Does this question mean to uncover adaptive responses to natural or anthropogenic environmental change (or perhaps even both)? The accompanying text suggests the query relates to the anthropogenic change. But, would the source(s) of the problem not condition the type(s) and scope of human response by means of what scientific and other information is available, how the phenomenon is understood, what might motivate group (or organizational) change, what decision-making processes become necessary? The historicity of the event would seem important too. (For one, the decline of Egypt's New Kingdom in the 12th century B.C.—apparently caused by poor Nile floods over 50–70 years, but also economic stagnation, dynastic weakness, sociopolitical instability, and foreign pressures—might be worthy of interest.)

See Houria Djoudi's relatively recent, but already historical, work on economic opportunities developed from management of a forest that grew in a dry lake bed in Burkina Faso. Lake resources were lost, forest resources were gained. Social change, including gendered employment and migration dynamics, occurred, bringing new challenges.

Thanks to both of you for your suggestions. Olivier, natural and anthropogenic change is in scope and you are right about how the problem is addressed is contingent upon how the problem is perceived. But case studies do need to contain an element of documentation about decision making in relation to adaptation responses and options. So the Egyptian example is a bit out of scope unfortunately. Louis, Houria's work is a perfect example of what I was looking for, and I am collaborating with her on transformative adaptation research.

Greening Australia's work in Boorowa, NSW to address salinity and river recovery was undertaken over at least ten years and involved the immediate community as well as volunteers from further afield. It was funded through the Australian Government's Caring for Country Initiative.It was well documented and some of the people involved are probably still at the GA ACT Office.

Thanks Di.I'll chase it up. Cheers, Matt

Hi Matt. Yes, essentially that is what my PhD was one with respect to river management. See this paper for a synthesis of the special issue:

Author: Pittock, J.

Year: 2009

Title: Lessons for climate change adaptation from better management of rivers

Journal: Climate and Development

Volume: 1

Issue: 3

Pages: 194-211

I'm also a great fan of this work that has lessons for adaptation:

Author: Huitema, D. and Meijerink, S.

Year: 2010

Title: Realizing water transitions. the role of policy entrepreneurs in water policy change

Journal: Ecology and Society

Volume: 15

Issue: 2

Pages: 26 [online]

Cheers - Jamie

Dear Matt (if I may?),

First of all, thanks so much for posting this -- your project sounds fascinating, and I'd love to hear more about it!  Regarding your question, I'm not sure if this is quite what you're looking for, but I've just published a paper in The Journal of North African Studies which explores the social, economic, and political impacts of severe drought upon the important medieval trading city of Sijilmasa in southeastern Morocco, and also proposes that the available archaeological and historical evidence indicates that efforts were made to mitigate the risks of severe drought, chiefly via a major hydroengineering program in the area during the mid-to-late 11th century CE.  I can't publicly post a PDF copy of the paper here for copyright-related reasons, unfortunately, but in case the paper might be of interest, I've here's the link and the pertinent reference information:

Author: Adam W. Schneider

Title: The Medieval Climate Anomaly as a factor in the history of Sijilmasa, southeastern Morocco

Journal: The Journal of North African Studies

Year: 2016 (published online -- the print version won't be available until next spring)

Pages: 21 (online)

Good luck with your research, and best regards,

Adam

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13629387.2016.1239079?scroll=top&needAccess=true

Hi Jamie and Adam, Thank you both for your contributions. I am working my way through the references you suggested. Kind Regards, Matt

Matt, I think a good and current example is what is being done in Netherlands to cope with flooding as the one occurred in 1953, when over 8,000 people died and about 10% of cropland was destroyed.  How the Dutch people perceived the threat and how such perception has been modulated more recently by growing evidences of the link between human activities, global warming and sea level rise falls, I believe, is within the scope of your research. The huge chain of flood protection structures that were constructed at the Rhine-Meuse-Scheldt Delta, and the decision-making process is well documented. Although the Deltawerks, devised by the Dutch engineer Johan van Veen, were finished in 1986, there are many public works for managing storm and flood waters being constructed. Adaptation for the Dutch people is a way of life. You can find plenty of publications related to the Deltawerken from the  Watersnoodmuseum site at. [email protected] or Phone to +31 (0)111 – 644 382

Another current example, in the same realm, is that of the adaptations to sea level rise and increasing flooding of coastal urban centers as those in South Florida, where local governments began working together to develop join policies and programs to mitigate, adapt and to become more resilient communities to cope with climate change and sea level rise. The result of such undertaking is a list of about 100 recommendations to guide implementation of appropriate measures. See the following website:  http://www.southeastfloridaclimatecompact.org/

Many thanks Henry and Alwynne, I've added the Netherlands and the Great Plains to my lists. Alwynne - thanks for those references and for pointing out the US and Canadian responses to the Dust Bowl experience were different. The work of the Prairie Farm Rehabilitation Administration looks especially interesting from the perspective of societal changes in values, rules and knowledge! Kind Regards, Matt

Matt, Henry Briceño mentions the response in the Netherlands to major flooding in the 20th century but they have a long history of adaptation to environmental change in that country. In the Middle Ages the Netherlands was facing a massive man made environmental problem: sinking peat bogs. This was caused by draining of the peat areas for agriculture and peat digging of fuel causing entire regions to sink below sea level. The response was collective construction of defences against flooding and drainage infrastructure. The following publications will be of interest to you:

Dam, Petra J. E. M. van, “Sinking Peat Bogs: Environmental Change in Holland, 1350–1550”,Environmental History, 6 (2001) 32-45

Dam, Petra J.E.M. van, “Ecological Challenges, Technological Innovations. The Modernization of Sluice Building in Holland, 1300-1600”, Technology and Culture, 43, 3 (2002) 500-520

Another example of adaptation to environmental change are the Norse in Greenland. The latest discoveries indicate that they adapted the changing climate but that increased isolation from Europe became this society fatal in the end. See: http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/11/why-did-greenland-s-vikings-disappear

I hope that these examples are helpful.

Thanks Jan very helpful! Cheers, Matt