A Complex Reality: Climate Change in Shigar Valley, Pakistan
It is not just the financial crisis of the banking and housing sectors that have led governments across the globe to rethink their development agendas; the rapid and almost unstoppable impacts of climate change have also forced states to redefine the very notions of ‘sustainable development’. The effects of climate change whether ecological, economic or social are a threat to the resiliency of communities which are directly dependent on natural ecosystems for their livelihoods, food security, economic sustenance and energy. This present case study explores the potential impacts (and threats) of climate change on the Shigar Valley-a mountainous ecosystem located near the Central Karakoram National Park in Pakistan. Following a brief introduction, section 1 outlines the geography, demography of the study area. From the analysis of baseline geophysical data, field survey and in-depth interviews, section 2 documents the findings of the study based on precipitation and temperature, biodiversity, water resources, agricultural and behavioural indicators. The concluding section analyses the specific impacts of climate change on the mountainous ecosystem, its environment, and socio-economic activities and provides policy recommendations.
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