Climate anomalies have been observed in the tropical Andes in Peru resulting in hydrological changes that consequently threaten livelihoods and daily survival of the lowland residents. In this study, adverse socioeconomic impacts on small-scale farmers in the Quillcay River basin due to variation in precipitation patterns and enhanced glacier retreat are examined through a case study approach. Theories of vulnerability and resilience were applied as the basis of the study as well as analytical tools to evaluate influence of climatic and hydrological impacts on socio-ecological systems in the study site. The data gathering and analysis were implemented through an integrated qualitative-quantitative approach in order to achieve holistic research insight and trustworthy results. Semi- structured interviews were conducted to capture smallholders’ perceptions whilst statistical data was collected for robust physical evidence. The results that were achieved from the analysis using conceptual framework of vulnerability as well as correlation and ordinary linear regression showed partly conflicting results. On one hand, findings and interpretation of the interviews suggested high connection between climate proxies and worsened socioeconomic situation of the small-scale farmers. On the other hand, in the quantitative analysis enhanced glacier retreat was found to have influenced unfavorable socioeconomic changes in the study site to some extent whereas precipitation did not show significant impact. Altogether, the results of the study suggest that vulnerability of livelihoods and well- being of the small-scale farmers is an outcome of a complex cluster of economic, political, social and ecological factors rather than climatic and hydrological changes exclusively.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:su-226085 |
| Date | January 2016 |
| Creators | Heikkinen, Anna |
| Publisher | Stockholms universitet, Institutionen för ekonomisk historia och internationella relationer |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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