Gearing up for Climate Change Action Plan for Climate Change, Uttarakhand

1. Gearing up for Climate Change Action Plan for Climate Change, Uttarakhand Jai Raj Addl. PCCF/Director Environment , Uttarakhand …our action here will affect him somewhere there…..

2. Climate Change Is it happening ?

3. Climate Change The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has clearly concluded that the impact of human activities on climate is unequivocal. The debate can be on extent and magnitude of climate change.

4. Jairam Ramesh No country in the world is as vulnerable, on so many dimensions, to climate change as India. Rigorous science based assessments are therefore critical in designing our adaptation strategies.

5. Speciality of Uttarakhand Source of water/ Environment services. Controls livelihoods of communities down the plain. Rich Biodiversity with 65% of area under forest. Growth rate has been phenomenal.

6. INCCA 4 x 4 assessment Himalayan Region – most vulnerable to CC (None of the other three regions falling in this category)

7. Climate Change Is indeed a threat but it offers an opportunity also - opportunity to reorient ourselves towards sustainable development.

8. “3 M’s” Approach Measure, Model, Monitor.

9. Target for Uttarakhand To become GREEN (“carbon caring” and “climate resilient” State) through implementation of the SAPCC.

10. NAPCC – 08 MISSIONS • Solar • Enhanced Energy Efficiency • Sustainable Habitat • Water • Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem • Green India • Sustainable Agriculture • Strategic Knowledge for CC

11. Uttarakhand State Council for Climate Change has been constituted under the chairmanship of CS.

12. CONSTITUTION OF SECTORAL GROUPS FOR SAPCC • Agriculture & Horticulture • Forestry, Wild life & Biodiversity • Animal Husbandry • Water Resources • Energy • Industry • Road & Transport • Urban Development & Housing • Health • Tourism & Culture • Disaster Management

13. SAPCC SAPCC has to be perceived as an evolving document, with ample flexibility to internalize changes and developments happening at the national, regional and local levels over time.

14. UTTARAKHAND Issues - Sectorwise

15. Agriculture • Main livelihood activity. 13.29% of the total geographical land is under agricultural with 65% of population dependant on it. • Mainly rain-fed agriculture in hills. Low productivity in hills. • Any short-term or long-term fluctuations of climate can have dramatic effects on the agricultural productivity. Thus, the climate has a direct impact on food security.

16. Agriculture Impacts • Shift in peak of rainfall from July/August to August/September and winter precipitation from December/February shifting to January/ February. • Increase in frequency of cloud-bursts. • Reduction in productivity of most crops. The wheat yield in Uttarakhand may decrease in the range of 20-30 % by the year 2050. • Increase in the use of fertilizers. • Winterkill of pests is likely to be reduced.

17. Agriculture Measures • Watershed management. • Extensive soil conservation measures. • Promoting organic farming. • Herbal and medicinal plants. • Promoting traditional diverse crops. • Agro-forestry. • Promoting mechanization. • Extension reforms. • Agricultural insurance. • Laboratories to support agriculture and adequate research including research on traditional varieties.

18. Forestry, Wild life & Biodiversity Sector Forestry Sector has a special significance because of the influence it has on environmental amelioration through climate mitigation, food security, water security, biodiversity conservation and livelihood securities of forest dependent communities.

19. Forestry, Wild life & Biodiversity Sector "Environment sustainability is not an option but an imperative." (Mid-term Assessment, Tenth Plan, Planning Commission of India)

20. Ecosystem value The total value of forest ecosystem services flowing from Uttarakhand is about Rs. 107 billion/yr and at Indian Himalayan level it is Rs. 943 billion/yr.

21. Forestry, Wild life & BiodiversityImpacts • Increase in forest fires. • Changes in vegetation type and decrease in net primary productivity. • Increase in insect attacks. • Increase in invasive species. • Loss of biodiversity. • Altitudinal and latitudinal shift in species. Highest level species – most susceptible to extinction. • Increase in water scarcity. • Glacial lakes outburst and floods. • Increase in man-animal conflicts.

22. Forestry, Wild life & Biodiversity Measures • Increasing forest cover both in terms of quality and quantity. Agro-forestry to be encouraged (GIM). • Sustainable forest management practices aiming at services rather than goods. • Improved fire management – to prevent large leakage. Use of pine-needles as a bio-resource (bio-bricketting and power generation). • Enhanced soil and water conservation measures (NWM, SHE). • Adequate provision of corridors so as to enable the natural flow of genes. • Promotion of adaptation strategies in communities in the wake of CC. Alternative livelihood opportunities (GIM). • Mobilization of 12,089 Van Panchayats in fight against CC.

23. Animal Husbandry SectorImpacts • Changes in disease patterns. • Higher morbidity and changing mortality patterns. • Lowered disease resistance due to deficiency of food, fodder and water thereby contributing to enhancement of stress. • Adaptation changes in microbes and other disease causing agents leading to increase in their pathogenecity & their acquiring of capacities to infect multiple hosts thus increasing incidences of zoonoses and subsequent risk to human health;

24. Animal Husbandry SectorImpacts Decrease in the availability of feed, fodder and water leading to direct competition between man and animal for scarce food and water resources. Brunt will be borne by the women folk.

25. Animal Husbandry SectorMeasures • Existing disease surveillance system will be strengthened. • Development and adoption of a standard operating procedure (SOP) in case of disease outbreaks and other calamities causing episodes within the livestock scenario as a result of global warming. • Mobile Veterinary & Diagnostic Services. • Mobile laboratories in the state which can be rushed to areas where incidence of disease outbreaks would occur. • Strengthening of Vaccine Cold Chain Management System.

26. THANKS ! Jai Raj ccfenvuk@gmail.com (Cell no.- 9412053604) (3/IV, Indra Nagar Forest Colony, Dehra Dun)