**3. Study area and methods**

### **3.1 Description of the study area**

Located in the semi-arid region, the northern-most province (Limpopo) of South Africa, Mopani District Municipality is a category C municipality (**Figure 1**).

The district consist of five local Municipalities, including: Greater Giyani, (the district administrative seat), Maruleng, Greater Letaba, Ba-Phalaborwa and Greater Tzaneen. The municipality is situated on Longitudes: 29° 52´E to 31° 52´E and Latitudes: 23° 0´S to 24° 38´S, with 31° E as the central meridian. It covers 13,948.418 ha (10.2%) of the surface area of South Africa. It shares boundaries in the east with Mozambique, in the north, with Vhembe District Municipality through Thulamela & Makhado municipalities, while bordered in the south, by Mpumalanga province through Ehlanzeni District Municipality and, by Capricorn District Municipality to the west [72].

## **3.2 Climate of Mopani District**

Being within the semi-arid region, the district is characterized by temperature that ranges from a high average of 21°C in the Mountainous areas with a very high average of 25°C in the dry low-veld areas of Kruger National Park. In the district Frost rarely occurs, while the monthly distribution of the average daily maximum temperatures indicates that the average midday temperatures for Mopani Rest Camp (Kruger) range from 23.7°C in June to 30°C in January. The region is the coldest during June when the mercury drops to 8°C on average during the night. The District falls within the Letaba Catchment area, which is 13 779 km<sup>2</sup> and has a mean annual

**137**

deforestation.

**Figure 1.**

*and South Africa Context.*

**3.3 Methods**

*Households' Adaptation to Climate Change Hazards in Semi-Arid Region of Mopani, South…*

precipitation of 612mm (Environmental Management Framework for the Olifants

*Mopani District municipality showing the five local Municipalities within the context of Limpopo Province* 

Mopani Rest Camp (Kruger) receives about 520 mm of rain per year, with most proportion (85%) of precipitation in Mopani District is received in mid-summer, while with the lowest (3 mm) is received in June and the highest (96 mm) in January [72]. The rainfall varies from the mountainous zones in the Drakensberg Mountains (2000 mm/a) and the dry low-veld in the Kruger National Park (400 mm/a). The district is situated within the Letaba Catchments area which has a 612

Climate is recognized by the municipality to be changing, altering and resulting to rising temperature and reduced and erratic rainfall across the district, which is a reflection of the regional climate [58, 75]. The new climate pattern according to the district Integrated Development Plan has caused reduction of access to potable water, food security threats and increase health effects to poverty stricken communities [72]. Part of the strategies identified in the planning instrument for the mitigation of the emission of global warming causing-gases include: utilizing every space for plants, using alternative forms of energy and strict control against

Consequent upon climate change challenges, households in Mopani have consistently adopted several private and individual strategies to adapt with the varying climate change extreme events. In line with this, we examine the individual household coping strategies to climate change related extreme events and hazards in six purposively selected small and medium-sized towns (Tzaneen, Nkowankowa, Hoedspruit, Modjadjiskloof, Phalaborwa and Giyani) in Mopani District. Sample size of 500 were estimated and drawn using multistage random sampling method,

and Letaba river catchment areas, Report, 2009).

mm Mean annual precipitation.

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94759*

*Households' Adaptation to Climate Change Hazards in Semi-Arid Region of Mopani, South… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.94759*

**Figure 1.**

*Natural Hazards - Impacts, Adjustments and Resilience*

coping with climate change in the selected towns.

**3. Study area and methods**

**3.1 Description of the study area**

District Municipality to the west [72].

**3.2 Climate of Mopani District**

change in Urban Policy.

infrastructure development, these efforts are largely viewed as inadequate [71]. Not so much achievements have been recorded in the mainstreaming of climate change to urban planning. The municipalities in Mopani District are still relying on the National Urban Policy without plans (currently) to have theirs that embrace the economic, political, social and environmental peculiarities of their respective areas. However, the adoption of the Paris Agreement as well as the New Urban Agenda, signaled a renewed motivation for action, particularly to mainstreaming climate

The Mopani District Municipality in line with the National Disaster

Management Act 2005 acknowledges the current and the potential climate change threats to both human and the environment. It equally recognizes the need for actions to mitigate, as well as prepare for the projected changes (adaptation) in the District. Consequent upon this, the district municipality in 2016 developed Vulnerability Assessment and Climate Change Response Plan to prioritize the development of Climate Change Response strategies. The Plan recognizes several numbers of ways that climate change will impact on human settlements across the district and thus identifies related indicators, sub-projects and actions for inclusion in the service delivery and the plans for budget implementation [72]. Our field survey revealed that the identified projects are held for paucity of funds.

