Perception based climate change impacts on forest vegetation, farming system and people health in Uttarakhand Himalaya

The manuscript presents people's perception overview of climate change impacts on forest, farming systems, and human health in Mukteshwar and Joshimath regions of Uttarakhand Himalaya, India. People's perception indicating that climate change has serious, environmental, economic, and social impacts in the study region and pressed impacts on reduced precipitation as well as unseasonal heavy rainfall, longer drought period, which affects regeneration and phenology of forest species, invasion of alien invasive plant species in both forest and agricultural fields, production of fruits, vegetables, and cereal crops. Cultivation of cereal crops has also been affected by different insect pests and pathogens. Reducing adaptation against the climate change impact, the hill people of the study area are starting a mixed cropping system to enhance agricultural production. Climate change coupled with improper management of local resources and the farming systems will induce migration. Proper adaptation and mechanisms to addressing the climate change impacts are needed.