The Limpopo River Basin is transboundary, spanning the four southern African countries of Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. While much of it is arid, with a highly variable climate that is prone to extreme weather, it is also known for its wide diversity of landscapes, biodiversity, wildlife, natural resources and people. Strengthening the overall resiliency of the Limpopo River Basin ecosystems, and the people dependent upon them, is necessary for sustainable development in the region.

This study attempts to understand the ability of the basin– as an integrated, interactive system – to absorb climate and development shocks and adapt to these. This is what will enable the building of resilience in the basin, noting that a highly vulnerable system is one that is highly sensitive to modest changes in climate, and one for which the ability to adapt is severely constrained (IPCC 2000a).

Recommended Citation: Petrie, B., Chapman, A., Midgley, A. and Parker, R. (2014) Risk, Vulnerability and Resilience in the Limpopo River Basin System: Climate change, water and biodiversity – a synthesis. For the USAID Southern Africa “Resilience in the Limpopo River Basin” (RESILIM) Program. OneWorld Sustainable Investments, Cape Town, South Africa.