Call to map climate change impact in Brahmaputra basin

The Assam Tribune , Sunday, December 13, 2009
Correspondent : Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Dec 12 – A new study that was officially released in Copenhagen yesterday has identified crucial gaps in knowledge related to effects of climate change in and around the Brahmaputra basin. Produced by the environmental research group, Aaranyak for the International Centre for Integrated Development of Mountains (ICIMOD), it has also been made available on the Internet.

‘Adjusting to floods on the Brahmaputra basin’ underlines the importance of establishing a knowledge base derived from General Circulation Models (GCM) and regional models, empirical research and statistical analysis.

It mentions that, “detailed study and documentation need to be taken up in order to map the impacts of climate change and climate variability on the whole Brahmaputra basin” and seeks to understand problems affecting districts such as Dhemaji and Lakhimpur.

The inadequacy of policy research in disaster risk reduction sector in Assam has been pointed out by the study that states that there was hardly any information about different policies or programmes related to climate change at district and village level.

The Aaranyak-ICIMOD study has assessed the impact of water stress and hazards on livelihoods, responses to water stress and hazards with specific reference to five areas in two districts including the erosion ravaged Matmora. Among the highlights of the study are references to Traditional Knowledge Systems (TKS) among some communities which have enabled them to confront extreme weather events.

According to Dr Partha Das, the lead author of the study, the findings would be shared with the Government so that future policy could be influenced. Moreover, orientation and dissemination workshops would be held in Guwahati and Dhemaji so that stakeholders can deliberate on the information that has been generated. He hoped that people would benefit from the advocacy that Aaranyak and ICIMOD would do at the policy level equipped with the new document.

Dr Das added that similar studies would be carried out in other parts of Assam from next year so that hazards, vulnerabilities and possible adaptation strategies vis-a-vis climate change can be identified.

It is worth mentioning that climate scientists have noted a rise in temperatures in Northeast India as well as identifying decreasing rainfall in the eastern and southern areas. Besides, some experts have referred to drought-like situations between 2001 and 2009 as indicators of climate change.

 
SOURCE : http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=dec1309/at03
 


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