Climate-Induced Vulnerability, Adaptation, and Mitigation Strategies: A Case Study of Chamoli District, Garhwal Himalayas

The livelihood of the Himalayan Mountain inhabitants is inextricably linked to the region’s climate. Therefore, every change in climatic conditions has a considerable impact on mountain livelihoods. The Himalayan region has been witnessing the climate change repercussions. This research analyses the People’s perspectives towards climatic changes as well as the accompanying dynamics. The calculation of land surface temperature (LST) shows that there has been a significant increase in temperatures at high altitudes. The majority of the people feel the weather has become warmer in general, as well as an abrupt changes in the rainfall has been witnessed. The intensity, duration, and type of precipitation have all been observed to have varied significantly. Also, water scarcity has increased and the agricultural field has also shown reduced productivity. There have been several alterations in the livelihood pattern of the people due to the changing environmental scenario. As a result, the diversification of livelihood has gained importance. Therefore, there is an urgent need to characterize, analyze, and comprehend the vulnerability of dependent communities in mountain regions. The findings of this study reveal that local people seem cognizant of climate variability and its effects and they have shifted towards diverse livelihood sources. Thus, climate change and its driving variables must be clearly understood in order to accomplish successful management of natural resources as well as the well-being of the local community.