Rural mountain communities in developing countries are considered particularly vulnerable to environmental change, including climate change. Forests and agriculture provide numerous ecosystem goods and services (EGS) to local communities and can help people adapt to the impacts of climate change. There is however poor documentation on the role of EGS in people’s livelihood and adaptation practices. This study in the rural Panchase Mountain Ecological Region of Nepal identifies practices being used to adapt to a changing environment through key informant interviews and focus group discussions. At the household level, livelihood diversification, changes in cropping patterns and farming practices, use of multipurpose plant species and income-generation activities were identified as adaptation strategies. Among major strategies at the community level were community forestry-based climate adaptation plans of action for forest and water resource management. Landscape-level adaptation strategies were large-scale collaborative projects and programs, such as Ecosystem-based Adaptation and Chitwan Annapurna Landscape conservation; which had implications at both the local and landscape-level. A proper blending and integration of adaptation strategies from individual households through to the community and to the landscape level is needed for implementing effective adaptation in the region.
"Intervention described as a 'community-level adaptation' defined as ""a community-led process and practices designed to empower people to plan and cope with the impacts of climate change"" Community-based Forest Landscape Restoration (CBFLR); major activities: Plantation in open spaces, roadside areas and protection of plantation areas."
Climate change impacts | Effect of Nbs on CCI | Effect measures |
---|---|---|
Soil erosion | Positive | **No specific quantified outcome measures reported. Outcomes based on points summarized by authors collected from interviews, focus groups, and Published and unpublished reports of relevant government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were reviewed as secondary sources Loss of ecosystem goods: “Increased forest coverage and varieties of EGS” Soil erosion: “Reduced soil erosion and help in soil conservation…Sediment control in low lying area.” |
Loss of other ecosystem goods | Positive | **No specific quantified outcome measures reported. Outcomes based on points summarized by authors collected from interviews, focus groups, and Published and unpublished reports of relevant government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were reviewed as secondary sources Loss of ecosystem goods: “Increased forest coverage and varieties of EGS” Soil erosion: “Reduced soil erosion and help in soil conservation…Sediment control in low lying area.” |
Panchase Mountain Ecological Region (PMER) (latitude: 28 803600 N to 28 1801700 N, longitude: 83 4306900 E to 83 590500 E) of western Nepal (Figure 1). The PMER represents the mountain ecosystem linking the lowlands and the high Himalayas of the Annapurna range of Himalaya. Five villages, i.e., Bhadaure Tamagi, Chapakot, Pumdighumdi, Kaskikot, and Dhikurpokhari, were used for the study purpose within this PMER. Out of five villages, Bhadaure Tamagi is the one principally used for data collection. Bhadaure Tamagi typically represents both upstream and downstream regions with distinct land use and farming practices. At the same time, it covers the top of the landscape to the valley bottom downstream.
"Intervention described as a 'community-level adaptation' defined as ""a community-led process and practices designed to empower people to plan and cope with the impacts of climate change"" Community Forest- based Adaptation Plan of Action (CAPA); major activities: • Preparation of a CAPA separate from forest management operational plan • Focus of CAPA on water management within the CF, especially for drinking water • Forest fire management • Restoration of traditional pond/springs and rainwater harvesting • Water source protection CAPA was designed to protect water sources in the forest and water supply to the village. Other areas incorporated into the CAPA include the conservation and recharge of ponds and managing forest fires in the dry season. "
Climate change impacts | Effect of Nbs on CCI | Effect measures |
---|---|---|
Reduced water availability | Positive | **No specific quantified outcome measures reported. Outcomes based on points summarized by authors collected from interviews, focus groups, and Published and unpublished reports of relevant government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were reviewed as secondary sources Water availability: [Positive] “A supply of drinking water from the forest, as envisioned in a CF-based CAPA, has helped meet community water requirements in the upstream region but not in the downstream region….water management does not appear to be effective at the community level, requiring more robust local institutional and governance mechanisms to support the initiative.” “Yet protection and maintenance of community-level conservation ponds in different parts of the region have helped recharge groundwater by collecting excess water in the rainy season Landslides: [Positive]“Yet protection and maintenance of community-level conservation ponds in different parts of the region have helped recharge groundwater by collecting excess water in the rainy season and reducing water-induced hazards such as landslides” |
