Social vulnerability of alpine transhumance pastoralists of western Arunachal Pradesh to climate change

Climate induced adaptive capacity and vulnerability of 240 Brokpa pastoral nomads of West Kameng and Tawang districts of Arunachal Pradesh were assessed. An exclusively social vulnerability to climate change index was developed underlying the principle of IPCC by using 37 household level indicators. Results revealed that mean value of the vulnerability profile of the pastoralists of both districts were positive and indicated that vulnerability profile of the transhumance pastoralists of western Arunachal Pradesh is largely influenced by their adaptive capacity than exposure and sensitivity. Inter district comparison of vulnerability established that pastoralists of West Kamneg district were more vulnerable than the pastoralists of Tawang district. The findings of the study will be the key information for the policy makers to prepare an action plan to minimize negative impact of climate change among the transhumance pastoral nomads of the Himalaya.