Local Development, its Mitigation and adaptation strategies on climate change : Acase study of Madibobo village

Abstract

Linking climate change to sustainable development has caused a shift in the focus of the climate change discourse. The main discourse concerns the environment, poverty and sustainable development. This development discourse will help future researchers to negotiate the often contested and sometimes politicized agenda around the debate on the value of climate change to local development policies. The time has come to take into consideration IKS and the role it plays in community life. extremely seriously. IKS need to be recognised and integrated into development strategies by all levels of government. At the same time, it is necessary to understand and explore the potential contribution of IKS to local development. Recognition and integration of IKS into development strategies or policies requires research. However, research into IKS should ideally be carried out with the participation of the local communities. Research has shown that women are best experienced in IKS and ha\e developed resilient systems to mitigate and resolve local problems. Through life orientation they hold strategic IKS and turn out to be more active in the local development agenda The findings were that people were highly dependent on government grants since there were no job opportunities due to a decline in farming activities and excessive weather conditions. These factors were in turn causing unusual diseases, migration of people from rural to urban areas in search of job opportunities and developments. Drought and veldt fires also led to a decline in grazing pastures and numbers of livestock . Extinction of indigenous plants. premature deaths, water scarcity and dried-up fountains that used to supply the community members with water are attributes of climate change leading to lack of development. It was revealed that developments take time to reach rural people because their voices were not heard by those who are in power. Lack of community consultation on developments and prioritization of community needs were matters s of concern to the respondents.