PERCEPTIONS AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY BY IMMIGRANT FARMERS IN SEMI-ARID REGIONS OF KENYA

Kenya comprises of 83% arid and semi-arid land mainly suited to extensive livestock production. Communities living in the semi-arid areas have been affected by serious effects of climate change and variability. A study was carried out to evaluate farmer perceptions and adaptation to climate change in Naro Moru and Nairutia areas (both in Nyeri North District) and Matanya in Lamuria Division in Laikipia East District, areas that are typically semi-arid in nature. The farmers identified environmental destruction as the major contributor to the visible effects of climate change and variability in the region. The main indicators are erratic and low rainfalls, frequent droughts and dust storms, low crop yields and high day and low night time temperatures. The effects of climate change resulted into increased levels of poverty, food insecurity, change in biodiversity and scarcity of resources such as water and indigenous trees which are sources of medicine, nectar, fuel wood, timber and fodder. Changes in biodiversity entail disappearance of wild animals and insects such as safari ants and an upsurge of pests (e.g. centipedes, millipedes and birds). The reduced availability of resources has changed the people\u2019s attitudes towards the need to conserve the natural resources and enhance food security through self and group initiatives. The biggest efforts have been towards tree planting and husbandry and adoption of appropriate technologies and farming methods.Le Kenya comprend 83% de terres arides et semi arides utilis\ue9es principalement \ue0 l\u2019\ue9levage extensif. Les communaut\ue9s vivant dans ces r\ue9gions ont \ue9t\ue9 affect\ue9es par de s\ue9rieux effets de la variabilit\ue9 et du changement climatique. Une \ue9tude \ue9tait men\ue9e pour \ue9valuer les perceptions paysannes et l\u2019adaptation au changement climatique dans les milieux de NaoMoru et Nairutia (tous dans le district du Nyeru au Nord) et dans la Division de Lamuria \ue0 Matanyu dans le District Est \ue0 Laikipia, milieux typiquement \ue0 nature semi aride. Les fermiers ont identifi\ue9 la destruction environnementale comme \ue9tant la cause majeure aux effets visibles du changement et la variabilit\ue9 climatique dans la r\ue9gion. Les indicateurs principaux sont des pr\ue9cipitations erratiques et faibles, de s\ue9cheresses fr\ue9quentes et pluies orageuses, faibles rendements des cultures et des temp\ue9ratures nocturnes \ue9lev\ue9es et basses. Des effets du changement climatique a r\ue9sult\ue9 une augmentation \ue9lev\ue9 du niveau de la pauvret\ue9, l\u2019ins\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire, le changement dans la biodiversit\ue9 et le manque des ressources comme l\u2019eau et les arbres indig\ue8nes \ue0 usage comme mat\ue9riel de m\ue9decine, nectar, bois de chauffe, planches et alimentation du b\ue9tail. Le changement dans la biodiversit\ue9 signifie la disparition de la faune et insectes tels que les termites et l\u2019apparition des pestes (centip\ue8des, millip\ue8des et oiseaux). La disponibilit\ue9 r\ue9duite des ressources a chang\ue9 les attitudes de la population en rapport avec le besoin dans la conservation des ressources naturelles et l\u2019am\ue9lioration de la s\ue9curit\ue9 alimentaire \ue0 travers des initiatives personnelles et priv\ue9es. De plus grands efforts ont \ue9t\ue9 faits pour la plantation d\u2019arbres et l\u2019\ue9levage ainsi que l\u2019adoption appropri\ue9e des technologies et des m\ue9thodes d\u2019exploitation agricoles

PERCEPTIONS AND ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE AND VARIABILITY BY IMMIGRANT FARMERS IN SEMI-ARID REGIONS OF KENYA