Mudslides / Landslides | Positive | **No specific quantified outcome measures reported. Outcomes based on points summarized by authors collected from interviews, focus groups, and Published and unpublished reports of relevant government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were reviewed as secondary sources Water availability: [Positive] “A supply of drinking water from the forest, as envisioned in a CF-based CAPA, has helped meet community water requirements in the upstream region but not in the downstream region….water management does not appear to be effective at the community level, requiring more robust local institutional and governance mechanisms to support the initiative.” “Yet protection and maintenance of community-level conservation ponds in different parts of the region have helped recharge groundwater by collecting excess water in the rainy season Landslides: [Positive]“Yet protection and maintenance of community-level conservation ponds in different parts of the region have helped recharge groundwater by collecting excess water in the rainy season and reducing water-induced hazards such as landslides” |
Panchase Mountain Ecological Region (PMER) (latitude: 28 803600 N to 28 1801700 N, longitude: 83 4306900 E to 83 590500 E) of western Nepal (Figure 1). The PMER represents the mountain ecosystem linking the lowlands and the high Himalayas of the Annapurna range of Himalaya. Five villages, i.e., Bhadaure Tamagi, Chapakot, Pumdighumdi, Kaskikot, and Dhikurpokhari, were used for the study purpose within this PMER. Out of five villages, Bhadaure Tamagi is the one principally used for data collection. Bhadaure Tamagi typically represents both upstream and downstream regions with distinct land use and farming practices. At the same time, it covers the top of the landscape to the valley bottom downstream.
"Intervention described as a 'community-level adaptation' defined as ""a community-led process and practices designed to empower people to plan and cope with the impacts of climate change"" Management of Forest EGS through Community Forest (CF) Management; major activities include: Formation of CFUGs to manage forest EGS, Use of forest products and other ES from the forest, Investment of earning from community forest in forest management, poverty alleviation and community development activities, Coordination with other community-based organizations"
Climate change impacts | Effect of Nbs on CCI | Effect measures |
---|---|---|
Loss of food production | Positive | **No specific quantified outcome measures reported. Outcomes based on points summarized by authors collected from interviews, focus groups, and Published and unpublished reports of relevant government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were reviewed as secondary sources Positive effects on all impacts Loss of ecosystem goods: “Enhanced range of forest ecosystem goods and services to help adopt to adverse climatic impacts” Water availability: “Creation of … water resources” [positive] Agricultural production: “Enhanced farm forest linkage, and increased farm and forest-based EGS” |
Reduced water availability | Positive | **No specific quantified outcome measures reported. Outcomes based on points summarized by authors collected from interviews, focus groups, and Published and unpublished reports of relevant government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were reviewed as secondary sources Positive effects on all impacts Loss of ecosystem goods: “Enhanced range of forest ecosystem goods and services to help adopt to adverse climatic impacts” Water availability: “Creation of … water resources” [positive] Agricultural production: “Enhanced farm forest linkage, and increased farm and forest-based EGS” |
Loss of other ecosystem goods | Positive | **No specific quantified outcome measures reported. Outcomes based on points summarized by authors collected from interviews, focus groups, and Published and unpublished reports of relevant government entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) were reviewed as secondary sources Positive effects on all impacts Loss of ecosystem goods: “Enhanced range of forest ecosystem goods and services to help adopt to adverse climatic impacts” Water availability: “Creation of … water resources” [positive] Agricultural production: “Enhanced farm forest linkage, and increased farm and forest-based EGS” |
Panchase Mountain Ecological Region (PMER) (latitude: 28 803600 N to 28 1801700 N, longitude: 83 4306900 E to 83 590500 E) of western Nepal (Figure 1). The PMER represents the mountain ecosystem linking the lowlands and the high Himalayas of the Annapurna range of Himalaya. Five villages, i.e., Bhadaure Tamagi, Chapakot, Pumdighumdi, Kaskikot, and Dhikurpokhari, were used for the study purpose within this PMER. Out of five villages, Bhadaure Tamagi is the one principally used for data collection. Bhadaure Tamagi typically represents both upstream and downstream regions with distinct land use and farming practices. At the same time, it covers the top of the landscape to the valley bottom downstream.