Traditional knowledge on climate change adaptation

1. Presentation By
Krishna Prasad Sigdel, Ph.D. Scholar, Central Department of Botany, TU
Narayan Prasad Ghimire Ph.D., Dr. Madhav Bahadur Karki Ph.D., Dr. Ripu Mardan
Kunwar Ph.D., Binod Dawadi Ph.D., Shalu Adhikari Ph.D., Keshav Prasad Khanal and
Prasan Karmacharya.
STUDY ON TRADITIONAL
KNOWLEDGE OF CLIMATE CHANGE
ALONG DIFFERENT ALTITUDINAL
GRADIENTS OF NEPAL

2. Background
⮚ Climate change is causing temperature increase in the Himalayan region
greater than the global average;
⮚ More rapid warming in higher altitude is observe in Nepal than globally.
⮚ Observed changes in temperature trend indicate a consistent and
continuous warming into the future (MoFE, 2021).
⮚ There is an urgent need to protect the most vulnerable communities by
building their capacities and resilience.
⮚ Climate change presents the most serious threat to development and
many of the gains made to date are at great risk (ex. Melamchi DW
Project).
⮚ Rise in temperature and climate induced hazards such as drought, flood
and soil degradation will decline agriculture productivity, subsequently
affecting food security (IPCC 2007a).

3. Objectives
The main objectives of the study are:
⮚To study the level of understanding of common people and their
knowledge regarding climate change impacts,
⮚To study the use of traditional knowledge on adapting to climate change
impacts and contribute to mitigation,
⮚To assess opportunities and constraints in using traditional knowledge
and practices in climate change adaptation and resilience building.
⮚To capitalize on, develop, expand and mainstream traditional knowledge
climate change management.

4. Scope of Work
⮚Overall scope was to assess the level of understanding of
local people in the study areas regarding the availability and
use of traditional knowledge in climate change adaptation and
disaster risk reduction.
3 Limitations
⮚Time constraint allowed coverage of limited no. field sites,
⮚Small number of participants in FGD and household (HH)
survey.
⮚Ideal representation of diverse indigenous and local
communities was not possible

5. Approach and Methodology
⮚Adopted analytical and consultative approach based on
both primary and secondary data collection and literature
review;
⮚Interactions with diverse groups of stakeholders conducted
as follow:
*Observation– Observation of settlements and livelihood
practices of local people in the context of climate change.
*Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant
Interviews (KIIs) carried out with the selected group of
knowledge holders;
*Household surveys: households were selected using
purposive sampling and quantitative data were gather
* Cross validation and triangulation of the data done.

6. Approach and Methodology
⮚Data Entry and processing
Primary and secondary data collected through FGDs
and KIIs were compiled and entered in Excel sheets
Data from household surveys were cross-checked and
validated with information collected in FGDs and
KIIs.
⮚Data Analysis and Interpretation
The data and information collected in the field were
duly analyzed and interpreted producing cross-tables
and infographics.

7. Study Area and sites
The study area comprised of three districts: Chitwan, Dhading and Rasuwa; the
sites are described below:
Note: Tamang communities in Rasuwa; Brahmin and Chhetri communities in Dhading; and Tharu and Majhi
communities in Chitwan district were the target population; ,Similarly, Darai, Brahman, Chhetri, Magar in Tanahu;
Brahmin, Chhetri in Pokhara Metropolitan, Kaski and , Lete Rural Municipality in, Mustang were focused.
S.N
.
District Rural/Municipality Settlement Major
communities
1 Chitwan Bharatpur Metropolitan
city
Meghauli,
Golaghat
Tharu, Majhi
2 Dhading Siddhalekh rural
Municipality
Salang, Kumpur Brahmin, Chhetri
3 Rasuwa Gosaikunda Rural
municipality
Dhunche, Sano
Bhar
Tamang, Sherpa
4 Tanahun Vyas Municipality Badgaun, Tanahun
( at the bank of
Seti River)
Darai, Brahman,
Chhetri, Magar
5. Kaski Pokhara Metropolitan Kamaltari Brahmin, Chhetri
6. Mustang Lete Rural Municipality Lete Thakali, Gurung

8. Findings: Traditional knowledge and CC adaptation
Adaptation to address water shortages and damage
⮚ 54% of the respondents practiced planting trees in their water storage
areas;
⮚ 13% each respondents water conservation and rain water harvesting
and storage by using plastic ponds for domestic and irrigation uses.

