Differentiated socio-ecological system approach for vulnerability and adaptation assessment in the Central Himalaya

Climate change affects both the natural (ecological) and manmade (social) systems across the continents. In the Central Himalaya, renowned for its diverse altitudes, climates, landforms, biodiversity, ethnicities, cultures, and farming systems, complex interactions occur between social and ecological subsystems. The research employs the socio-ecological systems (SESs) approach to assess vulnerability and devise effective adaptation strategies for climate change in the region. Three SESs were chosen as templates for the vulnerability and adaptation assessment. Primary data was collected using the participatory rural appraisal (PRA) method from 14 villages with these SESs. We adopted an indicator-based approach to assess vulnerability, including components such as exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, to calculate the socio-ecological vulnerability index (SEVI). Our results showed varying patterns of vulnerability across the SESs. Sixty-eight percent of the surveyed households have “high” to “very high” socio-ecological vulnerability levels in all three SESs. The results revealed that Himalayan Moist Temperate/Irrigated agrarian (agrarian)-populated (low) community (SESB3) has a “very high” level, Himalayan Moist Temperate/Unirrigated agrarian (small)-populated (low) community (SESB6) has a “high” level, and Alpine/Unirrigated agrarian (small)-populated (low) community (SESA6) has a medium socio-ecological vulnerability level. In addition to assessing vulnerability, we examined current and potential adaptation strategies and associated barriers. The findings revealed major adaptation strategies by the households and communities in agriculture, forest, health, information, infrastructure, policy, natural disasters, livelihood, and water. Our research culminates in the development of an SES-based adaptation framework as a major outcome. This framework assists in understanding local needs and identifying gaps in existing policies and institutional arrangements for sustainable development of the Himalaya. Our SES-based vulnerability and adaptation assessment offers a robust methodology applicable to the entire Indian Himalayan Region and other mountain ecosystems. It provides valuable insights for effective adaptation strategies to address climate change.