Changes in Indian Himalayan Region: Impact on Forest Ecosystems and Implications for REDD+

2013 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Satya Negi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Mountain Areas ◽  
Indian Himalayan Region ◽  
Northern Border

There has been a rising global awareness about the importance of world’s mountain areas as mountains offer diverse goods and services to well over half of the earth’s 7 billion people. Mountains and mountain areas are susceptible in nature as some of the most visible indicators of climate change come from mountain areas e.g. widespread retread of glaciers have been observed from the mountain areas across the globe. The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), a mountain chain along the northern border of India with its diversity of ecosystems has unique and special significance for India. During the last decades, globalization, climate change, and population growth have impacted the forest ecosystems of IHR. Although, there is a net gain (2.10%) of forest cover in IHR during the decade (2001 - 2011), but all the states of IHR did not gain in forest cover during the period. Moreover, changes within the forests, such as changes of undisturbed primary forests into secondary forests are difficult to assess. The overall forest cover of 41.55% of the total geographical area of IHR is way behind the target set by the National Forest Policy of 1988 (Anon; 1988). Protection of Himalayan forests is possible only if the ever growing inhabitants of the IHR are properly compensated for protection of these valuable national resources. Successful implementation of Sustainable Forest Management through the global initiatives like ‘reducing emission from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries; and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries’ (REDD+) at sub-national level is an opportunity to protect the IHR for the national interest.

scholarly journals Assessment of Climate Change Awareness in the Kakamega-Nandi Forest Complex in the Western Region

2021 ◽  
pp. 33-48
Author(s):  
Wabusya Moses Wetiba ◽  
Mugatsia Tsingalia ◽  
Njira Njira Pili ◽  
Vincent Kakembo
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Ecosystem ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Forest Ecosystems ◽  
Survey Design ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Kakamega Forest ◽  
Ecosystem Complex

Aims: This study assessed the level of climate change awareness among the forest-adjacent communities in the Kakamega-Nandi forest ecosystem complex. Four locations were chosen for the study, Buyangu and Isecheno in the Kakamega forest, Kaptumo in Nandi South and Kipsamoite in Nandi North forest ecosystems. Study Design: A cross-sectional survey design was used to collect data from primary sources. Structured questionnaires were administered to the residents aged 25years and older within the study area. Place and Duration of Study: The Kakamega, north and south Nandi forest ecosystems in western Kenya between June -December 2019. Methodology: A total of 280 questionnaires were randomly administered to the forest-adjacent respondents with, Kakamega forest 163 respondents, South Nandi forest 60, while North Nandi had 57respondents. A total of 217 questionnaires were filled and returned and the information wherein used in data analysis. Focused Group Discussion and key informants were used to supplement data collects by the questionnaires. Results: Majority of the residents (54%) were less concerned about climate change. In addition, 85% of the respondents had very little knowledge on coping and adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change. Some 40 % and 45% of the respondents got information about climate through televisions and radios, respectively. Further analysis of the results revealed that climate change was responsible for fourteen key impacts. These included an increase in rainfall, prolonged drought, decrease in the quality and quantity of fresh water, decrease in food security, an increase in temperature, a decrease in agricultural resources, an increase in sickness and disease, a decrease in quality of life, flooding, decrease in forest cover, loss of homes, reduction in biodiversity, and rise in storm surge. A Chi test revealed a significant relationship between forest cover decline and changes in rainfall patterns (X2 = 111.86, df =12, p<0.001), increasing temperature (X2 = 80.492, df =12, p<0.001);, drought( (X2 = 204.84, df =16, p<0.001) and storm surges (X2 = 74.34, df =8, p<0.001)]. The respondents' level of education was significantly different from their level of climate change awareness (X2=44.88, df=4, p<0.001). Conclusion: Forest-adjacent communities in the Kakamega-Nandi forest ecosystem complex are vulnerable to climate change as a result of insufficient knowledge about climate change and its impacts. The Kakamega-Nandi forest ecosystem is already experiencing climate change effects such as erratic rainfall and increasing food insecurity.

Climate Change and Adaptation through the Lens of Capability Approach

2017 ◽  
pp. 1351-1365
Author(s):  
Bhupen Mili ◽  
Anamika Barua ◽  
Suparana Katyaini
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Study Region ◽  
The People ◽  
Agent Of Change

Climate Change impacts would disproportionately have larger impacts on the developing countries. Both government and development agencies have initiated various adaptation strategies in the developing countries to enhance the adaptation of the local communities. Various policies and programmes have been designed keeping in mind the impact of climate change. This study was conducted in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India, to see the benefits of such policies and programmes. Focus group discussion with community members were held in the study area. Based on the fieldwork it was seen that most of the intervention made in the study area focused on income, resources, and assets. It has failed to benefits the people due to variation in the capability among various section of the society. Various projects related to health, education, housing, and livelihood, have been implemented in the study region. However, due to lack of conversion factors in the form of gender inequality, discriminatory practices, transparency among others have come as a hindrance in the successful implementation of the projects. Hence, such project-based approach to enhance community's adaptation to climate risk, in the end fails to show benefits as it fails to expand community's capabilities and real freedom, due to the project's pre-defined aims. It is important to understand community's as agent of change rather than merely beneficiaries of adaptation projects. This study therefore recommends that to enhance community's adaptation to climate change, the interventions should be such that it enlarges the range of people's choices so that when climate disaster strikes them they will have a set of opportunities.

