Rural Community Perspectives on Preparedness and Adaptation to Climate-Change and Demographic Pressure

This study investigates local-scale adaptation and long-run capacity building in acequia communities in Northern New Mexico, where there is a long record of resilience and adaptive capacity spanning more than four centuries. These communities may be particularly vulnerable to current stresses from population growth, changing community composition, and projections of water scarcity that are expected to accompany long-run climatic changes. This paper uses a survey approach to explore factors and community characteristics that contribute to community adaptation, the level and extent of community preparedness, and the preferred community actions to cope with stresses and disturbances. Key findings suggest that land ownership and acequias' attachment to water and community have helped these communities cope with environmental and community-based stresses. Results showed divided opinions regarding the degree of "perceived preparedness" and "perceived vulnerability" to disturbances such as population change and growth, aggressive regional development, economic hardships, and droughts.