Kenya comprises of 83% arid and semi-arid land mainly suited to extensive livestock production. Communities living in the semi-arid areas have been affected by serious effects of climate change and variability. A study was carried out to evaluate farmer perceptions and adaptation to climate change in Naro Moru and Nairutia areas (both in Nyeri North District) and Matanya in Lamuria Division in Laikipia East District, areas that are typically semi-arid in nature. The farmers identified environmental destruction as the major contributor to the visible effects of climate change and variability in the region. The main indicators are erratic and low rainfalls, frequent droughts and dust storms, low crop yields and high day and low night time temperatures. The effects of climate change resulted into increased levels of poverty, food insecurity, change in biodiversity and scarcity of resources such as water and indigenous trees which are sources of medicine, nectar, fuel wood, timber and fodder. Changes in biodiversity entail disappearance of wild animals and insects such as safari ants and an upsurge of pests (e.g. centipedes, millipedes and birds). The reduced availability of resources has changed the people’s attitudes towards the need to conserve the natural resources and enhance food security through self and group initiatives. The biggest efforts have been towards tree planting and husbandry and adoption of appropriate technologies and farming methods.Le Kenya comprend 83% de terres arides et semi arides utilisées principalement à l’élevage extensif. Les communautés vivant dans ces régions ont été affectées par de sérieux effets de la variabilité et du changement climatique. Une étude était menée pour évaluer les perceptions paysannes et l’adaptation au changement climatique dans les milieux de NaoMoru et Nairutia (tous dans le district du Nyeru au Nord) et dans la Division de Lamuria à Matanyu dans le District Est à Laikipia, milieux typiquement à nature semi aride. Les fermiers ont identifié la destruction environnementale comme étant la cause majeure aux effets visibles du changement et la variabilité climatique dans la région. Les indicateurs principaux sont des précipitations erratiques et faibles, de sécheresses fréquentes et pluies orageuses, faibles rendements des cultures et des températures nocturnes élevées et basses. Des effets du changement climatique a résulté une augmentation élevé du niveau de la pauvreté, l’insécurité alimentaire, le changement dans la biodiversité et le manque des ressources comme l’eau et les arbres indigènes à usage comme matériel de médecine, nectar, bois de chauffe, planches et alimentation du bétail. Le changement dans la biodiversité signifie la disparition de la faune et insectes tels que les termites et l’apparition des pestes (centipèdes, millipèdes et oiseaux). La disponibilité réduite des ressources a changé les attitudes de la population en rapport avec le besoin dans la conservation des ressources naturelles et l’amélioration de la sécurité alimentaire à travers des initiatives personnelles et privées. De plus grands efforts ont été faits pour la plantation d’arbres et l’élevage ainsi que l’adoption appropriée des technologies et des méthodes d’exploitation agricoles

Soil and terrain conditions for the Upper Tana River catchment, Kenya. Green Water Credits Report 11 (with dataset)

with data se

The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator: development and validation of a tool for identifying African surgical patients at risk of severe postoperative complications

Background: The African Surgical Outcomes Study (ASOS) showed that surgical patients in Africa have a mortality twice the global average. Existing risk assessment tools are not valid for use in this population because the pattern of risk for poor outcomes differs from high-income countries. The objective of this study was to derive and validate a simple, preoperative risk stratification tool to identify African surgical patients at risk for in-hospital postoperative mortality and severe complications. Methods: ASOS was a 7-day prospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing surgery in Africa. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator was constructed with a multivariable logistic regression model for the outcome of in-hospital mortality and severe postoperative complications. The following preoperative risk factors were entered into the model; age, sex, smoking status, ASA physical status, preoperative chronic comorbid conditions, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. Results: The model was derived from 8799 patients from 168 African hospitals. The composite outcome of severe postoperative complications and death occurred in 423/8799 (4.8%) patients. The ASOS Surgical Risk Calculator includes the following risk factors: age, ASA physical status, indication for surgery, urgency, severity, and type of surgery. The model showed good discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.805 and good calibration with c-statistic corrected for optimism of 0.784. Conclusions: This simple preoperative risk calculator could be used to identify high-risk surgical patients in African hospitals and facilitate increased postoperative surveillance. © 2018 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Medical Research Council of South Africa gran