Climate change perceptions and response strategies of forest fringe communities in Indian Eastern Himalaya

Tanusri Dey, Nazir A. Pala, Gopal Shukla (), Prabhat K. Pal, Ganesh Das and Sumit Chakarvarty ()
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Tanusri Dey: Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya
Nazir A. Pala: Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya
Gopal Shukla: Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya
Prabhat K. Pal: Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya
Ganesh Das: Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya
Sumit Chakarvarty: Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya

Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, 2018, vol. 20, issue 2, No 23, 925-938

Abstract: Abstract The study documented perception of forest fringe community of Chilapata reserve forest in West Bengal, India, from September 2013 to May 2015 through questionnaire-based personal in-depth interviews involving 400 respondents and group discussions. Adaptation strategies used by the community in response to impact of climate change were also documented. Majority of the respondents were farmers with marginal land holding. Almost all the respondents perceived the phenomena of climate change. The overall perception of the community toward change in temperature-related events and precipitation is high with average perception score of 0.74, while it is medium for change in regularity of climate events with score of 0.51. In spite of such perceptions, the community had low average livelihood impact perception score of 0.23. Considering the adaptation strategies based on knowledge–adoption index, the adaptation in response to climate change is at medium level with average mean score of 0.63. A total of 17 coping options were identified. Pre-monsoon dry seeding, agroforestry, crop rotation, short duration crop varieties and use of organic products were popular. The study recommend a need for scientists, government and non-government agents and other stakeholders to support efforts by farmers to adapt to effects of climate change through technological, policy and financial interventions with an aim of improving livelihoods and food security.

Keywords: Adaptation; Climate change; Impact; Perception (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1007/s10668-017-9920-1

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