9. Major Findings in Agriculture
Compost making & soil management: Put animal dung, urine and biomass in the
Dugout pits in homestead areas; Alternate cropping patterns with legume and non-
legume crops.
Water management: Use dry Hey to conserve moisture; Collect rainwater from the
roof and store in the tank for domestic use and water vegetables; construct plastic
ponds to collect rain and surface run-off water; and plant trees around water sources
Crop production: Use improved seeds including hybrid seeds to increase
production; Combine chemical and compost fertilisers; Preserve seeds by storing
them on high grounds including roof ceilings; Practice plastic tunnel farming to
regulate temperature and protect from insects; Spray ash over vegetable seedlings to
control/eliminate insects especially caterpillars.
Plant protection: Restrict agricultural works in certain days (e.g. during full moon
and new moon days) to protect crops from insects and diseases and other natural
causes to damage/decrease crop production
Climate Change Adaptation:
Construct natural revetment and stone walls and reinforce by planting trees and
bamboo; plantation around gullies and landslide areas; perform Bhakari pooja to
ensure food security and Bhimsen pooja protect cattle; Migrate from Himal to lower
altitudes to protect people and animals from severe winter. .

10. Traditional Knowledge and adaptation (Agriculture sector)
Chitwan Dhading/Tanahun/
Kaski
Rasuwa/Mustang
∙ Plated seeds and seedlings are
covered with hey and water
spraying to conserve moisture
∙ Spray burnt out biomass ashes
over new vegetable plants to
protect from insects.
∙ Prepare compost manure in
dugout field by making airtight by
covering with mud and dung
plasters.
∙ Prepare brush and check dams
and canals to irrigate crops field.
∙ Alternate cropping patterns with
legumes to maintain soil fertility.
(e.g. alternate wheat with pulses
and oilseed crops).
∙ Mulching with hay and
watering using Sprayer to
conserve moisture;
∙ Spray burnt out ashes
over vegetables to protect
from insects.
∙ Prepare compost manure
in dugout field pits and
use decomposed compost
in the field.
∙ Prepare water ponds near
seepage areas and
springs to tap water for
irrigation.
∙ Limestone burning and
application in the soil to
reduce alkalinity by
reducing calcium.
∙ Prepare compost
manure in dugout
field pits and use it as
fertiliser.
∙ Tap rain and surface
run-off water in
ponds and canals to
irrigate crops.
∙ Tunnel farming, Rain
water harvesting
using plastic lined
ponds.
∙ MIgrate entire village
to lower slopes to
protect people and
animal from icy cold
weather.

11. Traditional Knowledge and adaptation (Seed preservation)
Chitwan Dhading/Tanahun/
Kaski
Rasuwa/Mustang
∙ First they screen seeds and
preserve them in dry place;
potatoes are stored in special
barrel drum like structure made
of stick bamboos or grasses
(khadai) outside and hey inside,
Paddy are kept in sacks and
hanged in ceilings; garlics and
maize cobs in jhotas or bunches
are also hanged tied to ceiling
or wooden beam of the houses.
∙ Vegetable seeds are preserved
by covering them with old
clothes and kept safe from
insects by keeping a pouch of
mustard seeds on top of the
pouches.
∙ First they screen
seeds and preserve
them in dry place, for
example maize are
kept making jhotela
∙ Vegetable seeds are
preserved by
covering them with
old clothes and kept
safe from insects by
keeping a pouch of
mustard seeds on
top of the pouches.
∙ First they screen
seeds and
preserve them in
dry place,
∙ Vegetable seeds
are preserved by
covering them with
old clothes;
∙ Seeds are kept
safe from insects
by keeping inside
a container with a
pouch of mustard
seeds put on top.
∙ .

12. Traditional Knowledge and adaptation (Events and Disaster)
Chitwan Dhading/Tanahun/
Kaski
Rasuwa/Mustang
∙ Raised platform (chautara) in the middle of
the villages to be used as resting place for
elders, travelers and to protect from
extreme weather.
∙ Eat ghungi as food to be safe from certain
disease like malaria.
∙ Used chhatri as extended hat during
summer time to be safe from sun-burn.
∙ Make Ghauka, and net for fishing in the
rivers.
∙ Handmade fans are used for cooling.
∙ Ghaura (Open fire place) is setup everyday
in front yard of house during winter
warming.
∙ Make Bhakari and other containers made
up of mud and bamboo to store food grains
and placed at certain height from ground
level to protect from flood water.
∙ Build machan (Watch and Rest Tower)
using bamboo and wood timbers) to avoid
heat, mosquito and flood also watch crop
fields to ward off wild animals
∙ Build chautara in
the middle of the
villages so that
travellers and locals
can rest when
needed
∙ Ghurs (Open fire)
are setup at home
yard during winter
season for heating.
∙ Puja performed by
community to
protect from
epidemic;
∙ self-isolation is
practiced if infected
by contagious
diseases
∙ Build houses with
fewer windows
and thick mud
walls to protect
from cold weather
∙ Wear warm
clothes mostly
made up of sheep
wool;.
∙ Make home
liquors and drinks
to protect from
extreme cold.
∙ Make stone walls
around cultivated
field and houses
to protect from
landslide and
flash floods.