The frustrations from the failure of municipalities to guarantee the protection of households through the implementation of a pragmatic actions have prompted private adaptation initiatives across the selected towns in the district to curtail the impacts of climate change. The section of this chapter succeeding the description of the study area and methods, addresses the various initiatives of households towards

Located in the semi-arid region, the northern-most province (Limpopo) of South Africa, Mopani District Municipality is a category C municipality (**Figure 1**). The district consist of five local Municipalities, including: Greater Giyani, (the district administrative seat), Maruleng, Greater Letaba, Ba-Phalaborwa and Greater Tzaneen. The municipality is situated on Longitudes: 29° 52´E to 31° 52´E and Latitudes: 23° 0´S to 24° 38´S, with 31° E as the central meridian. It covers 13,948.418 ha (10.2%) of the surface area of South Africa. It shares boundaries in the east with Mozambique, in the north, with Vhembe District Municipality through Thulamela & Makhado municipalities, while bordered in the south, by Mpumalanga province through Ehlanzeni District Municipality and, by Capricorn

Being within the semi-arid region, the district is characterized by temperature that ranges from a high average of 21°C in the Mountainous areas with a very high average of 25°C in the dry low-veld areas of Kruger National Park. In the district Frost rarely occurs, while the monthly distribution of the average daily maximum temperatures indicates that the average midday temperatures for Mopani Rest Camp (Kruger) range from 23.7°C in June to 30°C in January. The region is the coldest during June when the mercury drops to 8°C on average during the night. The District

and has a mean annual

falls within the Letaba Catchment area, which is 13 779 km<sup>2</sup>

**136**

*Mopani District municipality showing the five local Municipalities within the context of Limpopo Province and South Africa Context.*

precipitation of 612mm (Environmental Management Framework for the Olifants and Letaba river catchment areas, Report, 2009).

Mopani Rest Camp (Kruger) receives about 520 mm of rain per year, with most proportion (85%) of precipitation in Mopani District is received in mid-summer, while with the lowest (3 mm) is received in June and the highest (96 mm) in January [72]. The rainfall varies from the mountainous zones in the Drakensberg Mountains (2000 mm/a) and the dry low-veld in the Kruger National Park (400 mm/a). The district is situated within the Letaba Catchments area which has a 612 mm Mean annual precipitation.

Climate is recognized by the municipality to be changing, altering and resulting to rising temperature and reduced and erratic rainfall across the district, which is a reflection of the regional climate [58, 75]. The new climate pattern according to the district Integrated Development Plan has caused reduction of access to potable water, food security threats and increase health effects to poverty stricken communities [72]. Part of the strategies identified in the planning instrument for the mitigation of the emission of global warming causing-gases include: utilizing every space for plants, using alternative forms of energy and strict control against deforestation.

#### **3.3 Methods**

Consequent upon climate change challenges, households in Mopani have consistently adopted several private and individual strategies to adapt with the varying climate change extreme events. In line with this, we examine the individual household coping strategies to climate change related extreme events and hazards in six purposively selected small and medium-sized towns (Tzaneen, Nkowankowa, Hoedspruit, Modjadjiskloof, Phalaborwa and Giyani) in Mopani District. Sample size of 500 were estimated and drawn using multistage random sampling method,

with proportional share to each towns. Guided by the focus of this chapter, data collection methods emphasizes direct/personal interviews, questionnaire and visual inspection/ transect walk in order to ensure a high rate of response. Though the study adopts mixed method, open-ended questions were minimized, and wellordered, where necessary. Review of existing literature was used to complement the current research findings. The investigated variables were isolated because of their being the direct location-specific effects occasioned by climate change. These variables are categorized into three, these include: those strategies related to increased temperature; reduced water level (rainfalls); and incidence of flood. These variables were cross tabulated against the selected towns of respondents and are discussed as follow.
