Climate Impact in Kutch-Bhuj and Neighboring Dryland Areas

Climate Impact in Kutch-Bhuj and Neighboring Dryland Areas

Situation Analysis • Climate change has the potential to catalyze rapid shifts in ecosystems such as sudden forest loss or regional loss of agricultural productivity resulting from desertification (Barnosky, 2012). • Kutch historically known for its uncertainty. Climate change adds to existing uncertainties. • 68% of Gujarat land is turning into desert (DNA, 2009) • Vibrant Gujarat? Half of state is battling drought (Hindustan Times, 2013)

Gujarat Dryland and Coastal Districts of Gujarat, as seen in Google Earth

• Kutch District – Increase in annual mean temperature 2000-2050 ( C): 1 – 1.5 C • Kutch District – Change in annual precipitation 2000-2050 (mm): 250 – 500 mm

• Dryland of Gujarat – 68% of country • Erratic Rainfall for decades • The Drought in Kutch had lasted for three successive years.

• The Great Rann of Kutch, and Little Rann of Kutch are seasonal wetlands located in Kutch district, Gujarat • The Rann of Kutch is Asia’s the largest salt deserts - located at Kutch district • The Rann of Kutch is a vast, lonely desert, almost impossible to cross.

The Way Ahead • Locally appropriate livelihood options (e.g. pastoralism, dryland farming ) to be given due consideration. • Need to have actions to reduce uncertainties and adaptive strategies. • Need to have appropriate coordination between the departments, to improve the desired results. • Private-Public participation is generally “resolving a problem” not developing an opportunity and increasing uncertainty to the local people. • Thus, need have appropriate policy and planning to mitigate livelihood & socioeconomic uncertainties.