Forest Dwellers’ Perception on Climate Change and Their Adaptive Strategies to Withstand Impacts in Mizoram, North-East India — Oak Academic Publishing
Research ArticleOpen AccessGoogle Scholar indexed
Forest Dwellers’ Perception on Climate Change and Their Adaptive Strategies to Withstand Impacts in Mizoram, North-East India
Department of Forestry, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
,
Department of Forestry, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
,
Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Kolkata, India
,
Department of Forestry, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
,
Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
,
Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
,
Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
1 Department of Forestry, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
2 Department of Forestry, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
3 Indian Institute of Science Education & Research, Kolkata, India
4 Department of Forestry, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
5 Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
6 Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
7 Department of Environmental Science, Mizoram University, Aizawl, India
We studied the perception of forest-dependent communities on climate change with its associated risk and their adaptation strategies in Mizoram, Northeast India. A total of 360 respondents (household heads) were randomly selected from 24 villages across the three different agro-climatic zones prevalent. The community perceived awareness of climate change phenomena in the region with a positive correlation between age, education and occupation of the respondents. The overall perception of climate change in temperature was medium (0.49), while low for change in precipitation (0.26) and seasonal durability (0.23). The community showed over-all low score of perception on risk of climate change (0.10) where risk on livelihood and socio-economic factors was higher than risk to environment or forest. Perception on impact of climate change was high for forest abi-otic ecological factors (0.66) and flora and fauna (0.62), while medium on livelihood of forest-dependent communities (0.44). The majority (more than 75%) of the respondents agreed that human beings are involved and responsible for climate change. Adoption of adaptive strategies to cope climate change ranged from 0.07 to 0.91, amongst which zero tillage, use of traditional knowledge, forest fire prevention, soil and water conservation techniques, agroforestry practices and social forestry are popular. However, rain water harvesting and investments for crop insurance were adopted on low scores clearly implied by the educational and socio-economic status of the farmers in the majority. The study brings out the knowledge and perceptions to climate change by forest-dependent communities and their adaptive strategies to cope had been assessed. The finding results seek the attention of researchers and policy makers to integrate technological and financial interventions in supporting farmer’s effort to cope with climate change with a long term objective for improving their livelihood and climate sensitive resources at the same time.
KeywordsPerceptionsClimate ChangeAdaptationForest PolicyNortheast Indi
Hansen, J., Sato, M., Ruedy, R., Lo, K., Lea, D.W. and Madina-Elizade, M. (2006) Global Temperature Change. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 103, 14288-14293. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0606291103
Morin, X., Fahse, L., Jactel, H., Scheren-Lorenzen, M., Garcia-Valdes, R. and Bugmann, H. (2018) Long-Term Response of Forest Productivity to Climate Change Is Mostly Driven by Tree Species Composition. Scientific Reports, 8, 5627. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23763-y
Buechling, A., Martin, P.H. and Canham, C.D. (2017) Climate and Competition Effects on Tree Growth in Rocky Mountain Forests. Journal of Ecology, 105, Article ID: 12782. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2745.12782
Ionescu, C., Klein, R., Hinkel, J., Kavi Kumar, K. and Klein, R. (2009) Towards a Formal Framework of Vulnerability to Climate Change. Environmental Modeling Assessment, 14, 1-16. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10666-008-9179-x
Yengoh, G.T., Tchuinte, A., Armah, F.A. and Odoi, J.O. (2010) Impact of Prolonged Rainy Seasons on Food Crop Production in Cameroon. Mitigation and Adaptation of Global Change, 15, 825-841. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-010-9241-2
Sahoo, U.K, Lalremruata, J., Jeeceelee, L., Lalremruati, J.H., Lalliankhuma, C. and Lalramnghinglova, H. (2010) Utilization of Non-Timber Forest Products by the Tribal around Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram. The Bioscan, 3, 721-729.
Sahoo, U.K., Lalremruata, J., Lalramnghinglova, H. Lalremruati, J.H. and Lalliankhuma, C. (2010) Livelihood Generation through Non-Timber Forest Products by Rural Poor in and around Dampa Tiger Reserve in Mizoram. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 17, 147-161.
Sahoo, U.K., Jeeceelee, L., Lalremruata, J.H. and Lalramnghinglova, H. (2012) Diversity of Non-Timber Forest Products of Plant Origin, Use and Local Dependence in Mizoram, North-East India. Journal of Non-Timber Forest Products, 19, 261-268.
