Climate change and rural livelihoods in Nepal

project summary

The aim of the project is to investigate consequences of climate change for the livelihoods of rural populations in three areas in Nepal and how people try to adapt to these changes. Emphasis will be on rural people’s own perceptions, experiences and interpretations as these form the basis on which people decide about their future livelihood strategies and which actions are deemed appropriate and necessary. The project will therefore investigate which livelihood changes people have experienced, how they interpret these, what is their relative importance, and what strategies they use to cope with them. Especially consequences for the sustainable use and management of natural resources such as wood and medicinal plants are of interest as these play important roles in development strategies. Therefore emphasis will be put on these resources and forest user groups and medicinal plant collectors will be included in the project. Adaptation to climate change depends on the resources (including local knowledge) and options available to people, and how these options are evaluated. Therefore it will also be investigated how people’s personal circumstances and (material and non-material) assets, user group organisation and resources are related to their decisions and efforts at adaptation. The results will be of relevance to development strategies by providing information on local concerns and needs and by identifying obstacles and opportunities for successful adaptation.