Local perception on climate change and its impact on livelihood: a case study from Poonch district of J&K, India

Abstract

Any change in the earth’s climatic conditions occurring over a prolonged period of time is known as climate change. It is one of the severe environmental threats expected to affect ecosystems and natural resources by intensifying the effects of various ongoing threats such as overexploitation, habitat destruction, deforestation, pollution and invasive of exotic species etc. Local inhabitants of Poonch district are generally agro pastoral in nature and their livelihood is primarily based on the agriculture and livestock which is affected by the droughts, unseasonal snowfall and other climate related problems in the region. The present study is based on the available literature and the perceptions of local inhabitants of Poonch district on climate change and strategies adopted to withstand the hardship due to changing climatic conditions. The study observed that there is some consistency between local perceptions and scientific evidence. The present study reveals that there is significant need to strengthen information on various aspects of climate change in this region of Pir Panjal Himalayas as no significant work has been done in this fragile area. Moreover the available data on climate change in the region is very scarce and inadequate to meet the requirement of climate change research.