ABSTRACT
Global climate change has substantial impacts on the Himalayan ecosystems and its resources (Barnett et al. 2005). For centuries, the region is also known to face formidable environmental and livelihood challenges in its effort to safeguard its valuable natural resources including land, water and forests (Grabherr et al. 1994, 1995, Zobel and Singh 1997, Pauli et al. 2003, Kazakis et al. 2006). Furthermore, the region is highly fragile and has been subject to variety of natural hazards like earthquakes, landslides, could bursts, fl oods, and fl ash fl oods, forest fi res, etc. (Ives 1987, Dortch et al. 2009). These all formidable challenges are enhanced in light of climate change as per the projections done so far. There is evidence of prominent increases in the intensity and/or frequency of many extreme weather events such as intense rainfall, Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs), snow avalanches, tropical cyclones, prolonged dry spells, thunderstorms, and severe dust storms in the region and adjoining landscapes (Cruz et al. 2007, Nandargi and Dhar 2012). Many of times, impacts of such natural disasters results multiple stresses ranging from ambient environment to socio-economic confi guration. Such impacts are hunger and susceptibility health disorders,
loss of resources, assets, property and livelihoods, affecting human survival and well-being and resulting imbalance in the daily life of local community.