Agroecology as a Climate Change Adaptation Strategy for Smallholders of Tehri-Garhwal in the Indian Himalayan Region

2016 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajiv Pandey ◽  
Roberta Aretano ◽  
Ajay K. Gupta ◽  
Dhanraj Meena ◽  
Bhuvnesh Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Adaptation Strategy ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Indian Himalayan Region

Climate Change and Adaptation through the Lens of Capability Approach

2016 ◽  
pp. 455-469
Author(s):  
Bhupen Mili ◽  
Anamika Barua ◽  
Suparana Katyaini
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Group Discussion ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
Adaptation To Climate Change ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Study Region ◽  
The People ◽  
Agent Of Change

Climate Change impacts would disproportionately have larger impacts on the developing countries. Both government and development agencies have initiated various adaptation strategies in the developing countries to enhance the adaptation of the local communities. Various policies and programmes have been designed keeping in mind the impact of climate change. This study was conducted in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, India, to see the benefits of such policies and programmes. Focus group discussion with community members were held in the study area. Based on the fieldwork it was seen that most of the intervention made in the study area focused on income, resources, and assets. It has failed to benefits the people due to variation in the capability among various section of the society. Various projects related to health, education, housing, and livelihood, have been implemented in the study region. However, due to lack of conversion factors in the form of gender inequality, discriminatory practices, transparency among others have come as a hindrance in the successful implementation of the projects. Hence, such project-based approach to enhance community's adaptation to climate risk, in the end fails to show benefits as it fails to expand community's capabilities and real freedom, due to the project's pre-defined aims. It is important to understand community's as agent of change rather than merely beneficiaries of adaptation projects. This study therefore recommends that to enhance community's adaptation to climate change, the interventions should be such that it enlarges the range of people's choices so that when climate disaster strikes them they will have a set of opportunities.

scholarly journals Climate Change Impacts on Glacier-fed and Non-glacier-Fed Ecosystems of the Indian Himalayan Region: People’s Perception and Adaptive Strategies

2021 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 888
Author(s):  
Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal ◽  
Nidhi Kanwar ◽  
Ajay Singh Bhoj ◽  
Kuldeep Singh Rautela ◽  
Pramod Joshi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Adaptive Strategies ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Indian Himalayan Region ◽  
People’S Perception

scholarly journals Climate Change, Cryosphere and Impacts in the Indian Himalayan Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. 774
Author(s):  
A. P. Dimri ◽  
S. Allen ◽  
C. Huggel ◽  
S. Mal ◽  
J. A. Ballesteros-Cánovas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Indian Himalayan Region

scholarly journals Indicator-Based Assessment of Resilience and Vulnerability in the Indian Himalayan Region: A Case Study on Socio-Economy under Different Scenarios

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6938
Author(s):  
Soumya Dasgupta ◽  
Ruchi Badola
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Himalayan Region ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Mean Annual Temperature ◽  
Good Representation ◽  
Climate Change Scenarios ◽  
Indian Himalayan Region ◽  
Socioeconomic Vulnerability ◽  
Change In Mean

The Indian Himalayan region is vulnerable to climate change because of its geospatial fragility. The present study gives a framework for the analysis of household and village-level resilience and vulnerability in the Bhagirathi Basin of Indian Western Himalayan region under different climate change scenarios. Villages were selected depending on different biophysical criteria to have a good representation of the study area. Household-level survey using the household economy approach was done in 646 households of 30 villages to collect information on indicators of natural, physical, financial and human capital assets and scores were generated for each category. A cumulative resilience score was obtained for each household and village. Future climate projections on mean annual temperature were also accessed under Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 4.5 to estimate the change in mean temperature of the studied villages and probable change in agricultural production. The result shows that most of the villages of Tehri Garhwal are clustered in vulnerable classes in comparison to Uttarkashi villages and vulnerability scores of 11 and 8 villages changed under climate shock and future agricultural production change scenarios, respectively. The study has manifold implications on further research and policy implementation under socioeconomic vulnerability in the Himalayan region.

scholarly journals Comprehensive Overview of REDD+ in India: Status, Opportunities and Challenges

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-200
Author(s):  
Harish Bahadur Chand ◽  
Sanjay Singh ◽  
Abhishek Kumar ◽  
Anil Kumar Kewat ◽  
Roshan Bhatt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Forest Cover ◽  
Geographical Area ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Forest Degradation ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Policy Tool ◽  
Forest Dependency ◽  
Forestry Sector ◽  
Large Geographical Area

Climate change is a worldwide issue with detrimental effects on ecosystems and human well-being. Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) is a worldwide policy tool for combating climate change by reducing emissions from the forestry sector and has received widespread attention. Since the program's inception, India has been a strong advocate for REDD+ and its activities. The goal of this research is to evaluate India's current REDD+ readiness. India is the fourth largest CO2 emitter in the world, accounting for 7% of global CO2 emissions. India's emission trajectory shows the country's ever-increasing CO2 emission trend, with an annual average increase rate of 5-6 percent. India has a large geographical area and forest cover, and it holds 7,124.6 million tons of carbon stock. Forests are traditionally managed through a participatory approach, which is similar to REDD+ activities. India has made significant progress toward REDD+ implementation by developing a national REDD+ strategy, enacting consistent laws and regulations, and demonstrating accountability and monitoring of national forest carbon. However, several issues, including forest dependency, community rights, capacity building, policies, and finance, should be carefully addressed to overcome hurdles in REDD+ implementation.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document