Short-distance migrations help communities manage climate shocks: Study

Many migrate short distances inside their own countries to harness opportunities out there or adapt to shocks and stressors in their life.

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Short-distance migration — accounting for the most considerable portion of global migratory movements — is very critical for climate change adaptation, according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UEA).

Most migratory movements, contrary to popular belief, involve short-distance relocation caused primarily by economic, social and environmental variables such as climate change, said Everyday mobility and changing livelihood trajectories: Implications for vulnerability and adaptation in dryland regions report.

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“Supporting and enabling this migration will help people to continue to adapt to the pressures in their lives,” Tebboth said in a press release.

The drylands of Ghana, Kenya and Namibia are the areas analysed when it comes to Africa. Arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas are collectively known as drylands — the largest global biome — covering 45 per cent of the Earth’s surface and home to more than a third of the population.

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