Abstract Globally, mountains are often characterized as fragile and hazardous terrains, with vast... more Abstract Globally, mountains are often characterized as fragile and hazardous terrains, with vast areas covered by the cryosphere. The livelihoods of communities in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region are closely linked with the cryosphere. But over the past few decades, communities in the region have experienced multiple changes, including those driven by climat e change, with direct and immediate impacts on their lives and livelihoods. In this study, we explore linkages between the cryosphere and high-mountain livelihoods using a social‒ecological system approach. It examines how the complex social‒ecological system in villages in Langtang Valley, Nepal, has evolved in response to both cryospheric and socioeconomic changes. The local communities perceive gradual but significant changes in the cryospheric system, such as receding and thinning glaciers, changing snowfall patterns, changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, and a growing incidence of cryosphere-related hazards, such as avalanches and landslides. Communities in the Langtang Valley are also facing a number of socioeconomic changes, resulting in changing aspirations, particularly among the youth. The growing disconnection between society and the surrounding cryosphere, with direct impacts on the transfer and growth of local knowledge systems, are discussed. These simultaneous changes in the cryosphere and the socioeconomic domain have also resulted in a homogenization of livelihood sources, with tourism emerging as the dominant source of livelihood. This has resulted in a dependence of the local population on food imported from outside the valley. A growing dependence on tourism for livelihoods, dependence on imports for food and other basic needs, and the lack of a risk reduction strategy might pose great risks for local lives and livelihoods in the long run. Interventions pertaining to diversifying livelihoods, harmonizing social capital, and hazard risk assessment are essential for strengthening linkages between cryosphere and the socioeconomic system.
Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) and blue pine (Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks.) are two common s... more Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) and blue pine (Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks.) are two common species found in mid-hill forests of Nepal where households largely depend on forest resources for their livelihoods and subsistence. The management of such forests is supported by our understanding of the dynamics in forest structure and species composition and the relationship between different forest community characteristics. This study was designed to determine the variation in species composition and the relationship between various forest community characteristics in two pine forests of Kailash Sacred Landscape, Nepal. Quadrat sampling was applied to collect information on forest species, forest community structure, and disturbance factors.Data was statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS. There were a total of 31 plant species under 28 genera and 20 families in the P. roxburghii forest, and 38 plant species under 37 genera and 19 families in the P. wallichiana forest. Mean DBH, heigh...
The need for appropriate natural resource management is felt from the mountains to plains in the ... more The need for appropriate natural resource management is felt from the mountains to plains in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). However, as mountain communities depend heavily on natural resources for their daily livelihoods, governance is especially crucial to ensure sustainable use. Moreover, disadvantaged groups like women and indigenous peoples are particularly affected by weak governance. For this reason, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is committed to promoting equity and empowerment for mountain people through improved governance.
This study analyzed the trends of climatic parameters (temperature and precipitation) over the la... more This study analyzed the trends of climatic parameters (temperature and precipitation) over the last three decades (1977-2008) and assessed vulnerability of households to climate variability, i.e., extreme weather events, using two sets of indicators, (1) livelihood assets as indicators of adaptive capacity, and (2) indicators of sensitivity and exposure. The study was carried out in two communities of Kailali district, Nepal, one susceptible to floods and the other to droughts. A vulnerability index, computed from livelihood assets indicators developed in consultation with local people, was used to categorize the surveyed households into three vulnerability groups. Indicators of adaptive capacity and indicators of sensitivity and exposure differed significantly across these groups. The rising trend of extreme rainfall events and drought conditions have increased the vulnerability of agriculture based livelihoods in the study area. Adaptation measures were adopted by households depen...
