Progress 12/15/16 to 12/14/19
Outputs
Target Audience:This project engaged with two target audiences: 1) Rural agricultural communities in the San Joaquin Valley: many rural community members in both Fresno and Tulare counties are employed as farmworkers or other seasonal jobs in agriculture. These communities have high rates of unemployment, water insecurity, and uneven access to social services. 2) Community based organizations, drought planners and policy makers involved in drought planning and drought relief. This was accomplished through participation and publication with the 4th California Climate Change Assessment and through presentations at conferences and workshops. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project provided several opportunities for training and professional development. Mentoring under Research Advisor and wider dissertation committee focused on research analysis, outreach, and publishing skills. This culminated with a successful dissertation defense in January 2019. Professional development was also provided through engagement with the State of California's 4th Climate Change Assessment. The researcher participated in planning meetings with the Assessment and the 2018 publication in Environmental Science & Policy was annexed as a Technical Report in California's 4th Climate Change Assessment. Additionally, the researcher served as a contributing author to the statewide CA Climate Change Assessment final report.? The researcher also participated and presented research workshops and conferences. These included the Association of American Geographer's Annual Meeting and American Geophysical Union Annual Fall Meeting. The presentation at the Association of American Geographer's Annual Meeting was awarded the Jeanne X. Kasperson Student Paper Competition. The researcher was also a panelist at the "Surviving Peak Drought and Warming Workshop" at the University of Arizona. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The researcher focused on disseminating results to policy-makers and drought planners. This occurred through a publication in a journal that focuses on the intersection between environmental science and public policy. Additionally, the researcher included results of the research in California's 4th Climate Change Assessment, which targets public policy makers in California working on climate issues. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Drought planning and monitoring rely primarily on physical indicators of drought (e.g. precipitation and soil moisture), while knowledge of social and economic dimensions of drought in rural communities remains largely unknown. This knowledge gap is especially salient when considering farmworkers, who make up 40% of the world's agricultural workforce, but are largely ignored in drought and climate change adaptation planning. To inform future drought planning and relief, this project identifies social and economic drought impacts in California's San Joaquin Valley during the 2012-2016 drought. The research analyzes drought vulnerability of rural communities, with a focus on the impact of drought on employment, water security, food security, and health. To identify experienced drought impacts and drought vulnerability of rural agricultural communities, this research employed both quantitative and qualitative research methods. Research was conducted under approval of the University of Arizona Internal Review Board (IRB) for human subjects research (Approval 1503744667). In-depth interviews were conducted with 46 participants who represented different perspectives on the impacts of drought on rural communities in the San Joaquin Valley - these included farmers, farmworkers, rural residents, non-profit staff, and government officials. A structured survey on perceptions of drought impacts was conducted with 120 households in Tulare and Fresno counties. Additional research data was collected through annual county crops reports and through participant observation of drought community meetings. Research data indicated that the drought impacted employment and indicators of wellbeing to include water security, food security, and health of farmworkers and rural residents in the San Joaquin Valley. A total of 76% of households surveyed in both counties reported less work available and 65% surveyed reported a decrease in income during the drought. Additionally, surveys and interviews indicated shorter working contracts, traveling farther for work, and closures of fruit and vegetable packing plants. For food security, 27% of households indicated that the drought frequently affected their ability to afford a balanced meal. An additional 41% of households indicated the drought often or sometimes affected their ability to afford a balanced meal. Both interviews and surveys indicated that the drought impacted availability, affordability, and quality of household water. The impacts of the drought were particularly dramatic for household reliant on domestic wells. In the survey, 34 households indicated dependency on household wells, of which 22 went dry during the drought. The drought also was an important factor in well-being during drought. Forty nine percent of households indicated the drought impacted their health in some way, mostly because households had less money to seek medical care. Additionally, households experiencing chronic illness or other health challenges had less capacity to adapt to decrease in household income or decrease in water availability. The results of this research indicate that the drought presented a serious impact on the income and well-being of farmworkers and rural communities that were not identified in current drought monitoring processes. This points to a need for more drought vulnerability assessments that include social science approaches. Social science assessments of drought can provide insight into drought impacts that are overlooked, especially among marginalized communities. The research accomplished the following objectives: 1. Identify social impacts of drought on rural communities in the San Joaquin Valley; Both quantitative and qualitative social science research methods were conducted in Fresno and Tulare counties in order to identify experiences and perceptions of the impact of drought on employment, water security, food security, migration, health, and drought relief. Interviews and surveys demonstrated that the greatest drought impacts for rural residents were underemployment and water security. Many rural residents, who depend on domestic water wells, experienced great difficulty with well failures during the drought. Over 80% of survey respondents indicated that the drought had an impact on their household. Highest identified impacts included less work available, increase in travel to work, decrease in water availability, and increase in water prices. Impact on health and utilities were not frequently identified as impacts. While concerns over health were not prominent in the survey, in-depth interviews demonstrate that households with existing health concerns were more vulnerable to the impacts of water shortages and dry wells. 2. Assess the drought vulnerability of rural communities considering physical, economic, and social factors, and; In addition to identifying experiences and perceptions of drought impacted communities, this research triangulated interview and survey data with agricultural production data in order to assess how the relationship between agriculture, drought, and farm employment produces drought vulnerability. An analysis of impacts of drought on crop production and crop value during the drought indicates that many farm owners were able to cope with drought impacts by increasing production of high-value crops. In contrast, the adaptive capacity of farmworkers and rural community members was very low. This indicates the need for more active monitoring of drought impacts on vulnerable rural communities. It also indicates the need for greater inclusion of farmworkers and rural community members in local water management and drought planning. 3. Evaluate existing drought impact monitoring and reporting and propose community-level socioeconomic drought indicators in partnership with community-based organizations and other relevant stakeholders. Based on research with rural agricultural communities, farmworkers, and community-based organizations, this research makes policy recommendations for drought planning and relief. These policy recommendations are outlined in a peer reviewed journal publication targeting environmental science and policy, Additionally, the researcher engaged with California's 4th Climate Assessment as a contributing author, thus increasing knowledge on drought vulnerability amongst California policymakers.