IPCC (2007) Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. In: Solomon, S., Qin, D., Manning, M., Chen, Z., Marquis, M., Averyt, K.B., Tignor, M. and Miller, H.L., Eds., Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
Bellard, C., Bertelsmeier, C., Leadley, P., Thuiller, W. and Courchamp, F. (2014) Impact of Climate Change on the Future of Biodiversity. Ecology Letter, 15, 365-377. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-0248.2011.01736.x
Huong, N.T.L., Bo, Y.S. and Fagad, S. (2018) Economic Impact of Climate Change on Agriculture Using Ricardian Approach: A Case of Northwest Vietnam. Journal of South Society of Agricultural Sciences, In Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssas.2018.02.006
Fisher, J.A., Patenaude, G., Giri, K., Lewis, K., Meir, P., Pinha, P., Rounsevell, M.D.A. and William, M. (2014) Understanding the Relationship between Ecosystem Services and Poverty Alleviation: A Conceptual Framework. Ecosystem Services, 7, 34-45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2013.08.002
Dave, R., Tompkins, E.L. and Schreekenberg, K. (2017) Forest Ecosystem Services Derived by Smallholder Farmers in Northwestern Madagascar: Storm Hazard Mitigation and Participation in Forest Management. Forest Policy and Economics, 84, 72-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2016.09.002
McGill, N. (2016) Vulnerable Populations at Risk from Effects of Climate Change: Public Health Working to Find Solutions. The Nation’s Health, 46, 1-14.
Nhemachena, C. and Hassan, R.M. (2007) Micro-Level Analysis of Farmers’ Adaptation to Climate Change in Southern Africa. IFPRI Research Paper 00714, 15-17.
De Zoysa, M. and Inoue, M. (2014) Climate Change Impacts, Agroforestry Adaptation and Policy Environment in Sri Lanka. Open Journal of Forestry, 4, 439-456. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojf.2014.45049
Bryan, E., Ringler, C., Okoba, B., Rancoli, C., Silverstri, S. and Herrero, M. (2013) Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change in Kenya: Household Strategies and Determinants. Journal of Environmental Management, 114, 26-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2012.10.036
Baul, T.K., Atique Ullah, K.M., Tiwari, R.K. and McDonald Morag, A. (2013) People’s Local Knowledge of Climate Change in the Middle Hills of Nepal. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 12, 585-595.
Bele, M.Y., Tiani, A.M., Somorin, O.A. and Sonwa, D.J. (2013) Exploring Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change of Communities in the Forest Zone of Cameroon. Climate Change, 119, 875-889. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-013-0738-z
Okonya, J.S., Syndikus, K. and Kroschei, J. (2013) Farmers’ Perception of and Coping Strategies to Climate Change: Evidence from Six Agro-Ecological Zones of Uganda. Journal of Agricultural Sciences, 5, 252-263.
Onyekuru, A.N. and Marchant, R. (2014) Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Pathways for Forest Depended Livelihood Systems in Nigeria. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 9, 1819-1832.
Jin, J., Gao, Y., Wang, X. and Pham, K.N. (2015) Farmers’ Risk Preferences and Their Climate Change Adaptation Strategies in the Yongqiao District, China. Land Use Policy, 47, 365-372. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.04.028
Fadina, A.M.R. and Barjolle, D. (2018) Farmers’ Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change and Their Implications in the Zou Department of South Berlin. Environments, 5, 15. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments5010015
Arjunan, M., Puyravaud, J.P. and Davidar, P. (2005) The Impact of Resource Collection by Local Communities on the Dry forests of the Kalkad-Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve. Tropical Ecology, 46, 135-144.
Kelkar, U., Narual, K.K., Sharma, V.P. and Chandna, V. (2008) Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Variability and Water Stress in Uttarakhand State, India. Global Environmental Change, 18, 564-574. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.09.003
Banerjee, R.R. (2014) Farmers’ Perception of Climate Change, Impact and Adaptation Strategies: A Case Study of Four Villages in the Semi-Arid Regions of India. Natural Hazards, 75, 2829-2845.
Vardan, R.J. and Kumar, P. (2014) Indigenous Knowledge about Climate Change: Validating the Perceptions of Dry Land Farmers in Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 13, 390-397.
Chaudhary, J.S., Shukla, G., Prabhakar, C.S., Maurya, S., Das, B. and Kumar, S. (2012) Assessment of Local Perceptions on Climate Change and Coping Strategies in Chotanagpur Plateau of Eastern India. Journal of Progressive Agriculture, 3, 8-15.
Joshi, A.K. and Joshi, P.K. (2011) A Rapid Inventory of Indicators of Climate Change in the Middle Himalaya. Current Science, 100, 831-832.
