Perception and Realities of Climate Change among the Chepang Communities in Rural Mid-Hills of Nepal <Article>

In order to formulate any coping or adaptation strategies, first of all the communities facing climate change should perceive that the changes are indeed taking place. This paper analyzes how the Chepangs, one of the highly marginalized indigenous nationalities living in the remote Mid-Hills of Nepal, perceive climate change. The study is based on household survey conducted among randomly selected 221 Chepang households. The community responses are compared with the actual trends of temperature and rainfall recorded in the meteorological stations located near the study sites. A probit model is used to analyze the characteristics that differentiate the respondents who perceive the changes in line with the recorded data from those who do not. Nearly one-third of the respondents are able to perceive the changes in line with the recorded data, meanwhile there are still many respondents who do not perceive any changes at all. Access to information, and extension services (as indicated by ownership of radio and membership in groups) are the most important factors facilitating perceptions of both temperature and rainfall changes. Cultivation of cash crops also facilitates perceptions of rainfall significantly. On the other hand, formal education and engagement in non-farm income sources reduce the ability to perceive the climatic changes. It is worth noting that, in case of temperature, farming experience is not sufficient to perceive the ongoing changes. Priority must be placed on the dissemination of relevant information at the community level and updating the educational curriculum to include the issues related to climate change