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Watershed communities’ livelihood vulnerability to climate change in the Himalayas

Author

Listed:
  • Samjhana Adhikari

    (Division Forest Office)

  • Nabin Dhungana

    (CARE Nepal Central Office)

  • Suraj Upadhaya

    (Himalayan Conservation and Research Institute
    Iowa State University)

Abstract

The Himalayan country like Nepal, due to its poor adaptive capacity and limited access to alternate means of livelihoods, is more vulnerable to climate change. It is found that climate change exacerbates the situation and presents a daunting challenge to predominantly rain-fed agricultural livelihoods. This study aims to analyze the extent and sources of households’ livelihood vulnerability to climate change in western Nepal. We conducted a household survey (n = 200), focus group discussions (n = 4), and key informant interviews (n = 10) across the Phusre Khola watershed and a formative composite index of livelihood vulnerability (LVI) was constructed. The result shows drought as the most common climatic hazard followed by landslide and hailstone, respectively. It was found that agriculture was the most impacted resources. Livelihood strategies with LVI value (0.49) and climate variability (0.48) were seen as the most vulnerable and health (0.12) as the least vulnerable component in the study area. The Upper Phusre sub-watershed was observed as the most vulnerable with the LVI (0.33). Overall, the study shows that vulnerability assessment indices can be broadly applied in similar settings in different regions of the country, and they could contribute to identifying and prioritizing adaptation and mitigation needs.

Suggested Citation

  • Samjhana Adhikari & Nabin Dhungana & Suraj Upadhaya, 2020. "Watershed communities’ livelihood vulnerability to climate change in the Himalayas," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 1307-1321, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:162:y:2020:i:3:d:10.1007_s10584-020-02870-8
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-020-02870-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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