ABSTRACT

The intensity and extent of climate change impacts differ significantly with the geographical and ecological structure of the landscape. This is especially evident in mountain ecosystems where topographic, climatic and biological gradients make them extremely vulnerable to global environmental changes . Designing strategies to mitigate and adapt to global climate change on such local landscapes requires a context-specific vulnerabilities that take into account their particular characteristics. Presently, there are two main challenges in assessing climate change vulnerability in mountain ecosystems: 1) The models that are used for vulnerability assessments at global scales are being used at local scales with broad variables from few sectors that do not capture the range of characteristics of mountain ecosystems 2) indigenous knowledge about climate change are not considered in these models, which makes the implementation of mitigation/adaptation measures less successful. In this study, we highlight these issues drawing from our data collected in India’s Lesser Himalayan region (Darjeeling). We used a mixed research approach that combines a vulnerability assessment model with a participatory knowledge approach. We based climate change vulnerability around the socio-ecological system of the mountain landscape. The results from the interactive process showed that Darjeeling region is experiencing higher climate change vulnerability than the results produced by the model at the subregional level. We highlight critical variables that influence the socio-ecological system and need to be taken into account when assessing vulnerability and future adaptation scenarios. The study offers a decision support process for policymakers to plan climate mitigation/adaptation measures and future sustainability pathways.

摘要

气候变化影响的强度和程度随景观的地理和生态结构而显着不同。这在山地生态系统中尤其明显，因为地形、气候和生物梯度使它们极易受到全球环境变化的影响。设计策略以减轻和适应此类局部景观的全球气候变化需要考虑到其特定特征的特定环境的脆弱性。目前，在评估山区生态系统的气候变化脆弱性方面存在两个主要挑战：1) 用于全球范围内脆弱性评估的模型正在局部范围内使用，其中包含来自少数部门的广泛变量，这些部门没有捕捉到山区生态系统的一系列特征 2) 这些模型中没有考虑有关气候变化的本土知识，这使得缓解/适应措施的实施不太成功。在这项研究中，我们根据在印度小喜马拉雅地区（大吉岭）收集的数据强调了这些问题。我们使用了一种混合研究方法，将脆弱性评估模型与参与式知识方法相结合。我们将气候变化的脆弱性建立在山地景观的社会生态系统周围。互动过程的结果表明，大吉岭地区的气候变化脆弱性高于该模型在次区域层面产生的结果。我们强调了影响社会生态系统的关键变量，在评估脆弱性和未来适应情景时需要考虑这些变量。该研究为政策制定者规划气候减缓/适应措施和未来可持续发展路径提供了一个决策支持过程。