Skip to content
Research Article Open access CC BY 4.0

Assessing the Livelihood Vulnerability to Impact of Climate Change in Western Bhutan

Sonam Wangmo, Ugyen Dorji, Nedup Dorji

Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International · pp. 21–39 · Published 10 Oct 2023

10.9734/jaeri/2023/v24i6558

Abstract

Climate change possesses vagaries threats to the subsequent livelihood of the people in Bhutan and it is crucial to enhance adaptive capacity. Therefore, building resiliency requires information on vulnerability of the system of interest. Therefore, this study assessed smallholder farmer’s vulnerability to impacts of climate change and variability in western parts (Punakha, Wangdue, Gasa) of Bhutan. A survey was conducted from 392 randomly selected households based on major components of sociodemographic profiles, livelihood strategies, health, social network, food, water and natural disaster and climate variability. Data was analyzed using Livelihood Vulnerability Index approach (LVI) and IPCC framework approach (LVI-IPCC). The result indicated that the LVI (range 0.39 to 0.43) and LVI-IPCC (range -0.018 to 0.030) varied across the districts. Punakha district (0.43) was most vulnerable by the LVI approach, whereas Gasa district (0.03) revealed as most vulnerable using LVI-IPCC approach. The rate of vulnerability in a district varied according to their degree of exposure and adaptive capacity to the impacts of climate change among smallholder farmers. Higher exposure to climatic extremes, dependency on natural resources and weak social networking were recognized as components that determine vulnerability. The results are expected to serve an indication to design appropriate intervention to cope with climate change impacts and increase resiliency for sustainable livelihood.

Climate change impacts farmer exposure adaptive capacity livelihood vulnerability

References (25)

  1. 1 The Livelihood Vulnerability Index: A pragmatic approach to assessing risks from climate variability and change—A case study in Mozambique [DOI]
  2. 2 The Melting Himalayas: Cascading Effects of Climate Change on Water, Biodiversity, and Livelihoods [DOI]
  3. 3 Adaptation to climate change and variability: farmer responses to intra-seasonal precipitation trends in South Africa [DOI]
  4. 4 Uncertainty in adaptive capacity and the importance of scale [DOI]
  5. 5 The Usefulness of Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches and Methods in Researching Problem-Solving Ability in Science Education Curriculum
  6. 6 The Multidimensional Livelihood Vulnerability Index – an instrument to measure livelihood vulnerability to change in the Hindu Kush Himalayas [DOI]
  7. 7 Latin American cities and climate change: challenges and options to mitigation and adaptation responses [DOI]
  8. 8 Determinants of livelihood vulnerability in farming communities in two sites in the Asian Highlands [DOI]
  9. 9 Perception of farmers on climate change and its impacts on agriculture across various altitudinal zones of Bhutan Himalayas [DOI]
  10. 10 The importance of social capital in rural development, networking and decision-making in rural areas [DOI]
  11. 11 National Health Policy [DOI]
  12. 12 Natural hazards in forests: glacier and permafrost effects as related to climate change. [DOI]
  13. 13 Household Livelihood Vulnerability to Climate Change in West China [DOI]
  14. 14 Health inequities in Bhutan's free healthcare system: a health policy dialogue summary [DOI]
  15. 15 Understanding the impact of climate change and resilience among highlanders in northern parts of Bhutan: A case study in Gasa district [DOI]
  16. 16 Progress and delivery of health care in Bhutan, the Land of the Thunder Dragon and Gross National Happiness [DOI]
  17. 17 The potential impacts of climate change on the distribution of key tree species and Cordyceps in Bhutan: Implications for ecological functions and rural livelihoods [DOI]
  18. 18 Assessing the Livelihood Vulnerability of Nomads to Changing Climate in the Third Pole Region of Nepal [DOI]
  19. 19 Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing: A Method of Capturing Sensitive Information [DOI]
  20. 20 Productivity and profitability of organic and conventional potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) production in West-Central Bhutan [DOI]
  21. 21 Smallholder Farmers’ Vulnerability to Impact of Climate Change in Central Bhutan [DOI]
  22. 22 American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2014
  23. 23 Human Development Reports [DOI]
  24. 24 National Institute of Food and Agriculture [DOI]
  25. 25 Livelihood Vulnerability Approach to Assess Climate Change Impacts to Mixed Agro-Livestock Smallholders Around the Gandaki River Basin of Nepal

Cited by 8

Taking Stock of Recent Progress in Livelihood Vulnerability Assessments to Climate Change in the Developing World

Atoofa Zainab, Kalim U. Shah · Climate · 2024

Cryospheric changes and livelihood vulnerability in Lahaul Region of North-Western Himalaya, India

Satya Prakash, Milap Chand Sharma, Sanjay Deswal · Sustainable Water Resources Management · 2024

Showing 2 of 8 known citations — external sources report more than can currently be individually listed.

Related research

Article metrics

Real usage data collected on this platform.

31

Page views

0

PDF downloads

7

Outbound clicks

8

Citations

Views over time

Views by country

Approximate, from request IP at view time — not citizenship or institution. Countries with fewer than 5 views are grouped as "Other".

Traffic sources

Referring site, by host.

Views and downloads exclude known bots/crawlers. Citations combines this platform's own DOI-resolved index with each external source's own reported total — see Cited by above for individually listed citing works. Last refreshed 0 seconds ago.