Scholarlink

<p>The Indian Western Himalayas are facing intensifying slow-onset changes and extreme weather events, driven by anthropogenic climate change. Traditional transhumance, which has long sustained the Bakarwal pastoral nomads, is now becoming a less viable adaptive strategy. This study examines livelihood transitions among Bakarwals as a response to these changes through three key objectives: (i) understanding traditional transhumance practices, (ii) exploring perceptions of climate change, and (iii) examining the intersections of climate change with pastoral livelihoods. Using a mixed-methods approach, four&#xa0;focus group discussions and 100 semi-structured interviews were conducted in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. The findings reveal livelihood transitions among Bakarwal pastoralists, including changes in herd size and composition, shifts in fodder sources, rising economic emigrations, and a gradual move toward mixed or settled livelihoods. These changes reflect broader shifts in pastoral strategies, driven by climate pressures and institutional constraints. The study proposed a conceptual framework linking climate stressors, migration dynamics, and livelihood transitions to explain the evolving pastoral practices. Outcomes range from resilient adaptations through livelihood diversification to increased economic vulnerability and cultural loss. Based on the results, the study offers policy recommendations to support climate-resilient pastoralism in the Indian Western Himalayas.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

From tradition to transition: transhumance and pastoral livelihoods amid climate change in the Indian Western Himalayas

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年12月3日

查看全文
  • Priya Rajput,
  • Priyank Goswami

摘要

The Indian Western Himalayas are facing intensifying slow-onset changes and extreme weather events, driven by anthropogenic climate change. Traditional transhumance, which has long sustained the Bakarwal pastoral nomads, is now becoming a less viable adaptive strategy. This study examines livelihood transitions among Bakarwals as a response to these changes through three key objectives: (i) understanding traditional transhumance practices, (ii) exploring perceptions of climate change, and (iii) examining the intersections of climate change with pastoral livelihoods. Using a mixed-methods approach, four focus group discussions and 100 semi-structured interviews were conducted in the Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir. The findings reveal livelihood transitions among Bakarwal pastoralists, including changes in herd size and composition, shifts in fodder sources, rising economic emigrations, and a gradual move toward mixed or settled livelihoods. These changes reflect broader shifts in pastoral strategies, driven by climate pressures and institutional constraints. The study proposed a conceptual framework linking climate stressors, migration dynamics, and livelihood transitions to explain the evolving pastoral practices. Outcomes range from resilient adaptations through livelihood diversification to increased economic vulnerability and cultural loss. Based on the results, the study offers policy recommendations to support climate-resilient pastoralism in the Indian Western Himalayas.