CTA Seminar 2008 on the Implications of Climate Change for Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems
CTA Seminar 2008 on the Implications of Climate Change for Sustainable Agricultural Production Systems Climate change continues to impact on agriculture, fisheries and the natural environment. As more than 70% of those living in ACP countries work in the agricultural sector, the environmental and social consequences of climate change is putting livelihoods at serious risk.
Climate change requires the development of natural resource management strategies that ensure the sustainable use of soils and water, halt biodiversity decline and deal with emerging issues such as the growing demand for renewable energy. Such interventions depend, however, on the availability of well-managed information and reliable communication.
In this context, CTA is organizing an international seminar on the implications of global climate change for sustainable agricultural production systems in ACP countries. The conference will take place in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from
26-31 October, 2008.
The overall objective of the seminar is to contribute to improving the livelihood and food security of rural communities in the various agro-ecological zones of ACP countries. More specifically, the seminar aims at:
Raise the awareness of policy makers and rural communities to the impacts of climate change on agricultural and rural development;
Identify the information and communication needs of decision makers and rural communities concerned with formulating and implementing activities that will ensure adaptation to and the mitigation of the detrimental effects of climate change on agricultural production systems;
Identify appropriate strategies to meet these needs.
2 .1 Objectives of the E-discussion
The purpose of this electronic discussion is to make it possible for various experts to share their opinions and thoughts on the seminar themes. It will also provide those not attending the conference with an opportunity to contribute their ideas and experiences thus broadening and deepening the debate and the information available.
2 .2 Target groups
Those targeted in the E-discussion include experts from the six ACP regions, national institutions in EU countries as well as regional and international organisations concerned with the interaction between climate change, agricultural production systems and the environment. They include:
Political decision-makers and planners;
ACP governmental development organisations in charge of agricultural and rural development and environmental issues;
Staff of national agricultural research institutes in ACP countries (agronomists, climatologists, hydrologists, ecologists, veterinarians, agro-pastoralists, sociologists, economists);
Members of national institutions in EU countries and regional/international organisations;
Representatives of rural communities;
Representatives of the media, journalists, and information/communication specialists.
2.3 Participant list
Invitations to the E-discussion will be sent to experts who:
Responded to the on-line questionnaire in October 2007;
Submitted proposals for summaries;
Registered for the seminar;
Have been proposed by CTA partners or members of the seminar steering committee.
More than 800 experts on climate change and agricultural and rural development in ACP countries are registered to participate in the e-discussion.
2.4 Languages
To allow those involved in the E-discussion to participate more actively, the E-discussion will be held in French and English simultaneously. The discussion stimulated by each of the questions will be summarized in both languages.
2.5 Themes and objectives of discussion
The seminar will cover a variety of themes and these will be treated by E-discussion experts with very different profiles. The challenge is to organise the E-discussion in a way that will allow everyone to participate actively. Discussion questions have, therefore, been designed with this challenge in mind.
Objectives: these questions should make it possible to identify information strategies and tools already being used. They should also enable the inventorisation of information tools and strategies that can support the efforts of political decision-makers and rural communities involved in climate change adaptation activities and programmes.
Four questions suggested:
1. (a) In which of the themes below are you interested in relation to participating in this e-discussion (a maximum of 2)?
(b) In your views, what are the climate change constraints related to the themes you selected (ensure link to 1 a)?
2 What are the mechanisms and activities implemented or should be implemented in order to mitigate these constraints?
At policy maker level;
At rural community level.
3. What are the lessons learnt and best practices that can be derived from mechanisms or activities that have been implemented?
At policy maker level;
At rural community level.
4. (a) What information and communications activities were developed or should be developed in order to share the lessons leant and best practices ?
At policy maker level;
At rural community level.
(b) How could information and communications activities and tools be made more effective?
At policy maker level;
At rural community level
2.6 Facilitation
The Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (UA/IBAR) will be responsible for moderating the E-discussion: Dr Yemi Akinbamijo for the discussions in English and Dr Nouala Simplice for the discussions in French.
The e-mails send to the E-discussion address will be read by the seminar moderators prior to distribution to all participants to avoid duplication and mailing errors and to ensure high quality and appropriate content.
E-mail contributions can include:
- Direct responses to points of discussion raised;
- Questions and suggestions for further points of discussion;
- Explanations of your personal involvement and perspective;
- Documents to share your knowledge, data, new research results, etc.
To prevent your mailbox becoming overfull, large messages will be sent to you in the form of a short summary with a link to the full document. In addition, all messages and contributions will be posted in the proceedings section of the electronic conference. At the end of each session the main points of the discussion will be summarised by the E-conference moderators.
2.7 Implementation schedule
The electronic discussion will last nine weeks from 18 August to 24 October 2008. The length of time taken to discuss each question will be adjusted as necessary.
Suggested calendar:
| Period | Activities |
| 1-22 August 2008 |
|
| 18 -22 August 2008 | Pre-electronic discussion |
| 25 August - 3 Sept. 2008 | Discussion of first question |
| 4 – 12 September 2008 |
|
| 15 - 19 September 2008 | Discussion of the 2nd question |
| 22 - 26 September 2008 | Synthesis of the second question |
| 29 Sept. - 3 October 2008 | Discussion of the third question |
| 6 - 10 October 2008 | Synthesis of the third question |
| 13 – 17 October 2008 | Discussion of the fourth question |
| 19 - 24 October 2008 | Synthesis of fourth question and the synthesis |
| 26 to 31 October 2008 |
|
CC License
Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation ACP-EU (CTA)