Changing climate and its impacts on Assam, Northeast India

Abstract

The paper explores climate change induced hydro hazards and its impact on tribal communities in Majuli (largest river island of Brahmaputra River Basin). The island has been experiencing recurrent floods, erosion, and siltation, which has distressed the socio-economic foundation and livelihood of the Mishing—a indigenous community on Northeast India, leading to out migration from the island. The indicators selected to capture the vulnerability of the island to climate change are dependency ratio; occurrence of natural hazards (floods) and coping methods; income of the household; and livelihood diversification. To gather the quantitative and qualitative data on these parameters the methods was designed to conduct both sample survey of households and focus group discussions. The findings reveal that in the selected villages, the dependency ratio is 4 (dependents): 1 (earning member); average income of the household is low i.e. $ 40/month and is declining as compared to last few years because of frequent floods, erosion and siltation that has decreased farm productivity which is the main source of income. The impact of changing climate and heightened flood and erosion risk to farmlands has been forced migration to cities and neighboring urban centers like Jorhar for stable livelihood. Therefore, we propose that a possible way to enhance social resilience to changing climate and vagaries of monsoon (tropical disturbances) is to promote alternative occupation like eco-tourism as (Majuli is the center ofVaisnavismandSatrasin Northeast India) and invest in adaptive strategies to mitigate flood by incorporating lay and place-based knowledge of the Mishing community in flood management. Also facilitate community’s participation and awareness towards hydro hazards based on flood proof housing focusing on indigenous knowledge.

How Do Vulnerable People in Bangladesh Experience Environmental Stress From Sedimentation in the Haor Wetlands? An Exploratory Study

“…These precarious and temporary livelihood options are causing an increased vulnerability. Other studies have also shown that changes in precipitation may lead to unsustainable employment (e.g., Das, 2015 for northeast India; Hossain et al., 2020 for Bangladesh). The unpredictable nature of sedimentation also impedes human livelihoods and settlement, especially as residential areas adjacent to cultivated land are lost, and residents, particularly those living near hills and streams, are displaced from their original locations.…”

“…For example, in Hail Haor, Bangladesh, Uddin et al (2013) found that the cultivation of various citrus fruits and pineapples accelerated soil erosion because farmers traditionally grew these fruits in rows aligned with the slope of the land, which promoted erosion. Similarly, Das (2015) and Ranjan (2019) point out that agricultural lands in India are one of the most significant sources of soil erosion and subsequent sedimentation in both wetlands and on river islands.…”

Climate change impacts on socio-hydrological spaces of the Brahmaputra floodplain in Assam, Northeast India: A review

“…Government initiatives could greatly enhance the adaptive capacity of the farming communities (Ranjitkar et al, 2016;Jayakumar et al, 2017;Jiang et al, 2018;Rehman and Tanti, 2021). Promotion of alternative livelihoods such as eco-tourism and incorporation of indigenous traditional knowledge into community flood management are suggested to enhance social resilience to climate change in the BFP (Das, 2015). This review is expected to trigger the policy makers and scientists to accelerate mitigation policy formulation and arm the floodplain dwellers with devices to sustain their lives and livelihood in a changing climate.…”

“…In addition to direct impacts, the agriculture sector is also likely to be indirectly affected by an increase in hydrometeorological hazards in future warming scenarios. Das (2015) reported that the frequency of climate change induced hydrological hazards such as flood, erosion, and siltation has increased in Majuli, the largest river island in the Brahmaputra River basin. This has devastated agricultural lands and declined farm productivity, forcing people to migrate to nearby cities in search of alternative livelihoods.…”

“…Be it the Chang-Ghar (houses with raised plinth) of the Mising and Deuri communities, raised granary, ethnic fishing devices or practice of community fishing, or knowledge of the construction of country boats. All of these adaptations reflect indigenous coping mechanisms for recurrent floods and erosion (Das, 2015;Hazarika et al, 2016). These are now practiced as the culture which has taken many centuries to evolve to its present form.…”