Assessing Community Adaptive Capacity to Climate Change Through Watershed Management: A Case Study of Walacha Watershed, Damot Gale Woreda, Wolaita Zone

Climate change presents significant challenges to agricultural communities, particularly resource-limited households in developing regions. Watershed management has been implemented as a strategy to enhance adaptive capacity and promote self-sufficiency in food, fuelwood, and fodder. The purpose of this study is to assess communities' adaptive capacity to climate change through watershed management practices in the Walacha Watershed of Damot Gale Woreda, It examined communities' climate change adaptive interventions, watershed management strategies, and factors influencing both indigenous and technology-based adaptation in Walacha Watershed. Using a survey research design, data were collected from 140 farm households through questionnaires, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. Quantitative data from questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequencies, percentages, and chi-square tests. Qualitative data from interviews, discussions, and observations were analyzed thematically to complement and triangulate quantitative findings. Findings reveal that watershed management activities predominantly focus on farmland conservation, with landowners benefiting more than smallholders. Most interventions are implemented through government-mandated community mobilization rather than farmer initiative. Indigenous knowledge, local crops, and livestock receive inadequate attention despite their potential for climate adaptation. The study identifies institutional, socioeconomic, and technical factors constraining effective watershed management and recommends integrated, participatory approaches that recognize local knowledge and address the needs of diverse stakeholders.