AKP PILOT ACTIVITY IN NEPAL Building the Resilience of Mountain People and Local Governments 2012 Undertaken by Resources Himalaya Foundation Supported by Adaptation Knowledge Platform

Broad Objective to strengthen the resilience capacity of local people to climate change and to bring the climate change issues in mainstream of planning mechanism. Specific Objectives To organize climate awareness programs and develop information material to help build resilience of the most vulnerable communities to climatic variability; To develop policy guideline for the local government with the knowledge on 1) what they can help to climate vulnerable groups; 2) how they can address climate related issues in their local planning mechanisms; and 3) what specific methods are appropriate for the integration in their plan and programs; and To share the outcomes of the activities with the central level government authorities (NPC and CCC), and strengthen mainstreaming process of capacity building for the vulnerable communities.

Project Area: Ramechhap Second most vulnerable district in Nepal by NAPA index of Combined- Multiple Risk-Exposure. Much known district as a drought prone area of Nepal, where its 18 VDCs (village development committees) in the southern belt face severe drought and climate related disaster every year. Reported low agricultural productivity mainly because of low and/or erratic rainfall for over a decade and People facing varied problems linked to climatic variability such as food scarcity, lack of drinking water, health.

Activities & Process Climate Awareness Programs & Information Material Survey: Focal Group Discussions, and Key Informant Interviews Climate Awareness Programs Information Material Development Policy Guideline for the Local Government study and survey on current institutional arrangements and planning mechanisms for climate change within a local government Workshop at Local Level and National Level Share the Outcomes with the Central Level Authorities Central level workshop

Expected Outcomes 1.Information material will be prepared in local languages and distributed to target groups. The material demonstrates knowledge that helps to build resilience of most vulnerable people whose livelihoods have been or will be affected by climate-related problems 2.A technical policy brief that demonstrates i) information on what local governments can do for helping build the resilience of the mountain people to the climate problems in the two relevant sectors, and ii) context-specific planning tools/methods on how they can integrate those actions identified in the above into local planning mechanisms 3.A synthesis report that summarizes the feedbacks from the Planning Commission and the Climate Change Council provided at the knowledge dissemination workshop at central level.

Pakarbas VDC IssuesAdaptation Practices Erratic Climatic Pattern. Monsoon failure since Increased temperature Huge Scarcity of Drinking water Drying of spring/waterholes (out of 20 waterholes just 5/6 remain now with very limited water) Paddy Cultivation almost abandoned Depletion in Grass/Fodder Heavy infestation of Invasive species Low Agriculture Production Change in livestock holding and rearing Padlocking waterholes for regulated use of water Rainwater Harvesting wherever supports are available through NGOs Paddy cultivation replaced by maize Initiation of cash crops like coffee/Avocado (by a few individuals to a very limited extent) Forest Conservation

Majhuwa VDC IssuesAdaptation Practices Erratic Climatic Pattern Depleting drinking water source leading to water rationing (2 hrs/day supply against round the clock supply in the past) Reduction in Agriculture Production (Especially paddy) No more production of Masyang/Gahat Less buffalo or cow/HH; high no of goats Plantation around water sources Cultivation of Rajma/Bean instead of traditional legumes like Masyang/Gahat Forest Conservation

Deurali VDC IssuesAdaptation Practices Drying of water sources/less drinking water supply compared to the past Reduction in Agriculture Production Decrease in livestock number Less availability of Grass/Fodder Erratic Climatic Pattern Appearance of Mosquitoes Changing of Intake for water supply Forest Conservation

Himganga VDC IssuesAdaptation Practices Erratic climate pattern Drastically shrinking of water sources (24 hr Water Supply to 1 hr daily) supply) High pest infestation in crops Reduction in Agriculture production/Cultivation Masyasng/Gahat production virtually nil due to pest Infestation No vegetation cultivation now Reduce in Large livestock rearing Dying of trees in forest Water Storage in plastic tank Hybrid goats instead of the traditional variety Optional profession such as mason/corner shop Use of Chemical fertilizer and pesticides as a desperate attempt to grow more Forest Conservation Citrus (Junar) as a cash Crops growing

Key Findings ISSUEREMARKS No program budget kept aside for Climate Change Issues in FY Planning of VDC/DDC Government budget planning guideline contains no instruction for cc issue Unaware about Climate Change Policy at community level, and to some extent district level No orientation Unaware about vulnerable assessment; no knowledge that Ramechhap belongs to the most vulnerable district No orientation Key issue: Water scarcityHistorical problem, aggravated by climate change (?)