TOWARD SUSTAINABLE ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE: UNDERSTANDING COMMUNITY AND WATERSHED LEVEL RESPONSES TO CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN THE CACHE RIVER WATERSHED OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS, U.S.A.

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: MCINTIRE-STENNIS
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1020037
• Project Start Date: Jul 1, 2019
• Project End Date: Dec 31, 2023
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIV
(N/A)
CARBONDALE,IL 62901

Performing Department
Forestry

Non Technical Summary
In recent decades, growing awareness of the impacts of climate change on forests and water resources, as well as the human communities that depend on them has led to an increase ininterest in climate change adaptation. However, it is also becoming clear that conventional adaptation policies that are characterized by top-down, expert-driven, and narrow sectoral approaches are likely to lead to maladaptive outcomes. In response to the shortfalls of conventional adaptation, the concept of sustainable adaptation has been used to refer to adaptation measures that promote long term social equity and ecological sustainability. However, the institutional requirements for enhancing transitions toward sustainable adaptation are poorly understood. Moreover, conceptual frameworks for analyzing the mechanisms that influence societal responses to climate change impacts across multiple scales are not adequately developed. To address these knowledge gaps, the purpose of this research project is to develop a conceptual model for understanding communty and watershed level responses to climate change impacts in the Cache River watershed in southern Illinois. The study shall employ a qualitative research approach, involvingthe use of document review and interviews. The study shall be conducted in three phases. In the first phase, a comprehensive review of the relevant literature shall be conducted to develop a synthesized conceptual model that explains the role of capital assets, institutions and other relevant factors in climate change adaptation processes. Using the proposed framework, the second and third phases of the study shall generate qualitative data for analyzing climate change perceptions and responses at the watershed and community levels respectively. Findings from the study should be ofrelevance toscientists and decision-makers who are interested in promoting sustainable adaptation to climate change impacts across scales.

Animal Health Component

20%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

80%

Applied

20%

Developmental

0%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
112	0320	3080	50%
132	6050	2060	50%

Knowledge Area
112 - Watershed Protection and Management; 132 - Weather and Climate;

Subject Of Investigation
0320 - Watersheds; 6050 - Communities, areas, and regions;

Field Of Science
2060 - Geography; 3080 - Sociology;

Keywords

climate change

sustainable adaptation

ecosystem-based adaptation

community resilience

capital assets

institutions

adaptive governance

cache river watershed

Goals / Objectives
The overall goal of this qualitative study is to develop and test a synthesized conceptual modelto gaina theoretical understanding of social responses to climate change impacts across multiple scales and also to inform policies that promote sustainable adaptation. In this regard, the study shall seek to achieve the following objectives:1) Conduct a comprehensive review of the relevant literature on the role of community capital assets and institutions in climate change adaptation processes2) Apply theoretical insights from the literature to analyze perceptions and responses to climate change impacts at the community and watershed levels in the Cache River watershed.3) Analyze the factors influencing adaptive capacity at the community and watershed levels, as well as the barriers and opportunities for promoting sustainable adaptation in the Cache River watershed.

Project Methods
The proposed study shall be executed using a qualitative research approach. In this regard, data shall be generated using document review and interviews. In the first phase of the study, a comprehensive review of the relevant academic literature shall be conducted to develop a conceptual understanding of the roles of capital assets and institutions in climate change adaptation processes. Additionally, documents on climate change responses in the Cache River watershed shall be reviewed as part of the preparation for the fieldwork.Following the review of relevant documents, the second phase of the study shall use key informant interviews among members of the Cache River Watershed Joint Venture Partnership and other relevant organizations to generate data on climate change perceptions and adaptation processes at the watershed level. These interviews shall be recorded, transcribed, and coded using the NVivo software.The final phase of the study shall entail the generation of data on community level adaptation to climate-related events, such as floods by conducting interviews with representatives of the various sectors of the local society, including local government, business, religion, and education in two communities in the Cache River watershed. These interviews will also be recorded and transcribed, and the data will be analyzed using the theoretical framework developed during the review of the literature. The overall utility of the proposed model shall be evaluated based on the findings from the analysis of the community and watershed level climate change responses.

