Adapting in the Shadow of Annapurna: A Climate Tipping Point

Abstract

Rapid climate change in the Himalaya threatens the traditional livelihoods of remote mountain communities, challenges traditional systems of knowledge, and stresses existing socio-ecological systems. Through semi-structured interviews, participatory photography, and repeat photography focused on climate change and its impacts on traditional livelihoods, we aim to shed light on some of the socio-cultural implications of climate related change in Manang, a remote village in the Annapurna Conservation Area of Western Nepal. Observed changes in temperature, precipitation, permanent snow cover, and glacial extent directly inform villagers’ perceptions of and adaptations to Himalayan climate change. Adaptation strategies include a shift from traditional agropastoral practices to a more diversified blend of agropastoralism, tourism services, and cash-crop production. Climate change has tipped the scales in favor of the production of fruits and vegetables, cash crops previously unsuitable to the local climate. Diversification of livelihood strategies signifies transformation within the socio-ecological system of Manang and may enable greater resiliency to long-term climatic change. Continued development of relevant, place-based adaptations to rapid Himalayan climate change depends on local peoples’ ability to understand the potential impacts of climate change and to adjust within complex, traditional socio-ecological systems.

Historical evidence of climatic variability and changes, and its effect on high-altitude regions: insights from Rara and Langtang, Nepal

“…This observation is in line with other studies undertaken in similar altitudinal regions within the country: Kanchanjunga ), Khumbu (McDowell et al 2013 and Namche region (Smadja et al 2015) of eastern Nepal; and Mustang region (Manandhar et al 2011) and Manang region (Konchar et al 2015) of central Nepal.…”

“…This is obvious as some studies (Chaulagain 2009;Shrestha & Aryal 2011) already reported low snowfall and rapid meltdown processes all over Nepal. Konchar et al (2015) reported less amount and irregular timing of snowfall in the Manang region of central Nepal. Because of this, local people mentioned that permanent snow line and snow cover thickness was reduced on the nearby mountain peaks such as Chanyanath, Rinimokshya and Chuchemara in Rara, and Langtang and Ganesh in Langtang.…”

“…In many instances, people's perceptions have been found consistent with climatic data generated by meteorological stations (Gbetibouo 2009;Wiid & Ziervogel 2012;Haynes & Yang 2013;Teye et al 2015). Therefore, such observations and perceived thought of local people on climate change recorded at a local level could offer valuable place specific and culturally contextualized information, which in most cases we are unable to derive from global and regional assessment models (Konchar et al 2015) and is especially important for a data-deficient developing country such as Nepal.…”

“…In Nepal, past studies have shown that climate change is real in most of the high-altitude regions, and local people have perceived those changes. Some of these include increases in annual temperature (Macchi et al 2011;Manandhar et al 2011;Gentle & Maraseni 2012;Aryal et al 2014a;KC and Parajuli 2015), annual rainfall (Macchi et al 2011;KC and Parajuli 2015), erratic rain fall (Gentle & Maraseni 2012;McDowel et al 2013;Konchar et al 2015), delay in monsoon (Macchi et al 2011), decreased winter rainfall (Aryal et al 2014b) and rapid snowmelt (Manandhar et al 2011;McDowel et al 2013;Aryal et al 2014aAryal et al , 2014bKC and Parajuli 2015;Konchar et al 2015). Such observations of increased temperature, erratic and less rainfall and delayed monsoon were also revealed for the hills of Nepal (Piya et al 2012) and Terai lowland (Devkota et al 2011;Ireland 2012).…”

The High Mountain Conservation in a Changing World

“…Global factors cannot be mitigated locally but improved management practices that aid local conservation and development in this high mountain ecosystem are required (Garrard et al 2016). At lower altitudes within large ranges, a shift from traditional practices to a more diversified blend of agropastoralism, tourism services, and cash-crop production may become adaptive for local economies (Konchar et al 2015). Conservation must find its place within this changing dynamics.…”