Abstract
The abandonment of farmland is a phenomenon that shows the deterioration of the physical and social landscape. It is widespread across the mountainous region of Nepal and is expected to further increase in the future. The aim of this study is to: (i) determine the driving factors of farmland abandonment; (ii) discuss its impact on social systems in terms of social networks, relations, practices; and (iii) assess the eco-environmental vulnerability of abandoned farmlands in the high mountain region of Nepal. The authors apply household surveys, focus group discussions and in-depth key informant interviews to visualize the social landscape and changes therein, thus establishing an existing history of mountain societies, social systems and management practices. Moreover, Google Earth Images and Low Height Remote Sensing Survey (UAV) are also used to observe geomorphic processes and the modification of the abandoned farmland and its characteristics. The Multivariate Linear Regression (MLR) model is run using SPSS revealing eight variables; mountain road accessibility, farm distance from residence, household size, household head age, landowner’s living place, ownership of farmland, salary and business and remittances are major factors determining the process of farmland abandonment in the region. Farmers’ social practices such as (i) an indigenous labor exchange system “Parma,” (ii) a traditionally managed irrigation system, (iii) a drinking water supply system, (iv) social practices, rituals, festive events, (v) an indigenous governance system, practices and some existing infrastructures (schools, banks, health, post, temples and more) are going to disappear as a process of abandonment. The decline in individual as well as social participation in land management practices have increased exotic vegetation and soil loss processes, modifying the physical characteristics of abandoned farmlands. Thus, this knowledge is vital for understanding appropriate social processes, natural resources and environmental management.
Highlights
Farmland abandonment has been a major phenomenon regarding the deterioration of the physical and social landscape, especially in the mountainous regions of Nepal [1,2,3,4]
The results revealed that farmland abandonment is positively and significantly influenced by the seven independent variables: availability of road accessibility (β = 0.010, þ = 0.004); Farm distance from residence (β = 0.127, þ = 0.039); Household head age (β = 0.056, þ = 0.013); Landowner currently living places (β = 1.457, þ = 0.033); ownership of farmland (β = 0.095, þ = 0.002); Salary and business (β = 2.777 × 10-6, þ = 0.007); and Remittances (β = 5.650 × 10-6, þ = 0.016)
This study explored in detail the determining driving factors for farmland abandonment and its impact on social systems in the Dordi river basin
Summary
Farmland abandonment has been a major phenomenon regarding the deterioration of the physical and social landscape, especially in the mountainous regions of Nepal [1,2,3,4]. Farmland abandonment accompanies a decline in cropland area but, wherever farmland abandonment occurs, the social, cultural and physical environments are undergoing structural changes in mountain societies and ecosystem service provisions [3,6,7]. The issues of land use intensities and the shaping of the mountain services [17,18], climate change by the transformation of mountain farmland use and landscape [19], land use change impacts on vegetation and biodiversity [20], spatial arrangement of bio-physical and socio-economic factors and their role in mountain landscape change [9], pressures of social, economic and technological development damages to mountain ecological and environmental balance [21] are mostly discussed in the existing literature. Knowledge about farmland abandonment, changing perceptions of the social landscape, impact on the social system and its implications for managing the eco-environmental vulnerability of farmlands is still poor
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