Vulnerability Assessment of Indigenous Communities to Climate Change in Nepal.

The vulnerability assessment can identify the potential threats generated by climate change to people such as indigenous. However, the vulnerability assessment of indigenous community to climate change has been a greater challenge for evaluating and determining in the developing countries. Due to the limited skills and knowledge for adapting: socially, technologically and financially. Another these indigenous communities are highly reliable upon the natural resources for their livelihoods. Also, they have a lack of infrastructures, limited access to basic public services such as schools and healthcare, inadequate knowledge and skills on income generating activities, caste-discrimination. Therefore, this research has attempted to assess the vulnerability of the indigenous community to climate change.

The research was conducted at Chitwan, Kailali, and Rautahat districts of Nepal. Three VDCs with three focus groups (Chepang, Tharu, and Musahar) and a total number of 180 house- holds were randomly selected by non-probability purposive sampling technique for collecting information. The descriptive research design where primary data were collected by structured questionnaire household survey. A secondary data was collected from the Department of hydrology and meteorology (DHM), Nepal. Mann-Kendall and Sen’s estimator of slope test were used to detect possible temperature and precipitation trend and its magnitude respectively. Two approaches are taken for developing Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI): first approach the LVI was calculated as composite index comprised of eight major components while other aggregates the eight into IPCC’s three contributing factors to vulnerability: exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity.

The findings of the study showed that the trend of minimum and maximum mean temperatures indicate significantly increased at 6 stations of three districts (Rautahat, Chitwan, and Kailali). The precipitation of the post monsoon seasons is increasing at 9 stations of three districts. In pre-monsoon, monsoon, and winter the precipitation has the significant decrease at three districts stations. Furthermore, more than 90 percentages respondents of three districts stated increase in summer temperature, but above 40 percentages increase in winter temperature. Likewise, above 85 percentages specified increase summer rainfall, as well as more than 55 percentages, decreases winter rainfall.  Musahars are more exposed and sensitive to climate change impacts than Chepangs and Tharus. However, Chepang has a higher adaptive capacity than the Tharu and Musahar.

This study results could be useful for preparation of effective Livelihood program and plan in this indigenous communities as well as appropriate for other indigenous communities and similar areas. Such local level vulnerability assessment provides a framework for formulating suitable policy measures to address their livelihood.