Publications
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Greene, C. From Drought in California to the Global Framework for Climate Services: Narratives and Lived Experiences of Climate Vulnerability. 2019. University of Arizona, PhD Dissertation.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Submitted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Greene, C. "Drought isn't just water, it is living": Narratives of Drought Vulnerability in California's San Joaquin Valley. Geoforum
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Bedsworth, L., D. Cayan, G. Franco, L. Fisher, S. Ziaja. (C. Greene contributing author). 2018. Statewide Summary Report. Californias Fourth Climate Change Assessment. Publication number: SUMCCCA4-2018-013.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Greene, C. "Dynamics of Drought Vulnerability in Rural Communities of California's San Joaquin Valley." Association of American Geographers Annual Meeting, April 2018, New Orleans.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Greene, C. "Dynamics of socioeconomic drought for farmworkers and rural communities in Californias San Joaquin Valley." American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting, December 2019, Washington, DC.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Greene, C. Panel Discussion. "How will agricultural communities and food systems survive peak drought and temperatures?" Surviving Peak Drought and Warming Workshop. 2018. University of Arizona
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Progress 12/15/17 to 12/14/18
Outputs
Target Audience:During the reporting period, this project engaged with policy-makers, drought planners, and community based organizations involved in drought planning and drought relief. This was accomplished through participation and publication with the 4th California Climate Change Assessment and through presentations at conferences and workshops. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided several opportunities for training and professional development. Mentoring under Research Advisor and wider dissertation committee was ongoing and focused on research analysis, outreach, and publishing skills. The researcher continued engagement with the State of California's 4th Climate Change Assessment, with the 2018 publication in Environmental Science & Policy annexed as a Technical Report in the California Climate Change Assessment Report. Additionally, the researcher served as a contributing author to the statewide CA Climate Change Assessment final report. The researcher presented results of the report both as a guest lecturer in introductory classes in Environmental Studies at the University of Arizona and at the Association of American Geographer's Annual Meeting in 2018. The presentation at the Association of American Geographer's Annual Meeting was awarded the Jeanne X. Kasperson Student Paper Competition. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?During the reporting period, the researcher focused on disseminating results to policy-makers and drought planners. This occurred through a publication in a journal that focuses on the intersection between environmental science and public policy. Additionally, the researcher included results of the research in California's 4th Climate Change Assessment, which targets public policy makers in California working on climate issues. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, the researcher will focus on defending dissertation and earning a doctorate in Geography. The researcher will also focus on dissemination of research results. This includes a presentation at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in Washington, DC, and publication of a second manuscript on drought vulnerability. Finally, the researcher will also disseminate research results to communities in which research was conducted.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Drought planning and monitoring rely primarily on physical indicators of drought (e.g. precipitation and soil moisture), while knowledge of social and economic dimensions of drought in rural communities dependent on agriculture remains a critical gap in drought literature. This knowledge gap is especially salient when considering farmworkers, who make up 40% of the world's agricultural workforce, but are largely ignored in drought and climate change adaptation planning. To inform future drought planning and relief, this project identifies social and economic drought impacts in California's San Joaquin Valley. The research analyzes drought vulnerability of rural communities, with a focus on the impact of drought on employment, water security, food security, and health. During the reporting period this research analyzed both quantitative and qualitative data collected during previous reporting periods. This included 46 semi-structured interviews, participant observation of drought community meetings, a survey of 117 households in Tulare and Fresno Counties, and an analysis of crop reports during drought years. Research data indicated that the drought impacted employment and indicators of wellbeing to include water security, food security, and health of farmworkers and rural residents in the San Joaquin Valley. A total of 76% of households surveyed in both counties reported less work available and 65% surveyed reported a decrease in income during the drought. Additionally, surveys and interviews indicated shorter working contracts, traveling farther for work, and closures of fruit and vegetable packing plants. For food security, 27% of households indicated that the drought frequently affected their ability to afford a balanced meal. An additional 41% of households indicated the drought often or sometimes affected their ability to afford a balanced meal. Both interviews and surveys indicated that the drought impacted availability, affordability, and quality of household water. The impacts of the drought were particularly dramatic for household reliant on domestic wells. In the survey, 34 households indicated dependency on household wells, of which 22 went dry during the drought. The drought also was an important factor in well-being during drought. Forty nine percent of households indicated the drought impacted their health in some way, mostly because households had less money to seek medical care. Additionally, households experiencing chronic illness or other health challenges had less capacity to adapt to decrease in household income or decrease in water availability. The results of this research indicate that the drought presented a serious impact on the income and well-being of farmworkers and rural communities. An analysis of impacts of drought on crop production and crop value during the drought indicates that many farm owners were able to cope with drought impacts by increasing production of high-value crops, in contrast, the adaptive capacity of farmworkers and rural community members was very low. This indicates the need for more active monitoring of drought impacts on vulnerable rural communities. It also indicates the need for greater inclusion of farmworkers and rural community members in local water management and drought planning.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Greene, C. (2018) Broadening understandings of drought the climate vulnerability of farmworkers and rural communities in California (USA). Environmental Science & Policy 89:283-291.
