Bhuju climate change and mountain people Nepal poster
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STUDY AREA Ramechhap District,( 27 0 28'N-27 0 50' N; 85 0 50'-86 0 35' E; area: 1564.33 sq km); Elevation:369m-7,000 m) Central Mid-Mountain of Nepal The second most vulnerable to climate change Four drought prone VDCs of the district This is a case from Pakarbas VDC (86°01' 56.51" - 86° 57'02.60"E, 27° 21'03.99"- 27°26'18.68"N; Elevation: 480– 1580 m msl) Subtropical to temperate climate Natural resource and agriculture based livelihood INTRODUCTION Nepal is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change due to its mountain topogra- phy, weak institutional capacity, poor economy, and less opportunities for livelihood diversifi- cation. Government has formulated policies such as National Adaptation Plan for Action (NAPA) to Cli- mate Change, Climate Change Policy and Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) to climate Change. However, communities are facing tremendous constraints in managing adverse impacts of cli- mate change due to the lack of science based knowledge on the impacts of climate change, management options and adaptation technologies. In 2012, Resources Himalaya Foundation conducted a research study to understand local per- OBJECTIVES To understand people’s perception on climate change To know impacts of climate change on agriculture & livelihood, and To document adaptation activities of local communi- ties Understanding Climate Change and Mountain People of Nepal METHODS Focus Group Discussion Community Level (29 persons) Decision Makers (10 persons) ADAPTATION PRACTICES Children and Women in queue for water Padlocking well for water protection Indicators Perceived Changes Rainfall Monsoon rainfall one month late and retreats three weeks earlier than in past; In the past, rainfall at least four times (spread in 8 months) in a year, now hardly two times (spread in 4 months); In the past, continuous rainfall in monsoon (mid June-1st week of Septem- ber, now erratic and short (mid July-Mid August) Warm (Hot) days Summer starts one month later: hot days-2nd week of Feb. to end of August in past, now 2nd week of March to 2nd Week of September; intense hot days in past - from 2nd week of March to Early July, now - 2nd week of April to Mid July Cold days Winter starts two weeks later: In past, cold days-1 st week of September to 1st week of March, now October to 3 rd week of March; In past, very cold from early Dec. to 2 nd week of February, at present mid Dec. to End of February Drought Drought duration has increased more than 3 folds: Two times in past- one from mid Feb. to end of March and another last week of May to mid June, now mid October to mid July Flood/ Landslide Duration is same as in past, but intensity and magnitude has decreased drastically Rice Rice plantation has became history due to scarcity of water; Used to grow in small area, about 60000 kg/year, now no more plantation Maize Production is more or less same but uncertainty in sowing due to erratic rainfall; Sowing time early April and harvesting at end of August in past, now Sowing early May and harvesting at end of August Millet Very low production compared to past Traditional Legumes (Rice Bean / Horse Gram) Used to cultivate in large area (Last week of July-Dec 1st Week) with good production in past but no more traditional legumes Animal Husbandry People have changed their strategy on rearing livestock- big to small; in past Big cattle like cow and buffalo was common (6-8 cattle/HH; 1-2 pig/HH), now Big cattle are rare (hardly 1 cattle/HH; 3-4 pig/HH) Water In past, more than 20 natural wells with sufficient drinking water, now more than 75% drinking water sources (wells) has dried up (Only 5 well with limited water) Forestry Forest condition is more or less same, but many non-native plants have appeared KEY FINDINGS Climate induced problems have se- verely affected livelihood options of local people Local people are unaware about climate change policies and practices Local people are practicing their own coping strategy to sustain livelihood Local communities have perceived gradual environmental changes RESULTS DR Bhuju, JC Baral, DB Shrestha, P Yonzon Shrestha, Resources Himalaya Foundation, Nepal, July 2013
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Poster for presentation given to High Mountains Adaptation Partnership in Huaraz, Peru on 13 July 2013.
