Designing community-based adaptation actions - examples

from Eastern Himalaya

Sangeeta Agarwal

16 November 2011

Vulnerability Assessment for Adaptation Practices

• Vulnerability assessment (VA) involves analysis of exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity of a system.

• VA act as useful tool for identifying adaptation strategies for specific vulnerable groups and areas.

Macro – level Vulnerability Assessment (incl. future projection)

Detailed Vulnerability Assessmentat field level using PRA

Adaptation Pilot Projects

Vulnerability Assessment - Sikkim

• South Sikkim – most Vulnerable

• East Sikkim - High Adaptive Capacity

• Climate - data shows fluctuation; only minor increase in temp. & winter rainfall

• PRAs – erratic rainfall but heavy in shorter duration

• Future climate projections predict larger changes at the end of century (2070 to 2100s) as compared to near future (2040) – - decrease in rainfall;

- increase in surface temp.

• South Sikkim high on sensitivity index• dependence on rainfed agriculture & monsoon

dependent water sources

• Forest quality deteriorating • % of degraded forest increasing. • Similar trend observed in Protected areas.• Hydropower & road building

• Firewood still used widely • specially for space heating.

• Water sources decline • Phenological changes reported

• (Rhododendron and Prunus sp.)

• Shift in range of some crops to higher elevation (e.g., Ginger)

• Decrease in yield/quality of crops • (potato, ginger, chilly) as well as oranges and

orchids

Ecosystem Vulnerability - Sikkim

Ensuring rural water security

Springshed Restoration

• Spring shed conservation work piloted with State Government support

• Increased spring discharge; enhanced soil moisture & vegetation cover

• Spring discharge increase by 100% (Mallagiri dhara, Sumbuk, Melli) to 400% (Nunthaley Dhara, Deythang, Kaluk)

• Downstream dhara users & upstream land-owners benefitted

Learnings

• Role of state government in mainstreaming through linking with existing schemes - Scaled up by the government to 500+ springs across the state through the MGNREGA programme

• Getting the right technical partners and building local capacity (barefoot engineers)

• Importance of identifying the infiltration zones as opposed to simple catchment area treatment

• Objective: Reduce fuelwood use for water heating

• Two pilot locations in East Sikkim District,

• Gnathang (14,000 ft)and Zaluk (12000 ft)

• Proximity to Red Panda habitat (Pangolakha Wildlife Sanctuary)

• High dependence on fuel wood and bamboo

Solar Water Heaters

• 4 community systems installed

• 300 lpd (1) & 200 lpd (3)

• Domestic use – washing, bathing; women benefit

• Frequent bursting of Pipes – technology concern

Alternate Energy

Space Heating

•Objective: Reduce fuelwood use for space heating•Use solar passive architecture concepts and locally available insulation material in building design in East Sikkim District, Sikkim

• Retrofitting existing houses, Gnathang village – 14,000 ft• New Prototype construction for FD Ranger’s hut, Kupup village – 13,000 ft

•Improvements in the design of local bukharis to enhance efficiency

Alternate Energy

Learnings

• Despite some rough edges, solar water heaters can work at high altitudes

• Local capacity building and management key to success, for community systems. Women primary beneficiaries

• Government identifying Energy as a priority issue esp. in high altitude remote areas; Mainstreaming through State Action Plan on Climate Change

Western Arunachal Landscape (WAL)

• Includes 2 districts – Tawang and West Kameng

• Changes in forest cover (80% land area) impacts local livelihoods

• Dense forests declining

• Climate - Shift in rainfall patterns and warmer winters

• Hydropower & infrastructure development seriously affecting water & forest resources

Landuse Projection

- Upward Shift in tree line

- Decline in grass production In Alpine meadows

Community Conserved Areas – enhancing ecological resilience

• CCAs are forests owned & managed by local communities

• Maintaining these forests can contribute to increased resilience to climate change

• Thembang Bapu (312 sq.km) & Pangchen-Lumpo-Muchat (98 sq.km) Community Conserved Areas set up

• WWF aims to increase the extent of CCAs as a ‘safety net’ for future climate adaptation

Community Conserved Areas - Building Community Resilience

Community Based Tourism

Alternative Energy Pilots

• Solar Water heaters at campsites and home stays in 2 villages – Thembang & Lumpo Muchat

• Solar Street Lights (12)

• Yak dung – pine leaf briquettes (thermal efficiency of 27%)

Learnings

• Community ownership of land

• Clear linkages between income generation and forest conservation

• Long association and local team in place

• Political support • Potential of scaling up at a state level to include all community owned areas above 300m

Thank you