Assessment of livelihood vulnerability to climate change among tribal communities in Chhindwara and Dhar district, Central India

Abstract Climate change poses significant challenges to marginalised communities, particularly in regions with highly vulnerable populations like rural and tribal communities. This study aims to assess the livelihood vulnerability of tribal households to climate change impacts in the Chhindwara and...

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Main Authors: Amit Kumar, T. Mohanasundari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90769-8
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author Amit Kumar
T. Mohanasundari
author_facet Amit Kumar
T. Mohanasundari
author_sort Amit Kumar
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Climate change poses significant challenges to marginalised communities, particularly in regions with highly vulnerable populations like rural and tribal communities. This study aims to assess the livelihood vulnerability of tribal households to climate change impacts in the Chhindwara and Dhar districts in Central India, identifying key determinants and geographical variations in vulnerability. Primary data collection involved a multistage sampling procedure where a household survey was conducted across both districts, yielding a sample size of 535 respondents. The climatic data was collected from the India Meteorological department from 1954 to 2023. This study employs a mixed method, including innovative trend analysis for shifts in climatic patterns, standardised precipitation index-1 (SPI-1) for evaluating wet and dry conditions, LVI-IPCC framework applied using survey data to assess vulnerability, and multiple linear regression (MLR) model to determine the determinants of vulnerability. The results indicate significant changes in rainfall and temperature patterns in both regions, indicating increased vulnerability among tribal communities. SPI-1 analysis highlights the shift in precipitation patterns, with implications for agriculture and water availability. The LVI-IPCC results reveal a moderate level of vulnerability among surveyed households, with Dhar exhibiting higher vulnerability than Chhindwara. Furthermore, LVI-IPCC results were validated using other vulnerability assessment approaches. The MLR analysis highlights the significant influence of key determinants, such as primary income source, extreme weather events, access to safe drinking water, and livelihood strategies, on vulnerability, emphasising the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities and enhancing adaptive capacity. Integrating primary and secondary data enables an inclusive investigation of vulnerability determinants and geographical variations within the study area. It offers evidence-based policy recommendations for augmenting resilience and encouraging sustainable development among tribal communities facing climate change challenges.
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spelling doaj-art-ecdda181d5ea41fd8adeaba933e547a72025-08-20T03:02:21ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115112110.1038/s41598-025-90769-8Assessment of livelihood vulnerability to climate change among tribal communities in Chhindwara and Dhar district, Central IndiaAmit Kumar0T. Mohanasundari1School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology IndoreSchool of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology IndoreAbstract Climate change poses significant challenges to marginalised communities, particularly in regions with highly vulnerable populations like rural and tribal communities. This study aims to assess the livelihood vulnerability of tribal households to climate change impacts in the Chhindwara and Dhar districts in Central India, identifying key determinants and geographical variations in vulnerability. Primary data collection involved a multistage sampling procedure where a household survey was conducted across both districts, yielding a sample size of 535 respondents. The climatic data was collected from the India Meteorological department from 1954 to 2023. This study employs a mixed method, including innovative trend analysis for shifts in climatic patterns, standardised precipitation index-1 (SPI-1) for evaluating wet and dry conditions, LVI-IPCC framework applied using survey data to assess vulnerability, and multiple linear regression (MLR) model to determine the determinants of vulnerability. The results indicate significant changes in rainfall and temperature patterns in both regions, indicating increased vulnerability among tribal communities. SPI-1 analysis highlights the shift in precipitation patterns, with implications for agriculture and water availability. The LVI-IPCC results reveal a moderate level of vulnerability among surveyed households, with Dhar exhibiting higher vulnerability than Chhindwara. Furthermore, LVI-IPCC results were validated using other vulnerability assessment approaches. The MLR analysis highlights the significant influence of key determinants, such as primary income source, extreme weather events, access to safe drinking water, and livelihood strategies, on vulnerability, emphasising the importance of addressing socioeconomic disparities and enhancing adaptive capacity. Integrating primary and secondary data enables an inclusive investigation of vulnerability determinants and geographical variations within the study area. It offers evidence-based policy recommendations for augmenting resilience and encouraging sustainable development among tribal communities facing climate change challenges.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90769-8Climate changeTribal communitiesHousehold vulnerabilityLVI-IPCCMultiple linear regression
spellingShingle Amit Kumar
T. Mohanasundari
Assessment of livelihood vulnerability to climate change among tribal communities in Chhindwara and Dhar district, Central India
Scientific Reports
Climate change
Tribal communities
Household vulnerability
LVI-IPCC
Multiple linear regression
title Assessment of livelihood vulnerability to climate change among tribal communities in Chhindwara and Dhar district, Central India
title_full Assessment of livelihood vulnerability to climate change among tribal communities in Chhindwara and Dhar district, Central India
title_fullStr Assessment of livelihood vulnerability to climate change among tribal communities in Chhindwara and Dhar district, Central India
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of livelihood vulnerability to climate change among tribal communities in Chhindwara and Dhar district, Central India
title_short Assessment of livelihood vulnerability to climate change among tribal communities in Chhindwara and Dhar district, Central India
title_sort assessment of livelihood vulnerability to climate change among tribal communities in chhindwara and dhar district central india
topic Climate change
Tribal communities
Household vulnerability
LVI-IPCC
Multiple linear regression
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90769-8
work_keys_str_mv AT amitkumar assessmentoflivelihoodvulnerabilitytoclimatechangeamongtribalcommunitiesinchhindwaraanddhardistrictcentralindia
AT tmohanasundari assessmentoflivelihoodvulnerabilitytoclimatechangeamongtribalcommunitiesinchhindwaraanddhardistrictcentralindia