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Mallick, D.; Dilshad, T.; Naznin, Z.; Hassan, T. S. M.; Md. Syed, A.; Goodrich, C. G.; Udas, B. P.; Prakash, A.; Anwar, M. Z.; Habib, N.; Abbasi, S. S.; Khan, Q.; Ali, M.; Qureshi, A. H.; Batool, S.; Bhadwal, S.; Khandekar, N.; Gorti, G.; Mini, G.; Varma, N.; Sharma, G.; Luitel, M.; Nyima, K.; Tamang, D. D.
This synthesis report summarizes findings from a participatory assessment of socio-economic drivers, conditions, and climatic and environmental stresses leading to different levels of vulnerabilities in the Hindu Kush Himalayan (HKH) region
. The study sites included high mountain, mid-hill, and downstream regions of the Indus, Upper Ganga, Gandaki, and Teesta– a tributary of the Brahmaputra River – basins. An integrated and multidimensional approach was adopted to understand social drivers, conditions, climate stresses, and multiple causes of vulnerability. Community perceptions about major socio-economic drivers and conditions were collected in geographical contexts. Upstream regions are characterized by an abrupt rise in topography, extremely rugged terrain, steep slopes, and deeply cut valleys. Midstream characteristics include hills with large areas of dense broad-leaved and mixed forest and extensive agriculture, often on terraced slopes. Downstream areas are mostly flat and characterized by vast floodplains that are prone to flood and river erosion
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Vulnerability is a set of conditions of people that is derived from the historical and prevailing socio-economic, cultural, environmental and political contexts along with understanding future scenarios, especially for climate change
. This study aimed at better understanding the nature and types of socio-economic drivers and social vulnerabilities in the context of increasing climatic stresses in four river basins in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region. A multidimensional, contextual and integrated approach has been applied using participatory qualitative tools and techniques to identify major socio-economic drivers and conditions along with climatic factors in upstream, midstream and downstream of the river basins. In upstream and midstream region, people’s livelihood is dependent on subsistent agriculture, horticulture, pastoralism and tourism while in downstream, agriculture and fisheries are the major livelihood options. Climate sensitive natural resources based livelihoods are severely affected across the river basins. Poor and marginal population are not able take adequate adaptation measures due to lack of capacities, poor access to resources, services, information, which push them into greater vulnerability. The vulnerable groups in all four river basins are marginalized sections who are conditioned by economic classes, gender and social norms and living in geographically underdeveloped areas. For instance, poor, women, religious/ ethnic minorities, subordinate caste groups, char dwellers. Poor governance and the lack of access to resources and services have made the situation worse. All these factors are enhancing social vulnerability across the basins and study sites. Social protection measures, enhancement of human capitals and livelihood diversification with pro-poor and gender responsive adaptation and socially inclusive policy are needed to address growing social vulnerability
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This study aims to deepen our understanding about local climate change trends, adaptation approaches and strategies of the government, NGOs, and other actors, and emerging adaptation practices in key impacted sectors in the Lower Teesta basin in Bangladesh
. This region, regarded as one of the important food baskets of the country, has been experiencing varied changes in climate variability (including temperature rises, heat stress, low and erratic rainfall, and prolonged droughts), falling groundwater levels, and climatic extremes such as frequent and devastating floods, riverbank erosion, and thunderstorms. These climate change and other stressors are hurting sectors such as agriculture, water, sanitation and health, fisheries, food security, regional infrastructure, housing, and the livelihoods of common people in general
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Groot, A.; Singh, T.; Pandey, A.; Gioli, G.; Ahmed, B.; Ishaq, S.; Raza, N.; Hassan, M.; Hassan, S. M. T.; Syed, M. A.; Mamnun, N.; Eijrond, V.
This resource kit presents a compilation of information on critical climate-stress moments in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region
. The information is based on a literature review on critical-climate stress moments in agriculture and health due to heat stress and discusses critical moments emerging from downstream and upstream floods. The literature study was carried out by the Himalayan Adaptation, Water and Resilience (HI-AWARE) research project under the Collaborative Adaptation Research Initiative in Africa and Asia with financial support from the UK Government’s Department for International Development and the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada
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Syed, A.; Haq, A.; Uzzaman, A.; Goodrich, C.G.; Mallick, D.; Mini, G.; Sharma, G.; Nyima, K.; Mamnun, N.; Varma, N.; Singh, P.; Ghate, R.; Triwedi, S.; Sen, S.; Bhadwal, S.; Hassan, T.; Dilshad, T.; Gulati, V.; Naznin, Z.
This working paper summarizes the situational analysis of upstream, mid-stream and downstream areas of Teesta subbasin of greater Brahmaputra basin
. The situational analysis contains the condition of the people and ecosystems of the Teesta basin, including a summary of historical trends and stresses and identification of major issues that require attention through regional policies cooperation and action. Teesta river is 414 km long with a total catchment area of 12,159 km2. Teesta basin is home to around 30 million people, 2% in Sikkim, 27% in West Bengal; and 71% in northwest Bangladesh of which 78% are rural and 22% urban. Sikkim is mountainous with very low population density, whereas West Bengal has a mix of low hills and plains, and in Bangladesh the terrain is almost flat. There are two large barrages on Teesta that diverts water for mainly irrigation purpose: one at Gajoldobha in India and the other at Duani in Bangladesh
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This study undertaken in the Himachari National Park (HNP) in Bangladesh demonstrates potentials and importance of iterative and interactive use of geospatial and social science techniques and tools in synergistic approach for sustainable development and adaptation
. The potential synergies and complementarities among GIS and social science methods and tools may be used to guide formulation of effective adaptation options. The research highlighted the need for a shift in policy approaches from a conventional ecosystem only or society only focus, which may result in unsustainable ecosystem services; to an integrated approach with policy coherence at national down to landscape level
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Wesselink, A.; Warner, J. F.; Syed, M. A.; Chan, F.; Tran, D. D.; Huthoff, F.; Thuy, N. L.; Pinter, N.; Staveren, M. V.; Wester, P.; Zegwaard, A.
Flood-risk management (FRM) is shaped by context: a society's cultural background; physical possibilities and constraints; and the historical development of that society's economy, politi- cal system, education, etc
. These provide different drivers for change, in interaction with more global developments. We compare historical and current FRM in six delta areas and their con- texts: Rhine/Meuse/Scheldt (The Netherlands), Pearl River (China), Mekong (Vietnam), Ganges/ Brahmaputra/Meghna (Bangladesh) Zambezi/Limpopo (Mozambique), and Mississippi (USA). We show that in many countries the emphasis is shifting from -hard' engineering, such as dikes, towards non-structural -soft' measures, such as planning restrictions or early warning systems, while the -hard' responses are softened in some by a -building with nature' approach. However, this is by no means a universal development. One consistent feature of the application of -hard' FRM technology to deltas is that it pushes them towards a technological -lock-in' in which fewer and fewer -soft' FRM alternatives are feasible due to increased ood risks. By contrast, -soft' FRM is typically exible, allowing a range of future options, including future hard elements if needed and appropriate. These experiences should lead to serious re ection on whether -hard' FRM should be recommended when -soft' FRM options are still open
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