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Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies in watershed areas in mid-hills of Nepal

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Abstract

The impacts of climate change are widespread, making watershed areas and watershed-dependent communities particularly vulnerable. The impact is more significant in developing countries where locals rely on watershed resources for their livelihoods. We examine the impacts of climate change and local peoples’ adaptation strategies in Begnas and Rupa watersheds in western Nepal. Using a mixed method approach we collect primary data including questionnaire surveys, field observations, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. Our results reveal that the temperature around Begnas and Rupa watersheds has been increasing for the last 30 years while precipitation has both been decreasing and becoming more erratic. These fluctuations and anthropogenic activities impact agricultural productivity, degrade ecosystems, and reduce socioeconomic status. Local people use several adaptation strategies in response, including improved seeds, changing cropping patterns, cleaning invasive species in wetlands, constructing irrigation canals, diversifying income-generating activities, and launching sensitization and awareness campaigns. To support climate change adaptation, we recommend that the local government focus on participatory-based planning as well as mainstreaming climate change adaptation in the planning process.

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Acknowledgements

We are thankful to World Wildlife Fund, Hariyo Ban Program Nepal, for providing the financial support for this study. We would like to thank Saru Gahatraj for her help during fieldwork. We are equally grateful to all the participants for providing their valuable time and sharing their great experiences during the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Forestry, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara Campus, Pokhara, Nepal

    Saara Ranabhat, Bikash Adhikari, Ram Thapa & Sadhana Ranabhat

  2. Anthropology and Environmental Policy, Department of Anthropology, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    Suman Acharya

  3. Climate Change Institute, University of Maine, Orono, ME, 04469, USA

    Suman Acharya

  4. Himalayan Conservation and Research Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal

    Suman Acharya & Suraj Upadhaya

  5. Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50010, USA

    Suraj Upadhaya

  6. CARE Nepal, Hariyo Ban Program, Lalitpur, Nepal

    Dev Raj Gautam

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  1. Saara Ranabhat
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Correspondence to Suman Acharya.

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Ranabhat, S., Acharya, S., Upadhaya, S. et al. Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies in watershed areas in mid-hills of Nepal. J Environ Stud Sci 13, 240–252 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13412-023-00817-w

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