ABSTRACT
The negative effects of climate change on water resources are internationally recognized. One of the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol is for all the parties to 'cooperate in preparing for adaptation to impacts of climate change, develop and elaborate appropriate and integrated plans for coastal zone management, water resources and agriculture and for the protection and rehabilitation of areas, particularly in Africa affected by drought and desertification as well as flood" (Kyoto Protocol, 1997, Article 4(e)). The southern African climate system is prone to flood, drought, and extreme weather events, and displays an inherent degree of seasonal and interannual variability.
