New Land, New Life project : West of the High Dam Lake, Aswan, Egypt; adaptation to climate change - final technical report

Date

2010

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Publisher

Near East Foundation, New York, NY, US

Abstract

This applied action research project aimed at studying the possible human and environmental effects of climate change on the new resettlement area west of the High Dam Lake in Aswan and the linkages between climate change and factors such as water and vector-borne diseases, land degradation and management methods, temperature fluctuations, agriculture, and socio-economic aspects of the settlers’ community. Ultimately, the project incorporated various stakeholders, encouraging social capital formation among resettled communities and participation and cooperation from policymakers. The first objective of the action research was to assess the impact of climate change in Lake Nasser in relation to human health particularly the existence, potential emergence, or increase in waterborne/vector-borne diseases. Results proved that the rise in temperature results mainly in water fluctuation, pollution related to bacteria, presence of algae intensification, and water-borne diseases. The second objective of the research was to build the settlers’ capacity enabling them to adopt more efficient and sustainable behavioral, environmental, institutional and technological adaptation strategies and methods/interventions that adequately mitigate the risk of disease and environmental hazards caused by climate change on human health. The project enabled the farmers to start using drip irrigation, organic fertilizers and dry active yeast; allocating water correctly, and introducing and cultivating new crops, which are heat resistant. The third objective of the study was to derive adaptation strategies relevant to and in participation with the public health sector and other stakeholders, for the betterment of national resettlement and development schemes. The applied research team conducted capacity building and workshops for the participants and at the policy level. Conservation plans and strategies, intended to build capacity to support the conservation of the region’s soil and water resources, were developed. This adaptation strategy is now incorporated in the main strategy of the High Dam Lake Development Authority.

Description

Keywords

ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE, AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH, AGROFORESTRY, ASWAN BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH, CAPACITY BUILDING, ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH, ECOSYSTEMS, EGYPT, EUREPGAP, SOCIO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT, SOIL MANAGEMENT, VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES, WATER BORNE DISEASES, WATER QUALITY, WEST LAKE NASSER

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