Search

Continued urbanization has led to tremendous changes on the landscape. These changes have exacerbated the effects of extreme climatic events such as flooding because of constrained water infiltration and increased surface flow. Typical runoff control measures involve sophisticated gray infrastructure that guide excess surface flow into storage and disposal sites. In a dynamic climate system, these measures are not sustainable since they cannot be easily modified to accommodate large volumes of runoff. Green Infrastructure (GI) is an adaptable technique that can be used to minimize runoff, in addition to offering an array of additional benefits (urban heat regulation, aesthetics, improved air quality etc.). Strategic placement of GI is key to achieving maximum utility. While physical site characteristics play a major role in determining suitable GI placement sites, knowledge of future precipitation patterns is crucial to ensure successful flood mitigation. In this paper, suitable GI sites within the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, were determined based on potential impact of an extreme flood event as indicated by site characteristics. Then, the relative potential likelihood of a flood event was determined based on projected precipitation data and knowledge of existing flood zones. By combining potential impact with likelihood information, low, medium, and high priority GI implementation sites were established. Results indicate that high priority sites are in the central parts of the city with priority decreasing outward. The GI prioritization scheme presented here, offers valuable guidance to city planners and policy makers who wish to exploit the GI approach for flood mitigation. • Paving and vegetation removal exacerbate the effects of extreme flood events. • Green infrastructure (GI) is a sustainable and adaptable flood mitigation technique. • Downscaled precipitation projections are essential for sustainable local GI placement. • Effectiveness of flood control GI is dependent on prioritization of placement sites. • Risk-based GI prioritization defined by potential impact and likelihood of floods. [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]