An interview on climate change, challenges, and collaborative networks
Join us on a journey into the drylands as we mark World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. For this occasion, we interview Dr Nurit Hashimshony-Yaffe from the Academic College of Tel Aviv Yaffo, Israel, and a member of the COST Action DRYLANDS FACING CHANGE: INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH ON CLIMATE CHANGE, FOOD INSECURITY, POLITICAL INSTABILITY (Drylands).
Dr Hashimshony-Yaffe sheds light on the challenges faced by drylands and shares her experience of networking within this COST Action. “I had the chance to meet new colleagues, establish academic partnerships, and, most importantly, make new friends”, says Nurit.
What was the COST Action Drylands about and what were its main goals?
The COST Action Drylands focused on the communities living in dryland areas worldwide that have been severely affected by climate change. Their living conditions have deteriorated and their governments struggle to provide essential services. These regions face resource scarcity, such as water and land, and this affects their ability to sustain pasture and has necessitated changes in food production. The population faces high unemployment and profound political tensions, sometimes escalating into violence and civil war.
The primary objective of the Drylands network was to establish a platform for multidisciplinary collaboration across fields such as natural sciences, agriculture, environmental sciences, political sciences, history, anthropology and geography. The COST Action goal was to develop a comprehensive research and policy agenda for the drylands surrounding Europe, aiming to stimulate economic and institutional development while seeking solutions to political conflicts.
What was most rewarding about participating in Drylands?
It was my love of the desert that eventually drew me to studying drylands. In particular, I’m fascinated by the communal aspects of climate change here, and this became my main research focus.
Participating in this COST Action was truly rewarding for several reasons. Having the opportunity to gather with the same working group of researchers multiple times a year allowed us to get to know each other better, and opened doors for further research collaborations. Through interactions with other researchers, I discovered that this was an important issue with broader research aspects than I had initially realised, and significantly influenced my personal research agenda. One significant research project I initiated during the Action focused on renewable-energy infrastructure in Kenya. The informal Action discussions indirectly supported and motivated me to complete the research, which has recently been published.
Additionally, as we were all navigating the challenges posed by COVID-19 restrictions in the final months of Drylands, a new research group was formed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on pastoralist societies in dryland areas.
Please tell us about your book contribution and explain its importance.
The book I contributed to, called Drylands Facing Change – Interventions, Investments and Identities, is the main outcome of our COST Action. It focuses on the changes that occur when global interests and narratives intersect with the local struggles that have always existed in the drylands.
The significance of this book lies in the collaboration it showcases with our colleagues from dryland areas. This collaboration is crucial in addressing the challenges in addressing the unique issues faced by dryland regions.
Moreover, having our work published in an Open Access book provides us with a prestigious opportunity. It gives us a platform to share our research findings and insights with a broader audience, including policymakers, researchers, and practitioners. This publication helps raise awareness about the challenges of dryland areas and contributes to the existing knowledge in this field.
There was also quite some policy work happening within the Drylands network. Can you tell us about the policy briefs you were involved in?
I contributed to two specific policy briefs, and the process of creating them was a collaborative and highly rewarding experience.
One of the policy briefs focused on institutions and policy. Additionally, I participated as one of the authors in a collaborative paper led by another Israeli researcher, Ilan Stavi, ‘Multidimensional Food Security Nexus in Drylands under the Slow Onset Effects of Climate Change‘ that addresses the subject of land in dryland areas.
Furthermore, there is a policy brief that complements the collaborative paper on food security under climate change. You can access it at the following link: Policy Brief on Food Security under Climate Change.
These policy briefs are important tools for disseminating research findings and recommendations to policymakers and stakeholders. They provide practical insights and guidance on critical issues related to institutions, land, and food security in dryland areas.
What was your experience of networking within the Drylands COST Action?
Networking within Drylands was a valuable and timely opportunity for me. It provided a platform to gain a broader perspective on the impacts of climate change in dryland areas across the world. A key focus of our discussions was recognising the significance of local populations in addressing the climate crisis.
Regular Action meetings fostered a warm and inviting atmosphere, thanks to our Action chairs. I had the chance to meet new colleagues, establish academic partnerships, and, most importantly, make new friends.
What is the Drylands network up to since the official end of the Action?
Since the end of the Action, I have been collaborating with Dr Qian Zhang from Stockholm University to establish a ‘Post-COST Drylands Action Forum‘. The main purpose of this forum is to continue the exchanges and networking among researchers who were part of the Drylands COST Action. It is a platform to sustain the ongoing sharing of knowledge and keep each other informed about activities and interests related to drylands.
As part of this forum, we organise online sessions once a month, inviting experts to discuss various topics. For instance, on digitalization in drylands, and on the situation in Ukrainian drylands. These sessions provide valuable opportunities to learn from experts in different fields and continue our engagement with dryland issues.
