Warming in the North East: developing adaptation strategies

The objective of the study is to undertake integrated impacts, vulnerability, and adaptation assessment of environmental degradation and climate change with respect to the water resources, forests, and livelihoods in the NER (north-eastern region) of India.

The rural subsystem of the NER economy consists of some 35 000 villages inhabited by over 32 million people who constitute about 85% of the total population in the region. North-East India is mostly hilly; it comprises plains on both sides of the River Brahmaputra and is surrounded by the Himalayan range. The flora and fauna of this region are numerous and varied. The region accounts for 7.9% of the total land space of the country. The total annual rainfall varies significantly in the region. In Khasi and Jaintia hills, the annual intensity of rainfall reaches the maximum of about 1080 cm in Cherrapunjee region. The north-eastern states are mostly inhabited by tribes that follow unique social and cultural practices. Overall, the tribal population accounts for over 30% of the total population of this region. However, in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland, scheduled tribes comprise more than 60% of the population.

The proposed study seeks to conduct an integrated assessment of impacts and vulnerabilities in the NER in response to the impacts of environmental degradation and climate change on water resources, forests, and livelihoods. The study further seeks to develop an adaptation framework/plan of action to cope with the extreme events in the NER. Vulnerability hotspots would be identified within the NER in order to prioritize areas of concern within the region. A framework for adaptation and priority areas of policy interventions in response to climatic shocks and stresses would be proposed for the NER.