Global warming, desertification and water scarcity are severely challenging the living conditions of rural populations. However, natural resource depletion and competing forms of use do not necessarily lead to violent conflicts, as recent research shows. They also present an opportunity for environmental cooperation, community empowerment and conflict prevention, while the literature on climate change and conflict suffers from a case selection bias, which leads to neglect of the peaceful outcome option. In order to understand the dynamics present in a climate change and conflict context, researchers are encouraged to increasingly focus on peaceful and nonviolent contexts.
The proposed project takes up this idea. It investigates the daily practices of small-scale farmers in the region south of Bouhedma National Park by asking the following research questions:
– How do they navigate daily natural resource challenges?
– How do they adapt to land degradation and ecological deprivation?
– What role do women play in this context and how is gender presented?
The project contributes to a better understanding of how rural communities in drylands negotiate natural resources on a daily basis and the consequences this has for (local) peace and conflict prevention.

Contact: lisa.lippert[at]uni-hamburg.de
On the research project: Click here