Progress 10/01/20 to 09/30/21

Outputs
Target Audience:During the reporting period, three oral presentations were delivered on this project at various academic conferences. Additionally, a peer-reviewed journal manuscript was published. The audience for these domestic and international conferences and journal included graduate students, as well as researchers and policy makers in the water sector within and outside the US. Changes/Problems:Thus far, plans are in place to employ the proposed qualitative research approach on collecting community level data through key informant interviews. However, should the COVID-19 situation in southern Illinois require changes to the plan for the fieldwork, the use of virtual interviews and other potential alternatives will be explored. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?During the reporting period, one graduate student received training in the human dimensions of natural resource management through this project. In addition to completing the required coursework for the Forestry Program, the study has also aquired skills in literature review and synthesis, as well as the development of a research proposal. Subsequent phases of the study will provide additional opportunities for aquiring skills in data collection and analysis. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Thus far, premiliary results from the study have been communicated to graduate students, as well as researchers and decision-makers. However, following the completion of the study, opportunities for disseminating the results to relevant communities of interest within the southern Illinois region will be explored. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting year, data on the watershed level responses to climate change impacts shall be analyzed and the results shall be disseminated. Also, data on community level responses to climate change impacts shall be collected and analyzed.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? In line with the first objective, a review of the literature has been conducted to develop a conceptual framework for understanding social responses to climate change impacts across scales. In line with the second and third objectives, data on organizational responses to climate change impacts at the watershed level have been collected and are being analyzed. Also in line with the second and third objectives, methodological protocols for collecting data on community level responses to climate change impacts are currently being developed.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Akamani, K. (2021). An ecosystem-based approach to climate-smart agriculture with some considerations for social equity. Agronomy, 11(18), 1564.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Akamani, K. & Lood, M. (2021). Adaptive water governance and transitions toward ecosystem-based adaptation: A case study of the Cache River watershed of southern Illinois. Paper presented at the 2021 Universities Council on Water Resources Annual Conference (June 26-28)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Akamani, K. & Boucher, R. (2021). Transitions in water governance and implications for the resilience of resource-dependent communities: A case study of the Cache River watershed of southern Illinois. Paper presented at the International Association for the Study of the Commons 2021 Water Commons Virtual Conference (May 19-21)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2021 Citation: Akamani, K. (2021). Adaptive water governance and the food-energy-water nexus. Paper presented at the National Council on Science and the Environment 2021 Annual Conference (January 5-8).

Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:Thus far, a review article containing theoretical perspectives on the governance requirements for promoting sustainable development in the Anthropocene era in the face of climate change impacts and other drivers of change has been published in a peer-reviewed journal. The target audience for the article includes scientists, decision-makers and resource managers within and outside the USA with interest in sustainable development across multiple levels from the local to the global. Although two abstracts based on this project were also accepted for presentation at the 2020 Universities Council on Water Resources Annual Conference in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this conference was cancelled due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The execution of this project has provided an opportunity for the training of one graduate student in the human dimensions of natural resource management. As part of this training, the graduate student is undertaking level coursework and also receiving mentorship from me in the process of conducting social science research on human-environment interactions. As a research assistant on this project, the graduate student will also have opportunities for professional development, including opportunities to present our research findings at academic conferences in the near future. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Thus far, key insights gained from the initial review of the literature have been disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal article that targets academics, resource managers and policy makers. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, a conceptual framework based on the review of the literature shall be refined to guide the fieldwork. Intstruments for data collection and analysis will also be developed. Fieldwork to generate data on community responses to climate change impacts in the Cache River watershed will also be initiated during this period.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Thus far, the first goal of the project has largely been accomplished. An initial review of the literature on climate change adaptation and its social and institutional dimensions has been completed. A conceptual framework based on theoretical insights gained from the literature is currently being refined to guide the fieldwork. Instruments for data collection and analysis are also being developed as part of preparations for the fieldowork.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Akamani, K. (2020). Integrating deep ecology and adaptive governance for sustainable development: Implications for protected areas management. Sustainability, 12(14), 5757.

Progress 07/01/19 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience: Nothing Reported Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Thus far, this project has provided an opportunity for the training of one graduate student in the human dimensions of natural resource management. As a graduate Research Assistant on this project, the student will be equipped with relevant skills in the use of social science theories and methods in the analysis of societal adaptation to climate change impacts and other drivers of change. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting cycle, the review and synthesis of relevant theoretical insights shall be completed, following which data shall be collected to analyze institutional responses to climate change impacts at the watershed level.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? As part of efforts to accomplish the first goal of the study, a comprehensive review of the literature on the role of capital assets and institutions in societal responses to climate change impacts has been initiated. Theoretical insights derived from the literature review shall inform the fieldwork through which the second and third goals of the study will be addressed.

Publications