Assessing Climate Change Vulnerability: A Case Study of Nalsarovar Lake, Gujarat

Abstract

Climate Change is one of the defining challenges of the 21st Century, along with poverty alleviation, environmental degradation and global security. It has recognition of ‘threat’, for the survival of species and the health of different ecosystems, especially wetlands. The efforts to restore and manage wetlands is becoming more complex day by day due to climatic variability. Wetland ecosystems provide many services that contribute to human well-being and poverty alleviation. Hence, people living near wetlands are highly dependent on these services and are directly harmed if the wetland undergoes any change or degradation. This paper is a case study on one of India’s Ramsar sites ‘Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary’ or NSBS situated in Gujarat which, examines the vulnerability of local people who are dependent on NSBS. The paper discusses on the prolonged effects of climate variability through the example of climate disasters such as drought and heavy rainfall on the wetland from 1984 to present and how it further impacts the livelihood of inhabitants who are directly or indirectly dependent on NSBS. The study revolves mainly around narratives and informal interviews; therefore, it gives a qualitative approach to analyse the climate change impact on the wetland, its vulnerability on local inhabitants’ livelihood and their adaptation strategy to such climate disasters.