CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2021
| Author | Akhtar, Noreen |
|---|---|
| Title | Adaptive Capacity in a Transforming World: A Case Study of Resilience to Climate Change via Traditional and Local Knowledge in a Mountain Community (Ghanche) of Pakistan |
| Summary | Purpose - The purpose of this perception study is to investigate local insights on climate change and its impacts in Ghanche, Pakistan, adaptation strategies to overcome these impacts and to explore the potential role and adequacy of traditional and local knowledge to face climate change in future. Design/methodology – 30 participants were consulted and their observations on changes in seasonal temperature (summer and winter) and annual precipitation were validated using meteorological data from the Earth Engine Data Catalog. Participants’ responses regarding changes in snowfall, rainfall, water availability, avalanche and GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) events, flash floods, landslides, and crop yield over around the past 25 years were also recorded along with the impacts of these changes and adaptation strategies to overcome them. The role of traditional and local knowledge in overcoming climate change impacts was analyzed using a vulnerability framework and taking into account primary data collected through this research. Findings – Participants mentioned that summer and winter temperatures, rainfall, flash floods, landslides and GLOF events have increased, while crop yields, water availability and snowfall have decreased. Observed changes in summer and winter temperature matched meteorological data. Some of the major impacts included frequent and intense floods, damage to personal and public property, landslides, reduced water availability and impacts on agriculture, more road obstructions, damage to trees and cattle, lower quality and quantity of meadow grass and influence on daily transportation and communication. Strategies adopted were mostly based on traditional and local knowledge and some of them on external knowledge, such as from NGOs. Overall, keeping in mind Ghanche’s persistent loss of human capacity due to outmigration, people’s changing priorities and the unpredictable nature of climate change and risks associated with its impacts, this region requires external financial and technical support to overcome future climate change impacts. While important, traditional and local knowledge alone cannot make it more resilient and less vulnerable to future climate change. |
| Supervisor | Pinter, Laszlo |
| Department | Environment Sciences and Policy MSc |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2021/akhtar_noreen.pdf |
Visit the CEU Library.
© 2007-2021, Central European University