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STUDY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT ON AGRICULTURE AND ADAPTATIONS STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA PhD Goran Trbic Country's Geography and Population Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) has the total surface of 51129 km2, and according to its geographical position in the Balkan Peninsula it belongs to the Adriatic basin and Black Sea basin Bosnia and Herzegovina belongs to the Danube an countries group, as well to the Mediterranean countries In accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement (DPA) from 1995, the State of Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) is administratively divided into two parts, i.e. the two autonomous entities: the Republic of Srpska (RS) and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FB&H). In addition, a separate District Brcko was established within Bosnia and Herzegovina's boarders According to the census from 1991, the total population was 4.377.033. Today it is estimated that over one million live abroad. GDP per capita of about 2500 USD, placing B&H among medium-developing countries. Overview of the General Climate Policy The following priorities were set up by the above mentioned Program: Capacity Building of Bosnia and Herzegovina to deal with climate change issues and fulfillment of the commitments related to the preparation of the National Communication and its submission to the UNFCCC within deadline set by the Convention’s provision; Creation of the national inventory system and estimates of changes of the greenhouse gases emission at the level of enterprises, entities and at the country level; Initiation of the projects with financial support of the GEF in the climate change focal area, regarding the energy efficiency and energy conservation, promoting the application of renewable energy, reducing the long-term costs of low greenhouse gas emitting energy technologies, and promoting environmentally sustainable transport; Overview of the General Climate Policy Collecting the necessary data and information and work on the Study of the B&H circumstances for ratification of the Kyoto Protocol; Preparation of the National Climate Action Plan for Bosnia and Herzegovina; Enhancing the cooperation with bodies of UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, Intergovernmental panel for climate changes (IPCC) and GEF; Initiation of the national Program and projects for capacity building under the Program of the World Meteorological Organization, in the fields of climate monitoring and climate extreme detection, early warning and forecasting, as well as climate database construction and management, using advanced methods and technologies; Initiation of the projects on synergy activities for the implementation of the UN Convention related to climate change, biodiversity and desertification. Other steps taken for implementation of the UNFCCC Bosnia and Herzegovina successfully finalized a two year ratification processes and the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC is ratified in July 2007 Although a Non-Annex I Party (developing country) to UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol, Bosnia and Herzegovina needs to does substantial work in the area of climate change The country is fully committed to meeting the requirements stipulated in the Article 4 (Commitments) and Article 12 (Communication and information related to implementation) of the Convention and B&H National Focal Point to UNFCCC in cooperation with other responsible institutions made all necessary action for Initial National Communication preparation. It is expected that its development will start this (2007) year Observation system, national scientific and technical research capacities Bosnia and Herzegovina is a member of WMO (World Meteorological Organization) and GCOS (Global Climate Observing System) At present, meteorological and hydrological observations and research are carried out by Hydro-meteorological Institutes in Republic of Srpska and Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina The existing capacities of the network of observing stations for systematic monitoring and reporting, both in terms of equipment and human resources is inadequate and insufficient Apart from the need for the optimization and modernization of the current hydro-meteorological network, there is a need for improvement and more investments to be engaged in national scientific and technical research capacities in the Country Research activities and capacity building efforts could comprise climate studies on possible impacts on different sensitive sectors to provide a base for: Development and implementation of methods for local climate change scenario; Development and implementation of methods for assessment of impacts, sensitivity and vulnerability to climate change; Development and implementation of methods for climate change risk assessment; Development of methods and measures for adaptation to climate change. Analysis of the climate change in B&H The main objectives of this study are to stock take background climate information necessary for the future climate change research and local climate change scenarios development (particularly for temperature and precipitation), with a temporal and spatial resolution appropriate for practical applications, such as agriculture effects of climate change assessment and options for adaptation development This study has also conducted research of basic climatic elements such as: air temperature and precipitation for Bosnia and Herzegovina for base referent period 19611990. General climate characteristics of Bosnia and Herzegovina Statistical analysis is primarily centered on surface air temperature and precipitation, the two variables most used in weather and climate assessment studies Tendency of climate extremes are analysed using series of the standardized precipitation index and days with air temperature higher 30°C From given reasons the climate of Bosnia and Herzegovina varies from temperate continental climate in the northern Panonian lowlands along the river Sava and in the foothill zone, to alpine climate in the mountain regions and Mediterranean climate in the coastal and lowest Herzegovina’s regions of the south and southeast. General climate characteristics of Bosnia and Herzegovina Fig. 1. Spacial distribution of the mean annual air temperature in B&H, period 1961-1990. General climate characteristics of Bosnia and Herzegovina