Open AccessUnderstanding the Nexus of Climate Change and Migration: A Case of Dhye Peoples from Upper Mustang, Nepal
Author(s) -
Pragya Sherchan
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
grassroots journal of natural resources
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2581-6853
DOI - 10.33002/nr2581.6853.02121
Subject(s) - livelihood , relocation , nexus (standard) , geography , agriculture , climate change , socioeconomics , refugee , irrigation , water resource management , environmental protection , environmental science , ecology , archaeology , sociology , computer science , embedded system , biology , programming language
People of Dhye village are recognized as the Nepal’s first climate refugees. Historical records show that mass migration of people from Dhye village has occurred for three times, with latest one attributed to the climate change. This article aims to explore and understand the underlying causes of the Dhye people’s migration, and to analyze the land suitability for their relocation. The article discusses that people of Dhye have migrated mainly to look for livelihood options, water availability and land for cultivation. As of now, more than two dozen water ponds have dried completely, and the only community reservoir serves as main source of irrigation water. This led to a decrease in cultivated area by one-fourth within last 40 years. The livestock farming has also been decreasing year by year with only one yak herder left in the entire Dhye village. The temperature trend is positive, whereas precipitation trend is negative. The land suitability analysis done by using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) shows that Thangchung Chawale village is more suitable location than Dhye village in terms of cultivation area, water availability, and distance to health-post and transportation facilities.