Diversified Agroforestry for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation in the Himalayan Region: Potential for Achieving Multiple Benefits

Land management and forests are crucial to tackling the concurrent issues of sustainable food production and climate change. Conventional modern agriculture, converting forests and naturally vegetated landscapes to farms and rangelands, contributes significantly to elevate carbon in the atmosphere. Agroforestry systems offer potential for local communities to meet livelihood needs while simultaneously adapting to and mitigating climate change. Data from several studies conducted in nine districts of central Nepal between 2007 and 2017 were analyzed. Forests and agroforestry systems in three central Nepal districts had significantly higher total carbon stocks than agricultural soils (2–5 times) due to high above and below-ground biomass carbon and SOC stocks. The application of improved FYM compost, cattle urine and biochar in four districts increased average SOC by 2.75% over 6 years, translating to an increase of nearly 100 t ha−1 in SOC stock. Along with soil quality benefits, biochar and FYM compost improved the yields of soybean, potato, millet and Swertia chirayita yields which were significantly higher than in untreated plots. The flux of N2O was significantly lower in biochar-amended soil compared to non-biochar. Crop diversification incorporating high-value horticultural and medicinal crops enhance economic returns as indicated by higher benefit-cost ratios for vegetable and Swertia chirayita than for cereals

Analyzing Land Cover Change Using Remote Sensing and GIS: A Case Study of Gilgit River Basin, North Pakistan

Mountainous areas of northern Pakistan are rich in biodiversity, glaciers and key watershed of Indus Riversystem which provide ecosystem services for their inhabitants. These regions have experienced extensive deforestationand are presently vulnerable by rapid land cover changes, therefore an effective assessment and monitoring is essentialto capture such changes. The aim of this study is to analyze the observed changes in land cover over a period of thirtynine years, divided into three stages (1976-1999, 1999-2008 and 2008-2015). Four images from Landsat 2Multispectral Scanner System (MSS), Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM), Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper andLandsat 8 Operation Land Imager data were obtained to detect land cover change. This study used supervisedclassification-maximum likelihood algorithm in ERDAS imagine to identify land cover changes perceived in GilgitRiver Basin, Pakistan. The result showed that the range land, glaciers, water bodies, built-up/agricultural cover are themajor categories that have been altered by the natural and anthropogenic actions. In 1976, built up/agriculture, rangeland, water bodies and glacier cover was 1.13%, 45.3%, 0.66% and 13.2%, respectively. Whereas in 2015, builtup/agriculture, range land, water bodies and glacier cover was 3.25%, 12.7%, 0.91% and 8.2%, respectively. Thesesland cover shifts posed acute threat to watershed resources. Therefore, a comprehensive watershed resourcemanagement is essential or otherwise, these resources will deplete rapidly and no longer be capable of playing their rolein socioeconomic and sustainable environmental development of the are

Mapping and Modelling of Land Use Change in Nepal

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A Review of Flood Risk Assessment

Abstract: Floods are one of the most common hazards in the world and cause loss of lives, livelihood and property destruction. The objective of this study was to review and synthesize concepts and techniques of flood hazard, vulnerability and risk assessment with reference to the Himalayan region. Flood risk is a function and a product of hazard and vulnerability. The impact of flood and flash flood ( slow onset and rapid onset) events at particular site can reflects key socioeconomic factors and environmental services,like number of people at risk, affect on ecological services and capability of human population to recovery. Risk assessment is important in making decisions, policies and managing floods. Using PRISMA methodology of literature review, 120 articles were retrieved using PubMed and Google Scholar database. 90 articles were included in initial review. 30 articles were excluded from the review after reading the whole content because they did not match the objectives of the literature review and the inclusion criteria. Flood hazard assessment techniques are based on various parameters such as meteorological, hydrological and socioeconomic. There are four important steps in flood risk assessment such as characterizing the area, determining hazard level and intensity, assessing vulnerability and risk. Recently, advancement in GIS, remote sensing and hydraulic modeling technology has been extensively used in formulating models used for flood hazard calculation and risk analysis. The occurrence of floods in mountainous regions are now more common related to past and in future it seem more frequent due global warming. Community based flood warning systems can go a long way in helping rural communities, as well as flood management agencies, to prepare for flash floods. The enhancement of community resilience through socioeconomic empowerment and strengthened adaptive capacity can pay a vital role in flood disaster management

People’s perception of climate change impacts and their adaptation practices in Khotokha valley, Wangdue, Bhutan

97-105Climate change is expected to have serious environmental, economic, and social impacts in mountainous regions worldwide. Rural communities that depend on farming, livestock rearing and natural resources for their livelihoods are likely to be affected by its adverse impacts. This study was carried out to understand one community's perceptions and experiences of climate change and to assess the people's use of forest resources and possible implications for climate change adaptation. The study was conducted through semi-structured questionnaires. The entire population of 67 households was surveyed for the study. The household data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency and inferential statistical tests, namely, parametric t-test and chi- square. The study revealed that a majority of people in the community (79 %) were aware of climate change. Over ninety per cent of the local people depend mainly on cultivation of potato and rearing livestock for their livelihood. The results indicated that climate change and variability have affected the lives of the local people who have developed adaptation strategies in their own way to cope with it. Local people cited impacts including reduced precipitation and an irregular rainfall pattern, which affects potato cultivation and winter fodder production. Production has also been affected by an increased in insect pests. Additionally, new invasive/weed species are reported to be colonizing the pasture land, preventing the regeneration of preferred grass species for grazing. Use of forest products such as fuel wood, flag post, fencing post and litter in particular, have decreased because of available alternatives. Over eighty per cent of those interviewed the need of government support