Climate Change, Floods, and Community Resilience: A Study of the Kamala River Basin, Nepal

ABSTRACT Climate change is one of the biggest threats humanity is facing in the 21st century. Nepal, being a low‐income country located on the lap of the Himalayas, is experiencing a wide range of impacts from changing climate and climate‐induced disasters. Communities of the Kamala river basin are...

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Main Author: Chandra Lal Pandey
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Flood Risk Management
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.70069
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author Chandra Lal Pandey
author_facet Chandra Lal Pandey
author_sort Chandra Lal Pandey
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Climate change is one of the biggest threats humanity is facing in the 21st century. Nepal, being a low‐income country located on the lap of the Himalayas, is experiencing a wide range of impacts from changing climate and climate‐induced disasters. Communities of the Kamala river basin are increasingly affected by climate‐induced hazards such as floods. Land use change, deforestation, and climate change‐induced disasters such as landslides, droughts, and floods are affecting the riverine communities. Floods have been one of the most serious threats for centuries; however, their frequency and scope are being amplified by climate‐induced extreme weather events. Employing a convergent mixed‐method approach, this study explored the impacts of climate‐induced disasters, especially focusing on floods in Ward 12 of Siraha and Ward 11 of Dudhauli municipalities in Nepal's Kamala river basin. It investigated the current status of impacts of climate change‐induced disasters; the availability, usage and effectiveness of flood early warning systems; and analyzed local community practices for making communities flood and disaster resilient. The findings suggested that the climate‐induced disasters are becoming key concerns for the communities as they are affecting multiple areas from water security to livelihood options. In addition, the existing early warning systems for floods are still weak. While communities are attempting adaptation strategies including increasing social cohesion, their resilience level is insufficient. This study has made original contribution to the relevant literature and developed applicable knowledge for strengthening local communities' capacities to build climate, flood, and disaster resilience.
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spelling doaj-art-d158385a935f4d60b1b87993264e4d0f2025-08-20T02:22:06ZengWileyJournal of Flood Risk Management1753-318X2025-06-01182n/an/a10.1111/jfr3.70069Climate Change, Floods, and Community Resilience: A Study of the Kamala River Basin, NepalChandra Lal Pandey0Department of Development Studies Kathmandu University Dhulikhel NepalABSTRACT Climate change is one of the biggest threats humanity is facing in the 21st century. Nepal, being a low‐income country located on the lap of the Himalayas, is experiencing a wide range of impacts from changing climate and climate‐induced disasters. Communities of the Kamala river basin are increasingly affected by climate‐induced hazards such as floods. Land use change, deforestation, and climate change‐induced disasters such as landslides, droughts, and floods are affecting the riverine communities. Floods have been one of the most serious threats for centuries; however, their frequency and scope are being amplified by climate‐induced extreme weather events. Employing a convergent mixed‐method approach, this study explored the impacts of climate‐induced disasters, especially focusing on floods in Ward 12 of Siraha and Ward 11 of Dudhauli municipalities in Nepal's Kamala river basin. It investigated the current status of impacts of climate change‐induced disasters; the availability, usage and effectiveness of flood early warning systems; and analyzed local community practices for making communities flood and disaster resilient. The findings suggested that the climate‐induced disasters are becoming key concerns for the communities as they are affecting multiple areas from water security to livelihood options. In addition, the existing early warning systems for floods are still weak. While communities are attempting adaptation strategies including increasing social cohesion, their resilience level is insufficient. This study has made original contribution to the relevant literature and developed applicable knowledge for strengthening local communities' capacities to build climate, flood, and disaster resilience.https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.70069climate changefloodingKamala basinNepalresilience
spellingShingle Chandra Lal Pandey
Climate Change, Floods, and Community Resilience: A Study of the Kamala River Basin, Nepal
Journal of Flood Risk Management
climate change
flooding
Kamala basin
Nepal
resilience
title Climate Change, Floods, and Community Resilience: A Study of the Kamala River Basin, Nepal
title_full Climate Change, Floods, and Community Resilience: A Study of the Kamala River Basin, Nepal
title_fullStr Climate Change, Floods, and Community Resilience: A Study of the Kamala River Basin, Nepal
title_full_unstemmed Climate Change, Floods, and Community Resilience: A Study of the Kamala River Basin, Nepal
title_short Climate Change, Floods, and Community Resilience: A Study of the Kamala River Basin, Nepal
title_sort climate change floods and community resilience a study of the kamala river basin nepal
topic climate change
flooding
Kamala basin
Nepal
resilience
url https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.70069
work_keys_str_mv AT chandralalpandey climatechangefloodsandcommunityresilienceastudyofthekamalariverbasinnepal