ABSTRACT

Given the increasing vulnerabilities and adverse effects of climate change, the development and implementation of adaptation strategies is essential. This is particularly so for Nepal where the agriculture sector – the mainstay of the country’s economy – is highly vulnerable to climate change. As a country that loses much from climate change, local communities here have been adapting to climate change impacts using localized knowledge and practices. However, few studies have systematically reviewed the adaptation strategies of Nepalese farmers. We conduct such a review using the RepOrting Standards for Systematic Evidence Syntheses (ROSES) guidelines. The relevant literature is retrieved using Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar databases. The adaptation strategies of the Nepalese farmers are broadly categorized under seven themes and twenty-nine sub-themes: (a) access to financial resources and risk transfer; (b) diversification of livelihoods, income sources and agricultural practices; (c) spatial adaptation; (d) climate smart agriculture; (e) common pooling of resources and social action; (f) traditional and local knowledge; and (g) food and water storage and security. Diversification of livelihoods, income sources and agricultural practices are the most common adaptation strategies employed. All the strategies practiced are autonomous, have a short term orientation and reactive in nature rather than being sustainable and proactive. The outputs of this study explore the significance of the local adaptation strategies and to what extent they should be integrated into the mainstream of national and local level development plans. These findings of Nepal – are relevant to neighbouring countries such as Bhutan, Bangladesh and India.

Key policy insights

• This study finds that locally practiced adaptation strategies have a short term and reactive focus rather than being sustainable and proactive solutions.

• Farmers are confronting weak institutions and financial and managerial difficulties in coping with climate change and adapting to its impacts; hence, local-level adaptation strategies alone cannot cope with the harsh impacts of climate change.

• The research findings indicate the urgency and need to integrate or mainstream local adaptation strategies into national and local level development planning to strengthen adaptation practice and make it sustainable.

摘要

鉴于气候变化日益增加的脆弱性和不利影响，制定和实施适应战略至关重要。对于尼泊尔来说尤其如此，那里的农业部门——该国经济的支柱——极易受到气候变化的影响。作为一个在气候变化中损失惨重的国家，这里的当地社区一直在利用本地化的知识和实践来适应气候变化的影响。然而，很少有研究系统地回顾尼泊尔农民的适应策略。我们使用系统证据综合报告标准 (ROSES) 指南进行此类审查。使用 Scopus、Web of Science 和 Google Scholar 数据库检索相关文献。尼泊尔农民的适应战略大致分为七个主题和二十九个子主题：（a）获得财政资源和风险转移；(b) 生计、收入来源和农业做法的多样化；(c) 空间适应；(d) 气候智能型农业；(e) 共同汇集资源和社会行动；(f) 传统和地方知识；(g) 食物和水的储存和安全。生计、收入来源和农业实践的多样化是最常见的适应战略。所有实施的策略都是自主的，具有短期导向和反应性质，而不是可持续和主动的。本研究的成果探讨了地方适应战略的重要性，以及它们应在多大程度上融入国家和地方发展计划的主流。尼泊尔的这些发现与不丹、孟加拉国和印度等邻国有关。

主要政策见解

• 本研究发现，当地实施的适应策略具有短期和被动的重点，而不是可持续和积极的解决方案。

• 农民在应对气候变化和适应其影响方面面临制度薄弱以及财务和管理困难；因此，仅靠地方一级的适应战略无法应对气候变化的严重影响。

• 研究结果表明，迫切需要将地方适应战略纳入国家和地方层面的发展规划或将其纳入主流，以加强适应实践并使其具有可持续性。