Abstract Globally, mountains are often characterized as fragile and hazardous terrains, with vast... more Abstract Globally, mountains are often characterized as fragile and hazardous terrains, with vast areas covered by the cryosphere. The livelihoods of communities in the Hindu Kush Himalayan region are closely linked with the cryosphere. But over the past few decades, communities in the region have experienced multiple changes, including those driven by climat e change, with direct and immediate impacts on their lives and livelihoods. In this study, we explore linkages between the cryosphere and high-mountain livelihoods using a social‒ecological system approach. It examines how the complex social‒ecological system in villages in Langtang Valley, Nepal, has evolved in response to both cryospheric and socioeconomic changes. The local communities perceive gradual but significant changes in the cryospheric system, such as receding and thinning glaciers, changing snowfall patterns, changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, and a growing incidence of cryosphere-related hazards, such as avalanches and landslides. Communities in the Langtang Valley are also facing a number of socioeconomic changes, resulting in changing aspirations, particularly among the youth. The growing disconnection between society and the surrounding cryosphere, with direct impacts on the transfer and growth of local knowledge systems, are discussed. These simultaneous changes in the cryosphere and the socioeconomic domain have also resulted in a homogenization of livelihood sources, with tourism emerging as the dominant source of livelihood. This has resulted in a dependence of the local population on food imported from outside the valley. A growing dependence on tourism for livelihoods, dependence on imports for food and other basic needs, and the lack of a risk reduction strategy might pose great risks for local lives and livelihoods in the long run. Interventions pertaining to diversifying livelihoods, harmonizing social capital, and hazard risk assessment are essential for strengthening linkages between cryosphere and the socioeconomic system.
Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) and blue pine (Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks.) are two common s... more Chir pine (Pinus roxburghii Sarg.) and blue pine (Pinus wallichiana A.B. Jacks.) are two common species found in mid-hill forests of Nepal where households largely depend on forest resources for their livelihoods and subsistence. The management of such forests is supported by our understanding of the dynamics in forest structure and species composition and the relationship between different forest community characteristics. This study was designed to determine the variation in species composition and the relationship between various forest community characteristics in two pine forests of Kailash Sacred Landscape, Nepal. Quadrat sampling was applied to collect information on forest species, forest community structure, and disturbance factors.Data was statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS. There were a total of 31 plant species under 28 genera and 20 families in the P. roxburghii forest, and 38 plant species under 37 genera and 19 families in the P. wallichiana forest. Mean DBH, heigh...
The need for appropriate natural resource management is felt from the mountains to plains in the ... more The need for appropriate natural resource management is felt from the mountains to plains in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). However, as mountain communities depend heavily on natural resources for their daily livelihoods, governance is especially crucial to ensure sustainable use. Moreover, disadvantaged groups like women and indigenous peoples are particularly affected by weak governance. For this reason, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is committed to promoting equity and empowerment for mountain people through improved governance.
This study analyzed the trends of climatic parameters (temperature and precipitation) over the la... more This study analyzed the trends of climatic parameters (temperature and precipitation) over the last three decades (1977-2008) and assessed vulnerability of households to climate variability, i.e., extreme weather events, using two sets of indicators, (1) livelihood assets as indicators of adaptive capacity, and (2) indicators of sensitivity and exposure. The study was carried out in two communities of Kailali district, Nepal, one susceptible to floods and the other to droughts. A vulnerability index, computed from livelihood assets indicators developed in consultation with local people, was used to categorize the surveyed households into three vulnerability groups. Indicators of adaptive capacity and indicators of sensitivity and exposure differed significantly across these groups. The rising trend of extreme rainfall events and drought conditions have increased the vulnerability of agriculture based livelihoods in the study area. Adaptation measures were adopted by households depen...
The need for appropriate natural resource management is felt from the mountains to plains in the ... more The need for appropriate natural resource management is felt from the mountains to plains in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH). However, as mountain communities depend heavily on natural resources for their daily livelihoods, governance is especially crucial to ensure sustainable use. Moreover, disadvantaged groups like women and indigenous peoples are particularly affected by weak governance. For this reason, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) is committed to promoting equity and empowerment for mountain people through improved governance.
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