ABSTRACT

To what level are ethnic minority farmers aware of climate change and the importance of their adaptive capacity? This study was conducted in two mountainous districts of Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam, with the involvement of 246 ethnic households, 15 key informants and a group of provincial and district agricultural representatives. A research framework linking climate awareness and adaptive capacity was adopted for this study. The results highlighted that ethnic minority farmers in the mountainous areas of Thua Thien Hue had relative low awareness of climate change and relative low adaptive capacity. Results also showed that awareness of climate change is an important element for households’ adaptive capacity, where farmers who are more aware of climate change have a better adaptive capacity. Strengthening existing formal information channels (from extension and agricultural departments) on climate change with strong interlinkages with local social networks and creating socio-economic incentives to promote individuals’ adoption of adaptation measures were key to the building up farmers’ adaptive capacity.

摘要

少数民族农民在多大程度上了解气候变化及其适应能力的重要性？这项研究是在越南Thua Thien Hue省的两个山区进行的，有246个民族家庭，15个主要被调查者以及一组省和地区的农业代表参加。这项研究采用了一个将气候意识和适应能力联系起来的研究框架。结果表明，在Thua Thien Hue山区的少数民族农民对气候变化的意识相对较低，适应能力也相对较低。结果还表明，气候变化意识是家庭适应能力的重要组成部分，对气候变化认识更多的农民具有更好的适应能力。