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Local responses to too much and too little water in the greater Himalayan region
Gender perceptions on water – Men and women harvesting for household water needs or storing water in
expressed different perceptions regarding the impact of ponds to promote recharge, offer incremental solutions.
water shortages. When the definition of the problem is Scaling up these activities to make a significant impact
different, a solution will be different too. These nuances would require large policy and behavioural shifts.
need consideration in the design of adaptive strategies. However, behavioural change is not automatic and
depends on factors such as access to information
and knowledge. It also depends on the appropriate
Conclusions and Way Forward
husbanding of water stored in the reservoirs, ponds, soil
The people of the hills and the Terai of Nepal’s Koshi
moisture, and watersheds. Adaptations, such as the use
basin are already experiencing the stress of climate
of drought tolerant seeds, can help farmers to adapt but
related hazards, such as erratic monsoon behaviour,
must be suited to local specificities within the economic,
floods, and extended periods without rainfall. They are
social, and political landscape.
coping with the effects, but need to develop effective
adaptive strategies. The information collected clarifies
Diversification and access to alternative sources of
people’s perceptions about adaptation. Clearly, they
livelihood emerged as a central strategy to help people
recognise that the diversification of crops, agricultural
adapt to stress, whether induced by climate change or
practices, and livelihoods can cushion the impacts of
other ongoing change processes. People with diverse
changes in frequency, intensity, and duration of rainfall
income sources adapt more easily than people with few
(flood or extended drought).
income sources. The variety of income sources, not the
level of income seems important for adaptation.
Although the team selected study sites to represent dry
and wet areas based on rainfall data, the respondents
People suggest that the state and government agencies
at all four sites reported water shortages. There is almost
must focus on providing an enabling framework for them
a consensus that water availability has declined in the
to pursue their strategies rather than micromanaging all
last decade. Danda Bazaar is on a ridge and has
their activities. Under a facilitative structure, many of
always had physical limitations on water availability but
the locals argued that they could respond to disruptions
the periods without water are becoming longer.
at local level. Many villagers suggested that the stress
posed by the Maoist insurgency and current insecurity
Although respondents say that rainfall has become
was more serious than drought, though the long-term
erratic in the last five years, precipitation records do not
effects may add further to the mosaic of vulnerability.
show distinct trends. This could indicate increased local
variability. Increases in variability affect the recharge of
A flow of information, goods, and services into and
local springs, reducing the amount of water available in
out of an area is a necessary condition to respond to
existing drinking water systems. This is particularly so if
stresses. Likewise, social capital and institutional checks
water sources are situated at higher elevations.
and balances are helpful in supporting adaptation.
The limits to adaptation depend upon the nature of the
Responses to the emerging conditions of too little water
physical infrastructure and access to secure sources of
often need to adhere to principles like catching the rain
water. When physical infrastructure and water sources
where it falls. Decentralised systems using rainwater
are absent or limited, people will find it hard to adapt.
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