Impact of uncertain climatic variables on the ecology of Banni grassland and its repercussions on the livelihoods of Banni Maldharis

Abstract

Banni grassland is a unique ecosystem known for its grasses and traditional livestock rearing technique evolved by the pastoral Maldharis in the region. The Maldhari community strives through livestock-rearing and is completely dependent on the grassland region. They have survived the erratic rainfall and high soaring temperatures in the region, practicing occasional nomadism and temporarily migrating to other places of fodder and water availability during droughts. But since last decade change in climate was witnessed in form of increased rainfall and temperature changes. Moreover the grassland region itself has witnessed changes in its Land use and land cover where the spread of non-native species P. juliflora has increased. These kinds of climate anomalies and vegetation changes in the region have rendered the land and the people vulnerable. Being completely dependent on grassland for their livestock s fodder, such kinds of drastic changes in the vegetation structure would have direct impact on their livestock production system. The present study explored this aspect of climate variability impact on the grassland region and its repercussion on the livelihood of the dependent pastoral community. To address the key issues of climate variability, an in-depth statistical analysis on daily, monthly and annual scale was carried out using Mann-Kendall trend statistics and Sen s slope estimation for 40 years of rainfall and temperature data. With the help of Geographical analysis tools, ERDAS IMAGINE 9.1 and ARC GIS 9.3, the land use land cover changes are analysed. Evaluation of repercussions on the livelihood of the pastoral community is achieved through household survey based on a structured mixed (qualitative and quantitative) questionnaire, FGDs, PRA and Key Informer interviews, conducted among three panchayats in Banni. The Livelihood Vulnerability Index of the community was assessed based on the indicators.