Aims and structure

The overall purpose of this project is to inform both theoretical developments on adaptive capacity and future policy and intervention responses aiming to enhance adaptive capacity. In particular, the research addresses on three critical questions:

1.	What facilitates adaptation and its social and physical dynamics?
2.	Does adaptation occur directly or indirectly in response to climate change via its impacts upon components of livelihood systems, and what is the role of dynamic ecosystem change within this picture?
3.	How does adaptation contribute to evolving social differentiation and economic equity?

There are three components to the research:

1.	Actual processes and patterns of adaptive response to climate changes, across the Southern African climate gradient.
2.	Current adaptive capacity in areas predicted to experience major climatic and natural resource base changes during the 21st century.
3.	Informing theory of adaptive capacity and vulnerability.