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Abstract Archaeological studies typically describe arid areas as extremely unpleasant areas for human occupation and use. Without suggesting that arid areas are pleasant places, however, this paper provides a reassessment of the meaning of aridity for an area showing a vast amount of evidence of (past) human activities. Several climatic proxy data suggest that at the transition between the late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age (around c. 1300-1100 BC) the southern Levant witnessed more arid conditions, while after 1100 BC relatively moist conditions would have prevailed. In drylands, small changes in temperature and water availability can have large effects on subsistence options. Building on cooperation between an archaeologist and a water scholar, this paper offers an approach to study how people in the past were able to craft a livelihood in the arid environments in the southern Levant and elsewhere. Focusing on the Zerqa area, the paper explores the potential of this cooperation by studying effects of climatic changes at the transition from the Late Bronze Age to the Iron Age through a modelling approach. Changes in temperature and moisture availability were simulated, showing that increased aridity could have been met by either naturally available water (especially groundwater) or artificially added water (although the timing appears to be crucial). While the model approach under discussion offers an approximation of the past, it shows the potential impact of climatic changes on the subsistence of past communities. It shows that details can mean the difference between survival or collapse. Highlights • Modelling provides boundaries for thinking about ancient resilience. • Rainfed crop yields could be sustained with irrigation, even in the frequent dry years. • Increasing aridity might have been a trigger for expanding the irrigation system. • The Zerqa Triangle was affected by the LBA crisis, yet continuity is visible as well. • Aridity did not necessarily bring crisis, even in arid areas like the Zerqa Triangle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryland smallholders are faced with the challenges of achieving resilience and agricultural sustainability. This is in addition to constraints such as lack of capital, inputs, and often poor extension services. The risk of extreme weather events poses a great challenge to food security in drylands as the impacts of climate change increases. This paper examines the challenges faced by smallholders and the limitations of traditional farming systems in Sudano-Sahelian zones amidst climate change and emerging armed conflicts with special focus on the Sudano-Sahelian Nigerian drylands. The review reports three key findings as follows: first, smallholders have been active in managing short-term environmental risks and challenges by using local knowledge to improve production and short-term resilience. Secondly, concerns about potential longer-term climatic changes such as longer droughts, desertification, the impact of the drying of the Lake Chad, armed conflicts and extreme weather events could hinder resilience. Third, an increasing rainfall variability, soil/nutrient degradation and farming systems adopted could limit or undermine resilience strategies, especially if new environmental challenges exceed those previously experienced. This review suggests a need for additional research into innovative drylands' sustainability and resilience practices in response to a changing climate linked to other social challenges. • Drylands smallholders are resilient to changes in the climate they have experienced. • Production is restricted by new social challenges. • Climate change, and other challenges will limit food security. • Current adaptation not sufficient if new environmental challenges emerge. • More innovative strategies should be researched into for resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to examine the beef value chain and identify climate change adaptation and investment options in the semi-arid areas of northern Kenya. The research uses an innovative approach to value chain analysis, namely the three-step Value Chain Analysis for Resilience in Drylands (VC-ARID) that considers the specific characteristics of semi-arid systems. All the respondents interviewed along the value chain have perceived changes in rainfall, temperature and climate extremes – especially drought – over the past 15 years and have experienced the impacts of these changes on their livestock. The findings show that pastoralist producers need to invest in fattening programmes at their ranches or via feedlots to increase the quality of the beef they produce. There is significant potential to improve the fattening stage in the value chain, since it would contribute towards meeting demand in the expanding high-end markets that require finished, top-quality meats. • Pastoralists beef value chain is more informal, traditional, extensive pastoralism. • Private ranches value chain is formal and incorporates fattening of livestock. • Pastoralists rely on mobility for coping with climate risk. • Climate change has negatively impacted on semi-Arid livestock production. • There is potential to improve and expand the fattening stage of the value chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]