Farmers’ Perceptions of Climate Change and Its Socio-Ecological Consequences in Bhutan’s Biological Corridor Network

Abstract

Sandwiched between two highly populated countries in the world, Bhutan is not an exception to the impacts of climate change. In the dearth of comprehensive climate data and limited research endeavors, Bhutan’s 69% of the total population, depending on agriculture and livestock farming, is apparently vulnerable to climate change adversities. Notably, those dwelling within the precincts of the Biological Corridors (BCs), recognized as custodians and conservation partners, have been relatively neglected in aspects of climate change impact studies. In the year 2019, our pioneering study in the northern biological corridors of Bhutan aimed to (i) comprehend people’s sensitivity to climate change; (ii) discern people’s perceptions on the severity of climate change impacts on livelihood, natural resources, and wildlife patterns; and (iii) help formulate appropriate strategies and policy transformation in climate adaptation interventions. We conducted a semi-structured questionnaire survey, applying random sampling (n = 136) of 435 households from western, central, and eastern Bhutan. Study revealed that farmers’ sensitivity and perception of the impact of climate change vary spatiotemporally, demographically, and occupationally. Not more than 76.7% of respondents noticed the changing climate patterns over the last ten years, while landless households (3%) noticed no discernible impacts. A rise in temperature is the most sensitive variable reported, followed by erratic precipitation, a change in plant phenology, and a shift in wildlife occupancy patterns. A total of 48% of respondents reported drought, scanty rain, floods, and diseases that moderately affected agriculture crops and livestock, while 42% of respondents perceive that climate change is a driving factor for human–wildlife conflict because of increasing wild animal movement towards their region. About 51% of respondents indicated adopting new adaptation strategies, which involved transitioning to different cattle breeds and altering agricultural cropping patterns and crop varieties. We recommend political support for inducing climate-smart agriculture and livestock practices. Urgent research is recommended for the shift of habitats and wildlife due to climate change to better understand and help formulate pragmatic climate adaptation measures in the face of rising human–wildlife conflict.