Assessment of Adaptation Options for Coping with Climate Change Impact

Climate change is one of the most important global environmental challenges, with implications on food production, water supply, health and energy. This study aims to monitor and assess climate change and variability in Sudan's Butana region, assess their impact on the livelihoods of pastoral communities, determine the best investment options in the livestock species based on three tropical livestock units (TLU), and assess the pastoralists' perceptions on intervention options to cope with climate change. Three states namely; Gadarif, Gezira and Khartoum states, out of five states constituting Butana region were chosen to be study areas.To cope with climate change impacts, the study recommended adoption of some adaptation options such as water harvesting techniques, matching the herd size and composition with the carrying capacity in term of rangeland area, density and type of grasses preferred by animals, resting and deferred grazing areas which represent the most important determinants which help in reducing the pressure on the rangeland resources. This is plus encouraging the use of genetics via cross breeding with heat and disease tolerant breeds.