Fig. 2. Spacial distribution of the mean annual precipitation in B&H, period 1961-1990 Climate trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the 20th century The temperature on the territory of B&H showed an increase by 0.6°C during the last century where precipitation has presented a reduction, but of no significant statistical importance From the analysis of the available data the following can be concluded 1.The 1901-1940 and 1950-1970 decades were the most cold of the century for all of the areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina 2. There is a trend of temperature increase during 20th century, particular after 1970, witch rate increase with time 3. The 2000 was the warmest year in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 20th century with the mean annual temperature of 2.0°C recorded above normal for the period 1961-1990. Climate trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the 20th century Regionally and locally, in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the same period the variations are as follow: 1. Meteorological stations in B&H show an increasing trend of temperature in 20th century. In this area, the temperature increased by 0.6°C during the period 1925-2000. Significant increase in temperature was occurred during the decades 1970-2000. Seasonal mean temperature for the summer months of the 1990 decade was the higher for 1°C in compare with mean 1961-1990 normal value, where in winter months the increase was smaller (about 0.3°C). The summer of the 2003 was the warmest in B&H during last 100 years. The winter 2006/2007 was the warmest in northern parts B&H during last 100 years, in the other parts between three warmest during last 100 years. Climate trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the 20th century 2. The precipitation in the Bosnia and Herzegovina especially Herzegovina and eastern part of B&H showing reduction trend over 20th century which is due to the reduction of the precipitation in the summer, spring and winter months 3. The decades 1950-1960 and 1980-2000 are the most drought decade in B&H. During the period 1950-2003 there was a gradual reduction of the precipitation, which lead to the great drought period during the decade 1990 4. However because of trends global worming the number of short warm periods are increasing also is evident large number of short cold periods what indicating on huge oscillations of temperatures. Analyses of precipitations indicate large number of pentads sum with extreme values. Processing pentad values we determined presence. We indicated cold and worm waves and large variability regime of precipitations. Climate trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the 20th century y = 0.006x + 9.6012 15 10 5 1990 1980 1970 1960 1950 1940 1930 1920 1910 0 1900 Annual av.air temper.0C Annual average air temperature trend for BiH, period 1901-2000 Climate trends in Bosnia and Herzegovina over the 20th century Precipitation (mm) Annual precipitation trend for Bosnia and Herzegovina, period 1901-2000 y = -0.2933x + 1044 2000 1500 1000 500 0 1 10 19 28 37 46 55 64 73 82 91 100 Climate change impact on agriculture in Bosnia and Herzegovina Beside these regional climate changes caused bay global climate changes, significant changes could be expected in a local area Following that scenario of partially application of measures for declining emitting of greenhouse gases, on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina could be also expected the increase of air temperature for 3-4 ºC under the average by the end of 21st Century In next few decades could be expected significant reduction of days with snow, reduction of rainfall in warm half of the year which would be resulted with reduction of soil humidity and availability of water resources Climate change impact on agriculture in Bosnia and Herzegovina Reduction of summer rainfall on territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina would be under 20% by the end of the century, and towards climate models in the worst possible scenario (continuing the usual practice of emitting of greenhouse gases), the increase of air temperature would be even bigger and rainfall deficit could reach 50% during the summer Accomplishing these regional and local climate changes particularly changes in rainfall regime during spring and summer followed by extreme increase of air temperature will have a negative influence on agriculture and other parts of economic that are under influence of climate and whether changes Climate change impact on agriculture in Bosnia and Herzegovina The impacts of climate change on agriculture are estimated to result in small percentage changes in global income, with positive changes in more developed regions and smaller or negative changes in developing regions (low to medium confidence) The effectiveness of adaptation (agronomic and economic) in ameliorating the impacts of climate change will vary regionally and depend a great deal on regional resource endowments, including stable and effective institutions These studies indicate that climate change will lower the incomes of vulnerable populations and increase the absolute number of people at risk of hunger (low confidence) Elaboration of potential adaptation measures Predicted climate changes in the decades to come represent a new challenge that is setting new specific requests in the field both of agricultural theory and practice Taking into consideration all of the previously mentioned, serious global strategies of future development of agriculture lean toward, above all, optimal exploatation of soil, what comprises the application of high technology on the most productive agricultural lands, so agricultural lands less suitable for the agricultural production, but rich in flora and fauna, could be preserved However, even such, more or less intensive technology has to be harmonised with the requests for sustainable agriculture and sustainable exploatation of soil, along with having respect for possible directions of climate change in some agroecological areas of Bosnia and Herzegovina Elaboration of potential adaptation measures Higher temperatures and lower humidity of the soil due to decrease in falls, will significantly impact biological, chemical and physical features of soil It is highly probable that the mentioned trends in temperature and falls will intensify processes of soil degradation because of the erosion caused by wind and water, as well as inadequate exploatation of soil Except the