Assessing smallholders livelihood vulnerability to climate change in the Konso cultural landscape world heritage site

Climate change is significantly increasing vulnerability among smallholders in the Konso Cultural Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Ethiopia. The study reveals that prolonged drought and erratic rainfall are severely impacting livelihoods and cultural heritage, with ecosystems showing high sensitivity to climate change. Smallholders' adaptive capacities are weakening, shifting focus from collective heritage management to short-term survival needs. This highlights critical implications for the sustainable management of the site, emphasizing the need for tailored adaptation strategies to improve livelihoods and conserve the unique cultural landscape. The research used a cross-sectional survey design with 371 smallholders across three districts, employing the Livelihood Vulnerability Index approach and principal component analysis to assess vulnerability factors.

Assen, Y. M., Kura, A. L., Stellmacher, T., Gella, A., & Degefu, M. A. (2026). Assessing smallholders livelihood vulnerability to climate change in the Konso cultural landscape world heritage site. Discover Applied Sciences, 8(8). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-026-08840-6