Local Government Climate Change Support Program 2016 Xhariep DM Climate Change Response Plan

Presentation Contents Climate change plan development Activities to date Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment Results Draft Climate Change Response Actions

Climate Change Plan Development Developed through the Local Government Climate Change Support Program (LGCCS) First Step - Conducting a climate change vulnerability assessment Second Step - Developing climate change responses Draft plan in place for review http://www.letsrespondtoolkit.org/

Progress to date Provincial Introduction Workshop - 8 Sep 2016 1st District Workshop - Conducting a CC vulnerability assessments 25 Sep 2016 Draft municipal Climate Change Response Plans for comment 2nd District Workshop - Stakeholder Input and IDP integration 1 Dec 2016

Agriculture

Priority Indicators: Agriculture Theme Indicator Title Agriculture Increased risks to livestock Reduced food security

Responses: Agriculture Sub-Project: Manage increasing risks to livestock Conduct a land audit to assess the capacity of land available against the amount of livestock Conduct research around the establishment of food banks and animal feed production by collaborating with the Department of Agriculture and the University of the Free State.

Responses: Agriculture Sub-Project: Manage increasing risks to livestock Encourage farmers to rotate their cattle around the land to avoid overgrazing, through workshops and agricultural forums. Increase awareness around water harvesting to communities through different forums and existing programmes within the District including: environmental health unit, agriculture department and forums, IDP public participation programme, and educational programmes (Lead is LED for this action).

Responses: Agriculture Sub-Project: Manage food insecurity Conduct a risk assessment of climate change on food security for subsistence farmers. Conduct research on the introduction of aquaponics in the district. Conduct workshops to educate subsistence farmers and business on how to reduce the risk associated with the potential impacts of climate change. Develop emergency plans that will assist with responding to climate change related impacts such as malnutrition. Identify livelihood and economic diversification strategies that will reduce food insecurity.

Biodiversity and Environment

Priority Indicators: Biodiversity and Environment Theme Indicator Title Biodiversity & Environment Manage loss of high priority biomes Manage increased impacts on threatened ecosystems Manage loss of priority wetlands and river ecosystems

Responses: Biodiversity and Environment Project: Manage the loss of high priority biomes Develop a local biodiversity management plan to protect priority biomes.

Responses: Biodiversity and Environment Project: Manage Increased impacts on threatened ecosystems Develop an Environmental Management Plan for the District.

Responses: Biodiversity and Environment Project: Manage Loss of Priority Wetlands and River ecosystems Raise awareness on wetlands loss and conservation.

Human Health

Priority Indicators: Human Health Theme Indicator Title Human Health Increased malnutrition & hunger as a result of food insecurity

Responses: Human Health Sub-Project: Manage increased malnutrition and hunger as a result of food insecurity Develop water harvesting programmes together with the Department of Water and Sanitation and local municipalities. Encourage multi-sectoral research on malnutrition in the District. Encourage planting of drought resistant vegetation. Establish community food gardens in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Local Economic Development, and Environmental Health.

Responses: Human Health Sub-Project: Manage increased malnutrition and hunger as a result of food insecurity Implement awareness campaigns to deal with malnutrition in collaboration with the Health Promotion Office and the Department of Health. Office of the Mayor special programmes to respond to issues of food security and malnutrition. Support programmes implemented by the Department of Agriculture such as training, maintenance, sustainability and community gardens. Support public awareness campaigns by the Department of Health.

Human Settlements

% Households in Informal Dwellings

Priority Indicators: Human Settlements Theme Indicator Title Human Settlements Increased isolation of rural communities

Responses: Human Settlements Project: Manage potential increased isolation of rural communities. Develop early warning systems to farming communities using media and encourage the use of indigenous knowledge. Expand existing Rural Roads Asset Management Systems (RRAMS) project to farm communities through the existing funding from Department of Transport (rural roads and asset management that links farming communities).

Responses: Human Settlements Project: Manage potential increased isolation of rural communities. Conduct research into the introduction of new communication technologies for early warning systems Promote awareness on climate change to farmers and remote communities Review current disaster contingency plans and include, within the plan, the evacuation and support of farming communities.

Water

Priority Indicators: Water Theme Indicator Title Water Decreased water quality in ecosystem due to increased concentrations of effluent & salt concentrations Manage increased fish mortality as a result of the changing climate

Responses: Water Project: Manage decreased water quality in ecosystems Increase internal capacity to deal with climate change and waste water issues, and review the staff organogram and existing budgets. Through technical intergovernmental relations (IGR), present to Local Municipalities on the impacts of climate change to the environment specifically the impact to wastewater treatment works. Advise Local Municipalities on policy implementation through the District Water Sector Forum.

Responses: Water Project: Manage decreased water quality in ecosystems Monitor the quality of water in rivers and dams by conducting regular audits to assess the quality of water upstream and downstream for both wet and dry seasons. Raise awareness on high pollution points.

Responses: Water Project: Manage increased fish mortality as a result of the changing climate Support the Department of Agriculture in the expansion of fish farms, expand to other towns in the district.

Local Government Climate Change Support Program 2016 Xhariep DM Climate Change Response Plan