Perceived community-based flood adaptation strategies under climate change in Nepal

Perceived community-based flood adaptation strategies under climate change in Nepal

Climate induced natural disasters and extreme events are escalating with the increased variability of climatic parameters due to climate change. For example, climate change has aggravated extremes such as droughts and flood events. Intense rainfall leading to devastating floods is likely to severely affect people practicing indigenous subsistence agriculture. In the southern plain areas of Nepal, floods are the most frequent and devastating natural disasters. This study assesses the flood adaptation strategies that are applicable at the community level in two Terai districts of Nepal. The data were collected through three focus group discussions and 210 household surveys. The study revealed that flood forecasting practices at community level included monitoring the extent of rainfall in upper catchments and identifying the position of clouds. Prior to the monsoon season, community people gather and prepare using a range of flood adaptation strategies such as developing and refining management plan, updating contact information, pre-estimating flood risk and developing human resources/train manpower against flood. 'Perfect communication'; 'take care the affected people'; and 'select the appropriate location to stay' were most preferred strategies during the flood. Similarly, the community practised post flood adaptation strategies such as exchanging helps with each other, preparing temporary settlement, co-ordinating with government and other agencies and distribution of available resources. This paper argues that the identification and assessment of locally-relevant flood adaptation strategies will help governments to choose adaptation strategies that are both effective and preferred by local people in vulnerable communities.

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