Central Region Workshop Nepal Climate Change Scenarios, Impact and Adaptation

Monday 08 June, 2009
Kathmandu, Nepal

A one-day regional workshop was jointly organized in The Shanker Hotel, Kathmandu, the Central Region of the country, by Practical Action Nepal, ISET- Nepal and DFID. The program was organized as part of a series of regional workshop to be organized in each development region of the country. The objective of the program is to make inclusive voice of the people of affected area and relevant right holders regarding climate change scenario, its impact and adaptation in Nepal.

The presentation on Climate Trends and Scenarios in Nepal by Mr. Gehendra Gurung from Practical Action Nepal and Mr. Anil from ISET-N, Impacts and Responses in Nepal by Mr. Ajay Dixit from ISET-N and Practical Action Nepal and ISET-N's experiences from Nawalparasi, Chitwan, Rupandehi and Rautahat again by Mr. Gehendra Gurung were made in the program.

The group discussion was followed by the presentation which was categorized as Trends & Scenarios, Impacts and Adaptation to make the discussion and output more specific on each aspect of issue.

Speaking at the program, Water Resource Analyst and expert from ISET- N, Mr. Ajay Dixit stressed that type of the problems channel the response technique. Hence problem identification should be the emphasis and accordingly the adaptation techniques could be addressed.

In the program the affected community representative from different districts viz. Rasuwa, Nawalparasi, Chitwan, Rupandehi and Rautahat shared about the local impacts being observed in the region. Shrinking of the snow line, temporal variation in snowfall and harvest of various crops, earlier flowering of Rhododendron and its early senescence were some of the examples found in Rasuwa district as shared by Mr. Ang Chhiring Tamang from Rasuwa. Many other examples as production of litchi in Dhading, twice harvest of Bayar in Rautahat, ripening of Kafal in early February in Nuwakot were amongst some conseuqences due to the climate change.

Many distinguished results and changes have been observed in the recent days. All these change could be attributed as only as associated part of climate change, primarily due to anthropogenic activities.  Climate change solely is not responsible for the whole change. However, it is inevitable and undoubtful so more work on the adaptation and response issues should be brought about, which came as a conclusive notion of the program.