Conclusions

•      Concerning the impacts of climate variability:
  •   Most of the basin shows evidence of the impacts of climate variability.
  •   Extreme meteorological events cause unwanted transboundary migration.
  •   Extreme meteorological events worsen gender inequity.

•      Concerning knowledge and information:
  •   The Northern Sector of the basin relies more on cultural beliefs concerning climate variability than the Southern Sector, which uses weather predictions.
  •   Citizen participation is the main ingredient for disaster prevention.

•   Required Strategic Actions:
  •   Improve citizen understanding of climate variability.
  •   Prioritize watersheds for management according to their exposure to climate variability.
  •   Promote creation of community associations and water committees that will manage water use.
  •   Strengthen drought and flood warning systems throughout the SJRB.

•    Best practices for coping with climate variability:
  •   Use improved seed for crops that are adapted to shorter cycles to benefit farmers. Some varieties are conditioned to resist both deficit and excess of humidity as well as to germinate in less time.
  •   Use organic fertilizers to reduce crop and other residues that can be washed to water sources by intense rainfall and flooding.
  •   Update legislation relevant to the prevention, mitigation and monitoring of potential and real disasters.
  •   When necessary, use the food for work program to help families affected by drought.
  •   Promote watershed committees that would care for water sources during drought, floods or hurricanes.
  •   Move livestock to areas with better grazing conditions during periods of drought.
  •   Treat water with specialized plants.
  •   Use water-harvesting techniques, especially during periods of water scarcity.
  •   Change planting dates according to weather predictions to take advantage of the best conditions for plant growth.
  •   Rely on technical weather prediction instead of traditional methods when planning the cropping cycle.
  •   Locate water storage tanks at sites having the highest elevation.
  •   Plant flood and humidity resistant crops
  •    Reforest and control deforestation around water sources.
  •   Form water committees to manage water sources and distribution.
  •   Monitor water quality, chlorinate water, and clean and dirty pipes, and search for new water sources.