13. Traditional Knowledge and adaptation (Rituals)
Chitwan Dhading/Tanahun/
Kaski
Rasuwa/Mustang
∙ During Barana period, restrict
agriculture work for certain
days to protect crops from
bad omen.
∙ Bhakari punjabi sacrificing
chickens to support for
sustained food supply.
∙ Restriction to do
agriculture works during
Ausi and Purnima (Full
moon and new moon)
to ensure good crop
production.
∙ Bhimsen Puja is done
to pray for good animal
health.
∙ Perform Lama puja
and Jhakri puja
annually so that
landslide and
floods wouldn’t
harm their
settlement and
people.

14. Discussions
⮚The literature review on both scientific and traditional
knowledge and perceptions of local people have reported
an increase in warm days, more erratic precipitation
patterns, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity changes
and their adverse effects on human beings across Himal
to Tarai (MoSTE, 2014;Tiwari et al. 2010)
⮚Findings of this study matches the finding from literature
review thus are relevant to understand the perception and
experiences of the respondents; E.g. all respondents
experienced an increase in average temperature and
natural disaster such as floods and landslides.
⮚Low literacy causes poor awareness among the
respondents of climate change and its impacts on the
livelihood means.

15. Discussions
⮚Respondents’ perception and observed temperature data validate the change in
temperature and rainfall patterns.
⮚The analysis shows general similarity in changing patterns in mean temperature and
precipitation in six districts.
⮚Increased incidence of insect attacks and newly discovered crop diseases were
becoming more common in the study areas.
⮚Respondents mention that yellow leaf coloration disease (fungus) and insect pest
incidence were increasing; this matches with scientific findings as well.
⮚In Mustang: Agricultural crops are being better despite the potato production and
storing is aggravated, new plants are seen, agriculture and harvesting calendar has
been changed.

16. Discussions
⮚Farming communities have rich traditional knowledge (TK) and
are custodian of this knowledge especially regarding regarding
management of crop genetic resources.
⮚It is important to do regular sensitization, awareness raising,
and climate resilient development knowledge sharing to
promote climate smart practices in agriculture.
⮚Communities are active in using their TK in seed/tree selection
and in creating flood and landslide defence structure on
vulnerable banks of streams and rivers
⮚More training and awareness building are needed on disaster
risk management, mobilizing support from local governments
and coordination in the study districts.

17. Conclusion
⮚Nepal has rich biodiversity, water and energy resources;
⮚Climate change is posing risk to these vital renewable
resources impacting development and wellbeing of
people;
⮚Traditional knowledge (TK) is fast vanishing as elder TK
holders and practitioners are vanishing and young
generations not learning from elders.
⮚Communities are still using their traditional knowledge
to protect their livelihood and settlements as scientific
knowledge and technology is not available.
⮚There is a need to integrate traditional and scientific
knowledge in adaptation as one type of knowledge is not
adequate to adapt to climate change;
⮚Vulnerable communities need awareness and capacity
building for sustainable adaptation and disaster risk
reduction practices

18. Conclusion
⮚Crop diversification, modifying planting season and
harvesting periods, safe storage of agricultural products,
combined use of chemical and biological fertilizers and
biopesticides (such as biomass ashes and JholMal) are
the most common strategies employed to boost
agricultural production.
⮚The diverse types of knowledge, awareness, perceptions
and practices of indigenous people and local communities
should be documented systematically so as to mainstream
them into country’s climate change, agriculture, forest,
water and environment policy and practices;
⮚Traditional Knowledge Digital Library (TKDL) should be
prepared at the national level to preserve TK by
documenting them urgently

19. References
∙ IPCC (2007), Summary for Policymakers. In S.D. Solomon (Ed.). Climate change 2007: The physical
Science Basis. Contribution of working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge and New York : Cambridge University
Press.
∙ Department for International Development (DFID), (2007), Gender Equality Action Plan, 2007-2009.
∙ Eriksson, M., et al, 2008: How Does Climate Change Affect Human Health in the Hindu Kush-Himalaya Region,
Regional Health Forum.
∙ MoE, 2010: National Adaptation Programme of Action to Climate Change, Ministry of Environment,
Government of Nepal, Kathmandu Nepal
∙ Darjee KD. 2008. Climate change and miserable greenhouse gases. The Initiation 2: 136-137.
∙ WWF, 2006, Climate Change Impacts in the Amazon – Review of scientific literature, World Wide Fund for
Nature, Presentation at the 8th UN Conference of the Parties to the Biodiversity Convention.
∙ IPCC (2007a): Climate Change 2007, Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group
II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental panel on CC. ML. Parry, OF Canziani, JP
Palutikof, PJ vander Linden and CE hanson, Eds. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

20. Acknowledgement:
I acknowledge to the Department of
Environment, Babarmahal, Kathmandu and
local communities of the research areas for
their kind support and information to
accomplish this research
Thank you for your kind attention…