etc.
- 6. Accompanied hunting trips 6 ¨ Team members go hunting during all seasons
- 7. Instrumental data 7 ¨ Use of local weather station data and CIS ice charts
- 8. Results: Land-use 8 ¨ 2008-2010: >21,000km travel ¤ 70% by snowmobile, average trip107km ¤ 30% boat, average trip 99km Ford et al (in review, AAAG)
- 9. Results: Changing env. conditions 9 ¨ 1982-2010 ¤ 50 days later freeze up ¤ 70 days more open water ¤ Declining wind predominance ¨ Hunting team ¤ Iceinstability Ford et al (in review, ¤ 2010/11 AAAG) extremes
- 10. Results: Access constraints & opportunities 10 ¨ Trail network “choke points” ¨ 2010/11 many hunting areas inaccessible Ford et al (in review, AAAG)
- 11. Results: Terrestrial adaptation 11 ¨ Caribou in Amadjuak Lake region in Nov-Jan ¤ Sustainability: hunting pressure, CC, & caribou ¤ Land hazards ( snow, river freeze up (e.g. 2008)) Ford et al (in review, AAAG)
- 12. Results: General observations (1) 12 ¨ Co-occurence of climatic extremes problematic ¤ e.g. Nov-Dec 2010: late freeze-up, 38 days lost to high winds, Amadjuak Lake trail impassible till Dec ¨ High adaptability: flexibility, TK ¨ Hunting team are keystone individuals ¤ Broad importance for Iqaluit ¨ Importance of income: damaged equipment replaced, extra distance costs incurred (e.g. vs Igloolik)
- 13. Results: General observations (2) 13 ¨ Potential for ‘trajectories of maladaptation’ (Fazey et al 2011) ¤ Short-term adaptability may result in long term vulnerability ¤ Donwstream effects: displacing impacts to future ¤ Overspecialized adaptations susceptible to a new stressor (e.g. caribou)
- 14. Conclusion 14 ¨ Analyzed 2008-2010 data (see Ford et al., in review, Annals Assoc. of American Geographers) ¨ Future ¤ Focus on 2010/11 ¤ Continued monitoring ¤ Aim: 10 years
- 15. Thank You 15 Thank You Acknowledgments: Josh Atagoyuk, Levi Pisuktie, Udlu Pisuktie, Tristan Pearce, Bill Gough, Rick Siewierski, Sara Statham, Frank Duerden, Mike Pitre, ArcticNet, SSHRC, NRI, IPY