mentioned, this problem is more complex due to the fact that domestic farmers today are still not enough aware of the problem of climate changes, because they demonstrated their ability in the past to promptly adapt to climate variability and other factors. Key elements in approaching the problem of vulnerability and adaptation of agriculture to climate changes are not only changes of average climatic conditions, but climate extremes, variability and speed of climate changes Practices, obstacles and capacities needs in agriculture adaptation to climate change Extension of warm period, and consequently a prolongation of the vegetation period, will provide more possibilities for adaptation of agriculture, especially in higher and medium latitude and higher altitude, where the agricultural production is now limited by insufficient length of the period without frost A length of the vegetation season enables a change in selecting sorts and hybrids from the ones riping earlier to the ones which ripe later, giving more crops, then avoiding unsuitable periods concerning the providing of sufficient quantity of water deriving from precipitation, two harvests of crops with shorter vegetation, etc Regarding winter conditions for growing plants, heating of the atmosphere leads to less risk of damaging winter crops by frost and other unsuitable conditions of cold season Practices, obstacles and capacities needs in agriculture adaptation to climate change According to opinions of numerous experts, a genetic base for introduction of new sorts and hybrids of agricultural plants able of adapting to expected climatic conditions is rather broad, so, in this respect, significant effects can be expected It needs to be said that climate change in many regions will decrease water resources available for irrigation, because increase of evaporation will be higher than precipitation In such conditions, a matter of technology applications for rational usage of water in the irrigation, introduction of the system "drop by drop", and similar, will become even more spoken of Practices, obstacles and capacities needs in agriculture adaptation to climate change Also, even various agrotechnical measures directed to better economisation of water in the soil, such as, for example, early spring moulding up of furrows for the purpose of preserving winter humidity, and introduction of minimal or reduced soil exploatation and similar measures, may play an important role in avoiding damages which appeared under the influence of a very expressed sharpness of the climate, as well as growing of sorts and hybrids of some plants, tolerant to drought All mentioned options of adaptation of agriculture belong to the so-called "first group of tasks", and to them it needs to join proposals for improvement of damaged soil needed for broadening up of agricultural lands and increase in food production In comparison to the first group, the so-called "second group of tasks" predicts development of multi-functional agriculture, which, except food, also produces energy sources that are less dangerous for the pollution of the environment In order to achieve this, it is necessary to undertake a series of activities with the purpose of informing the public and strengthening capacities, as in the domain of research, so in the domain of training the farmers and decision-makers in the field of agriculture Improvement of monitoring the climate and crops of the most important grown plants, and providing of periodical climate estimations and agrometeorological information for the needs of agriculture and forestry, as well as information on the change in intent of usage of the soil in regional plans, represent important tasks for conducting successful adaptation of agriculture to projected climate changes Conclusions and recommendations Gaps, needs and priorities The Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Initial national communication is not implemented and adaptation measures for agriculture were not identified; Weak national capacity for comprehensive quantitative and qualitative Vulnerability and Adaptation (V&A) assessment, which should be put in broader socio- economic context to arrive at cost-effective adaptation measures; Poor data on adaptation options and lack of mechanisms for information sharing and management across agriculture sector; Limited awareness of stakeholders and population on climate change adaptation; Insufficient and limited funding for adaptation study Conclusions and recommendations Gaps, needs and priorities Priority on setting up a national strategy for adaptation to climate change and comprehensive implementation plans for adaptation. Within the BiH Initial National Comunication (INC) should be assessed vulnerability and identified adaptation measures as well as developed the “ Policy Framework for implementing adaptation measures”; Improving early warning and response systems; Developing and transferring of adaptation technologies; Education farmers on sensitive issues of climate change Bosnia and Herzegovina Capacity Building needs and priorities related to the implementation of UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol Actions might include the following Specific needs: Financial assistance for technological capacity building in the fields of systematic climate observation, data collection, processing, archiving, climate database development and climate change analysis and forecasting (meteorological, hydrological and other relevant instruments and equipments, hardware and software, etc.); Financial assistance for staff to take advantage of UNFCCC, IPCC, WMO, GCOS and other international institutions training opportunities related to: climate change impacts studies and projections, vulnerability, adaptations and mitigation assessment; national GHG emission inventory preparation and reporting; Actions might include the following Specific needs: Financial assistance for Project “Capacity building for adaptation to climate change in agriculture sector”; Enhance awareness and knowledge on climate changes, their possible impacts, and other related climate change issues in B&H; Support participation of stakeholders - Strengthen relevant and key research institutions and NGOs; Increasing investments in building capacity in the priority areas identified above and international aid are vital for Bosnia and Herzegovina to overcome barriers in reduction of vulnerability of agriculture to impacts of climate change through the adaptation measures Thank you for your attention!