Current Science

Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal ¹, Sarla Shashni ¹, Amit Kumar ¹, Nidhi Kanwar ¹, Bhim Chand ¹, R. C. Sundriyal ², Pitamber Prasad Dhyani ²

Affiliations
1 G.B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Himachal Unit, Mohal-Kullu 175 126, IN
2 G. B. Pant Institute of Himalayan Environment and Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, IN

Abstract

No Abstract.

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Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal ¹, Renu Lata ¹, Amit Kumar ¹, Bhim Chand ¹, Nidhi Kanwar ¹, Sheetal Chaudhary ¹, Kireet Kumar ², Pitamber Prasad Dhyani ³

Affiliations
1 G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Himachal Regional Centre, Mohal-Kullu 175 126, IN
2 G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, IN
3 Shri Guru Ram Rai University, Dehradun 248 001, IN

Abstract

The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR), spreading from Arunachal Pradesh in the east to Jammu and Kashmir in the west and covering 530,795 km² of geographical area, holds a special place in the mountain ecosystems of the world. The IHR is also known as the third water tower of the earth and supplies water to a larger part of the Indian subcontinent. Due to the rich water potential of the IHR and the ever-increasing energy demands of the country, the Government of India recognized that hydropower potential needs to be harnessed to the maximum for economic development.

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Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal ¹, Nidhi Kanwar ¹, Ajay Singh Bhoj ¹, Kuldeep Singh Rautela ¹, Pramod Joshi ¹, Kireet Kumar ¹, Mohd Sharjeel Sofi ², Sami Ullah Bhat ², Irfan Rashid ³, Mahindra Singh Lodhi ⁴, Ch. Anniebesant Devi ⁵, Huidrom Birkumar Singh ⁵

Affiliations
1 Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, IN
2 Department of Environmental Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 006, IN
3 Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar 190 006, IN
4 Govind Ballabh Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, North-East Regional Centre, Itanagar 791 113, IN
5 CSIR: North-East Institute of Science and Technology, Branch Laboratory, Lamphelpat, Imphal 795 004, IN

Abstract

Mountains are considered as the early indicators of climate change. The study aims to understand how the Himalayan communities perceive climate change, and how this change has impacted the livelihood and sustenance of local people particularly in the remote and rural areas of the region. In view of this, 994 households of 25 villages were interviewed from five basins (five villages per basin) of the Indian Himalayan Region. Their perceptions mainly of climate change were validated/compared with the available climatic indices. People perceived rainfall pattern to be less predictable, greater change in land-use pattern, adverse impacts on forests and human health and overall reduction in their harvests. Seasonal increase in temperature was also reported. Capacity-building programmes for the inhabitants, including the most vulnerable communities in the wake of climate change would be significantly fruitful by way of mitigation and adaptation strategies.

Keywords

Adaptive Strategies, Climate Change, Glacierfed and Non-glacier-fed Ecosystems, People’s Perception.

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