Presented by – Sejuti Basu; Core Team Member – Research & Advocacy; PRAGYA Presented at – National Workshop on “Sharing of Lessons and Wise Practices for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem - hosted by IUCN in partnership with GBIHED and Embassy of Switzerland, Delhi 10-11 August 2011 | GBPIHED, Almora, Uttarakhand, India

1. Adaptation to Climate Change in the
High Altitude Himalayas
...a composite model
by
Presented by – Sejuti Basu; Core Team Member – Research & Advocacy; PRAGYA
Presented at – National Workshop on “Sharing of Lessons and Wise Practices for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem
- hosted by IUCN in partnership with GBIHED and Embassy of Switzerland, Delhi
10-11 August 2011 | GBPIHED, Almora, Uttarakhand, India

2. 3 PRONGED APPROACH
The PRAGYA Approach
3 KEY PRINCIPLES
Element 1
• local level
mitigation to
retard effects
of climate
change on the
micro-climate
Element 2
• adaptation to
climate
change at
household,
district and
regional level
Element 3
• designing/
implementing
climate-
compatible
development
1
• need and potential for local action
2
• balanced view of climate risks and opportunities
3
• integrated response to climate change and development needs

3. The PRAGYA Model
Climate
change
adaptation in
HAH
Psycho-social
adaptation
Ecological-technical
adaptation
Indiv. psychology & society
Food security
Health
Livelihoods
Living environment
Water resources
Energy
Disaster risk

4. The PRAGYA Model
Climate
change
adaptation in
HAH
Psycho-social
adaptation
Ecological-technical
adaptation
Indiv. psychology & society
Food security
Health
Livelihoods
Living environment
Water resources
Energy
Disaster risk

5. The PRAGYA Model
Climate
change
adaptation in
HAH
Psycho-social
adaptation
Ecological-technical
adaptation
Indiv. psychology & society
Food security
Health
Livelihoods
Living environment
Water resources
Energy
Disaster risk

6. The PRAGYA Model
Climate
change
adaptation in
HAH
Psycho-social
adaptation
Ecological-technical
adaptation
Indiv. psychology & society
Food security
Health
Livelihoods
Living environment
Water resources
Energy
Disaster risk

7. The PRAGYA Model
Climate
change
adaptation in
HAH
Psycho-social
adaptation
Ecological-technical
adaptation
Indiv. psychology & society
Food security
Health
Livelihoods
Living environment
Water resources
Energy
Disaster risk

8. The PRAGYA Model
Climate
change
adaptation in
HAH
Psycho-social
adaptation
Ecological-technical
adaptation
Indiv. psychology & society
Food security
Health
Livelihoods
Living environment
Water resources
Energy
Disaster risk

9. Addressing Psychology /Society
1
• Awareness building and communication
2
• Climate Change curriculum in education
3
• Participative design of Climate Compatible Development
4
• Insecurity/trauma care
PRAGYA Initiatives
Workshops on climate
risks and adaptation, with
community participation,
to develop strategies for
DRR
Preparing curriculum on
Climate Change for
delivery through ALHs and
schools
Risks/disasters

10. A d d r e s s i n g L i v i n g E n v i r o n m e n t
PRAGYA Initiatives
1
• Research on ecosystem responses and impacts
2
• Biodiversity & Habitat Mngmt (vulnerable sites, at-risk spp.)
3
• CPR management (norms, alt. sources, regeneration)
Fodder farms at Yangthang
village, Leh; 26 HHs
Perennial availability; can
support increased herd size
Food security

11. A d d r e s s i n g W a t e r I s s u e s
PRAGYA Initiatives
1
• Hydrological research
2
• Revitalization of natural sources (springs)
3
• Moisture conservation; Snow/water harvesting, storage
4
• Water budgeting & DWSC-managed access/utilisation
5
• Irrigation technologies
Snow reservoir in Demul
village, Lahaul & Spiti; 65
HHs
Improvement in spring
flow; sufficient water for
irrigating fallow lands
risks/disasters
Livelihoods
Livelihoods
Renewable Energy

12. A d d r e s s i n g E n e r g y C o n c e r n s
PRAGYA Initiatives
1
• Renewable-based rural electrification
2
• Small RE equipments and EE for domestic use
Solar-Wind Hybrid System in
Lossar village, Lahaul & Spiti;
16 HHs
Community managed; crafts
centre powered by SWHS; low
IAP

13. A d d r e s s i n g F o o d S e c u r i t y
PRAGYA Initiatives
1
• Kitchen gardens and nutritive crops
2
• Research on indigenous crop varieties
3
• Food budgeting and storage
Food godown at
Sumdo village, Leh
Effectiveness during
Leh Flood, Aug. 2010
Risks/disasters
Health

14. A d d r e s s i n g H e a l t h c a r e
PRAGYA Initiatives
1
• Nutrition packages for the high altitudes
2
• Awareness & curriculum for health & nutrition (new issues)
Regular programmes on
preventive & promotive
health
Designing nutrition
packages for Himalayan
communities adapted to
climate and nutritional
deficiencies
Food security
Food security
Psychology & society

15. To w a r d s S u s t a i n a b l e L i v e l i h o o d s
PRAGYA Initiatives
1
• Participative research & training on changes in crops and
agri-practices
2
• Wasteland development and watershed management
3
• Rangeland management and fodder supplements
Wasteland reclamation (1
hectare) in Umla village,
Leh; 900 watt
submersible pump
powered by 12 solar PV
arrays
Risks/disasters
Water
Risks/disasters
Water

16. D i s a s t e r R i s k R e d u c t i o n
1
• Vulnerability research & zonation; community preparedness
2
• Vegetative and structural measures for risk reduction
3
• Early warning systems and training of relief teams
4
• Drought risk reduction and anti-desertification measures
5
• Food, fodder, seed stores
6
• Disaster insurance and drought credit
PRAGYA Initiatives
Rangeland
regeneration in
Khinang village, Lahaul
& Spiti; Snow fence
comprising 13 panels
of 8 ft x 6 ft each
Livelihoods
Water
Food security
Livelihoods

17. Miles to go...