Climate Resilient Livelihoods in Dagana Dzongkhag: An Action Research on Promotion of Change Resilient Livelihood Options

Abstract

Climate change impacts on rural farming system and adaptation practices have not been formally studied and thus the adaptive capacity of rural community remained poorly understood in Bhutan. The action research on climate change and adaptation was carried out in four gewogs: Goshi, Kana, Geserling, and Khebisa of Dagana Dzongkhag with the objective to help build adaptive capacity and resilience of the communities through capacity building and awareness trainings. This study assessed changes in adaptive capacity and resilience of the farming communities after adaptation interventions by comparing baseline and end line survey data. A total of 210 respondents were randomly selected from the households surveyed during the baseline study conducted in the four gewogs in 2014. Household surveys, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, field observations, gewog level and household level indicators were used for the final evaluation. The study found that the interventions had improved communities’ farming practices and adaptive capacity, thereby scaling up resilience. Five indicators at the gewog level: planning; rule of law; water management; biodiversity; and environment improved, although not significantly, in almost all four gewogs. Similarly, household indicators such as energy and livestock (t (210) = – 4.429, p =.000) and health and sanitation (t (210) = – 5.005, p =.000) showed significant improvement after the interventions.1The rate of improvement over household indicators differed significantly (p = .004) between the four gewogs. Post intervention saw increased households availing credit opportunities and engaging in off-farm activities all geared towards climate resilient livelihoods practices.