Chapter 17 - Changing climate and depleting water resources in the mountains with a case study from the Himalayas

Abstract

Climate change is a natural phenomenon. It is not something xenobiotic in character, but of course, the intensity and pace with which the series of events is taking place are worth the concern and discussion. With the enhancing temperature and changing climatic conditions, a chain of events has occurred, and issue of water security is one among these. When it comes to climate change, the first thing that comes to mind is the major source of freshwater: glaciers and ice caps. Mountains being at the higher elevations are more vulnerable. Mountains are the first to get affected due to climate change. Glaciers in the mountains start receding first and trigger a domino effect, giving rise to enhanced temperature, melting of glaciers, floods, soil erosion, and scarcity of water resources, drying up of springs and streams, and thus overall degradation of the environment. Thus, the people in the mountains are the first to get affected. In the very beginning, when the scientific community throughout the globe took up this issue called it global warming. But over the period, they realized that the increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide brought warming effects and several other consequences like untimely rains, snowfall, cyclones, thunderstorms, heavy storms, crop failure, etc. Severe droughts followed by a chain of reactions were observed at several places. The consensus was reached to call the whole event as climate change. So climate change has brought tremendous problems and pressures and the issue of water shortage is one of them. The water crisis is found in every area ranging from mild deficiency to acute shortage. We are well aware that glaciers are one of the most critical sources of freshwater. Directly or indirectly a large chunk of population is dependent on these lofty mountains. Mountains being the hometown of the big glaciers serve a big portion of society in the hills and yet bigger down streams. We are aware of the fact that one important concerns of climate change is melting glaciers. These melting glaciers directly impact water availability since glaciers are the origin and source of many Himalayan rivers like Chenab, Beas, Sutlej, Ravi, Ganga, Yamuna, etc. Mountain people possess the treasure of native knowledge as how to manage their environments. They possess adequate skills required to tackle various problems specific to hill regions which include possession of technical know-how regarding agriculture, pastoralism, and forest and watershed management. As a case study, the Bhaderwah area is taken up, a part of the northwest of the Himalayas with a unique ecosystem. Still, difficulties are similar to any mountain ecosystem. The practice of transhumance is a routine activity in individual pockets of the area. They face challenges that can point to drivers of climate change and seasonal shift over the period. Simultaneously, the knowledge available with these people is unique, which can be used to adapt and overcome various difficulties arising out of changing climatic conditions in the mountains. Their indigenous knowledge can help us understand the problems and solutions present in the hills and lie unexplored with mountain people. Such studies act as a connecting link, a communication channel between the society and government agencies, and help us take up further necessary steps to utilize the mountain people’s knowledge in mitigating the various issues. Thus, the chapter is mainly focused on highlighting the intricate relationship between growing issue of climate change and diminishing water sources, the significant sources and patterns of utilization of water in the hilly regions and the matters of water wastage, public attitude, consequences, and conservation strategies with the help of a case study.