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Progress 12/15/16 to 12/14/17
Outputs
Target Audience:During the reporting period, this project engaged with two target audiences: 1) Rural agricultural communities in the San Joaquin Valley: many rural community members in both Fresno and Tulare counties are employed as farmworkers or other seasonal jobs in agriculture. These communities have high rates of unemployment, water insecurity, and uneven access to social services. 2) Community based organizations, drought planners and policy makers: a variety of non-profits and community based organizations in Fresno and Tulare county were active in drought relief programs. Additionally, this research is collaborating with policy makers through the State of California's 4th Climate Change Assessment. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The project has provided several opportunities for training and professional development. The research is being included as an external collaboration for the State of California's 4th Climate Change Assessment. As part of this effort, the researcher has participated in workshops and meetings with other researchers and authors of the 4th Climate Change Assessment. Additionally, the researcher has conducted one-on-one meetings with mentors and taken a seminar course on writing for publication. An abstract of the research project has been awarded the Jeanne X. Kasperson Student Paper Competition to be presented at the Association of American Geographer's Annual meeting in April 2018. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The field research conducted during the reporting period was done with assistance of several community based organizations involved in drought relief in Tulare and Fresno Counties. The final analysis of research will be distributed to these community based organizations. In addition, the researcher is collaborating with California's Climate Change Assessment team and the California Natural Resources Agency. A preliminary presentation of the research was given to the 4th Climate Change Assessment author team and a final report will be distributed in early 2018. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, the researcher will finish 5 additional in-depth interviews, completing the field research portion of the project. Final analysis of the drought vulnerability of rural communities will be conducted triangulating the data from in-depth interviews, household surveys, and archival research. Additional analysis will be conducted of drought impact monitoring and reporting used during the California drought in order to propose community-level socioeconomic drought indicators. A white paper of results will be distributed to community based organizations and local government representatives in Tulare and Fresno Counties. A final report will also be submitted to the California's 4th Climate Change Assessment. Finally, two academic publications will be completed for peer-reviewed academic journals as well as presentation of results at academic conferences.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Drought planning and monitoring rely primarily on physical indicators of drought (e.g. precipitation and soil moisture), while knowledge of social and economic dimensions of drought in rural communities dependent on agriculture remains a critical gap in drought literature. To inform future drought planning and relief, this project identifies social and economic drought impacts in California's San Joaquin Valley. The research analyzes drought vulnerability of rural communities, with a focus on the impact of drought on employment, water security, food security, and health. During the reporting period, both quantitative and qualitative social science research methods were conducted in Fresno and Tulare counties in order to identify experiences and perceptions of the impact of drought on employment, water security, food security, migration, health, and drought relief. Thirty in-depth interviews were conducted with farmworkers, rural residents, community based organizations, and local government officials. Interviews demonstrated that the greatest drought impacts for rural residents were underemployment and water security. Many rural residents dependent on domestic water wells experienced great difficulty with well failures during the drought. In addition to the in-depth interviews, 120 surveys were conducted in the communities of Mendota, Firebaugh, East Porterville, and Porterville to measure perceptions of drought impacts on households. Over 80% of survey respondents indicated that the drought had an impact on their household. Highest identified impacts included less work available, increase in travel to work, decrease in water availability, and increase in water prices. Impact on health and utilities were not frequently identified as impacts. While concerns over health were not prominent in the survey, in-depth interviews demonstrate that households with existing health concerns were more vulnerable to the impacts of water shortages and dry wells. Finally, agricultural production data from both Fresno and Tulare counties is being triangulated with interviews and survey data to depict the relationships between agriculture, drought, and employment.
Publications
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