This study examines how apple farmers in the western Himalayas of India perceive climatic change. This is done by comparing the locally idealized traditional weather cycle with climate change as perceived by the farmers of the region. We use snowfall and rainfall data from to measure the accuracy of perceptions. Although climate change is usually described by farmers as the temporal displacement of the weather cycle, the changes themselves still are not perceived as altering the idealized weather calendar. Most importantly, perception of climate change is structured by knowledge of crop-climate interaction and by differential apple performance outcomes associated with the changed conditions. KEY WORDS: Perceptions · Farmer decision-making · Traditional weather calendars · Apple · HimalayasResale or republication not permitted without written consent of the publisher Clim

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The development of culturally relevant indicators of sustainability and quality of life is a need frequently cited but rarely addressed in the social science literature. This article presents a method and a case study based on an applied ethnoecology approach and utilizing an adaptation of the Thematic Apperception Test. Pictures of scenes around the Manupali watershed in Bukidnon, Philippines, were used to elicit people's perceptions and assessments of different environmental features and agricultural practices. Informants' stories were scored based on dominant themes to identify indicators of sustainability and quality of life that are relevant for different ethnic, gender, and age groups. These contextually sensitive indicators, the authors conclude, differ significantly from externally defined indicators and vary systematically as a function of socioceonomic and sociodemographic parameters. Taking culturally relevant indicators into consideration can help shape development trajectories that local people can identify with and benefit from in the short- and long-term.

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This paper is an attempt to identify some regularities in ecological adaptation and social organization in agricultural‐pastoral communities in high altitude environments. Comparisons are made between the Alpine Swiss and Khumbu Sherpas of northern Nepal, and the model which is developed is tested against data drawn from the Andean literature. In spite of the fact that these mountain ranges are in different parts of the world, their inhabitants have made remarkably similar adaptations to their alpine environments.