Transcript of Bhuju climate change and mountain people Nepal poster
STUDY AREA Ramechhap District,( 27028'N-27050' N; 85050'-86035'
E; area: 1564.33 sq km); Elevation:369m-7,000 m) Central Mid-Mountain of Nepal
The second most vulnerable to climate change Four drought prone VDCs of the district This is a case from Pakarbas VDC (86°01' 56.51" - 86°
57'02.60"E, 27° 21'03.99"- 27°26'18.68"N; Elevation: 480– 1580 m msl)
Subtropical to temperate climate Natural resource and agriculture based livelihood
INTRODUCTION
Nepal is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change due to its mountain topogra-phy, weak institutional capacity, poor economy, and less opportunities for livelihood diversifi-cation.
Government has formulated policies such as National Adaptation Plan for Action (NAPA) to Cli-mate Change, Climate Change Policy and Local Adaptation Plan of Action (LAPA) to climate Change.
However, communities are facing tremendous constraints in managing adverse impacts of cli-mate change due to the lack of science based knowledge on the impacts of climate change, management options and adaptation technologies.
In 2012, Resources Himalaya Foundation conducted a research study to understand local per-
OBJECTIVES
To understand people’s perception on climate change To know impacts of climate change on agriculture &
livelihood, and To document adaptation activities of local communi-
ties
Understanding Climate Change and Mountain People of Nepal
METHODS
Focus Group Discussion
Community Level (29 persons)
Decision Makers
(10 persons)
AD
APTAT
ION
PR
AC
TIC
ES
Childre
n a
nd W
om
en in q
ueue f
or
wate
r
Padlocking well for water protection
Indicators Perceived Changes
Rainfall
Monsoon rainfall one month late and retreats three weeks earlier than in past; In the past, rainfall at least four times (spread in 8 months) in a year, now hardly two times (spread in 4 months); In the past, continuous rainfall in monsoon (mid June-1st week of Septem-ber, now erratic and short (mid July-Mid August)
Warm (Hot) days
Summer starts one month later: hot days-2nd week of Feb. to end of August in past, now 2nd week of March to 2nd Week of September; intense hot days in past - from 2nd week of March to Early July, now - 2nd week of April to Mid July
Cold days
Winter starts two weeks later: In past, cold days-1st week of September to 1st week of March, now October to 3rd week of March; In past, very cold from early Dec. to 2nd week of February, at present mid Dec. to End of February
Drought Drought duration has increased more than 3 folds: Two times in past- one from mid Feb. to end of March and another last week of May to mid June, now mid October to mid July
Flood/Landslide
Duration is same as in past, but intensity and magnitude has decreased drastically
Rice Rice plantation has became history due to scarcity of water; Used to grow in small area, about 60000 kg/year, now no more plantation
Maize
Production is more or less same but uncertainty in sowing due to erratic rainfall; Sowing time early April and harvesting at end of August in past, now Sowing early May and harvesting at end of August
Millet Very low production compared to past
Traditional Legumes
(Rice Bean / Horse Gram)
Used to cultivate in large area (Last week of July-Dec 1st Week) with good production in past but no more traditional legumes
Animal Husbandry
People have changed their strategy on rearing livestock- big to small; in past Big cattle like cow and buffalo was common (6-8 cattle/HH; 1-2 pig/HH), now Big cattle are rare (hardly 1 cattle/HH; 3-4 pig/HH)
Water In past, more than 20 natural wells with sufficient drinking water, now more than 75% drinking water sources (wells) has dried up (Only 5 well with limited water)
Forestry Forest condition is more or less same, but many non-native plants have appeared
KEY FINDINGS
Climate induced problems have se-verely affected livelihood options of
local people
Local people are unaware about climate change policies and practices
Local people are practicing their own
coping strategy to sustain livelihood
Local communities have perceived gradual environmental changes
RESULTS
DR Bhuju, JC Baral, DB Shrestha, P Yonzon Shrestha, Resources Himalaya Foundation, Nepal, July 2013
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