Chaudhary, P. and Bawa, K.S. (2011) Local Perceptions of Climate Change Validated by Scientific Evidence in the Himalayas. Biological Letter, 7, 767-770. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2011.0269
Dey, T., Pala, N.A., Shukla, G., Pal, P.K. and Chakravarty, S. (2017) Perception on Impact of Climate Change on Forest Ecosystem in Protected Area of West Bengal, India. Journal of Forest and Environmental Science, 33, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.7747/JFES.2017.33.1.1
IMD (2013) State Level Climate Change in India. Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Government of India.
ISFR (2017) India State of Forest Report, Forest Survey of India.
Frechtling, J., Sharp, L. and Westat (1997) User-Friendly Handbook for Mixed Method Valuations. National Science Foundation.
Kerlinger, F.N. (1973) Foundations of Behavioral Research. Holt, Rinehart and Winston Inc., New York.
Mings, L. (2008) Determination of Knowledge, Attributes and Practices in Climate Change Issue. Environmental Tourism Consulting, St. Johns, Antigua, 1-12.
Falaki, A.A., Akangbe, J.A. and Ayinde, O.E. (2013) Analysis of Climate Change and Rural Farmer’s Perception in North Central Nigeria. Journal of Human Ecology, 43, 133-140. https://doi.org/10.1080/09709274.2013.11906619
Baidya, S.K., Shrestha, M.L. and Sheikh, M.M. (2008) Trends in Daily Climatic Extremes of Temperature and Precipitation in Nepal. Journal of Hydrology and Meteorology, 5, 38-51.
Nile, M.T. and Mueller, N.D. (2016) Farmer Perceptions of Climate Change: Associations with Observation Temperature and Precipitation Trends, Irrigation and Climate Beliefs. Global Environmental Change, 39, 133-142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.05.002
Wolka, E. and Zeleke, G. (2016) Understanding Farmers Perception on Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies in Karetha Watershed, Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethipoia. Asian Journal of Earth Science, 10, 22-32. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajes.2017.22.32
Smith, W.J., Liu, Z., Sati, A.S. and Chief, K. (2014) Climate Change Perception, Observation and Policy Support in Rural Nevada: A Comparative Analysis of Native Americans, Non-Native Ranchers and Farmers and Mainstream America. Environmental Science Policy, 42, 101-122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2014.03.007
Kabir, M.I., Rahman, M.B., Smith, W., Lush, M.A.F., Azim, S. and Milton, A.H. (2016) Knowledge and Perception about Climate Change and Human Health: Findings from Baseline Survey among Vulnerable Communities in Bangladesh. BMC Public Health, 16, 266. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-2930-3
Sahoo, U.K., Singh, S.L., Nundanga, L., Nuntluanga, L., Devi, A.S. and Zothanzama, J. (2018) Climate Change Impacts on Forest and Its Adaptation Study in Mizoram. Technical Report, Mizoram University, Aizawl (Mizoram), 32.
Bostrum, A., Morgan, M.G., Fischoff, B. and Read, D. (1994) What Do People Know about Global Climate Change? 1. Mental Models. Risk Analysis, 14, 959-970. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1539-6924.1994.tb00065.x
Leiserowitz, A. (2006) Climate Change Risk Perception and Policy Preferences: The Role of Affect, Imagery, and Values. Climate Change, 77, 45-72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-006-9059-9
Patt, A. and Schroter, D. (2008) Perceptions of Climate Risk in Mozambique: Implications for the Success of Adaptation Strategies. Global Environmental Change, 18, 458-467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2008.04.002
Salau, E.S., Onuk, E.G. and Ibrahim, A. (2012) Knowledge, Perception and Adaptation Strategies to Climate Change among Farmers in Southern Agricultural Zone of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Journal of Agricultural Extension, 16, 199-211.
Gukurume, S. (2013) Climate Change, Variability and Sustainable Agriculture in Zimbabwe’s Rural Communities. Russian Journal of Agricultural and Socio-Economic Sciences, 2, 89-100.
Chhetri, N.B. and Easterling, W.E. (2010) Adapting to Climate Change: Retrospective Analysis of Climate Technology Interaction in the Rice Based Farming System of Nepal. Annals of Association of American Geographers, 100, 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/00045608.2010.518035
Dey, P. and Sarkar, A.K. (2011) Revisiting Indigenous Farming Knowledge of Jharkhand (India) for Conservation of Natural Resources and Combating Climate Change. Indian Journal of Traditional Knowledge, 11, 71-79.