Himalayan climate change adaptation programme to begin with Sikkim and Himachal

SAGAR CHHETRI
GANGTOK, 02 Sept: An “Indian Himalayas Climate Change Adaptation Programme” [IHCAP] is being developed by the Climate Change and Development [CCD] Division of the Embassy of Switzerland in India. Initially, this 5-year project [2012 to 2017] will be implemented in Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
The final goal of the programme is to “strengthen the resilience of vulnerable communities and the knowledge and capacities of research institutions, communities and decision makers are connected and enhanced in the Himalayas”.
A consultation seminar ‘Community Voices on Climate Change Impact and Adaptation Needs in Sikkim’ was organized here today in pursuit of these goals by the Centre of Environment Education [CEE] in collaboration with CCD Division of the Embassy of Switzerland in India.
The seminar was attended by members and experts from different national and state level NGOs and CBOs, college and university lecturers, teachers and students and experts from different environment related organizations. 
Feedback, recommendations and outcome of today’s consultation seminar will be documented and sent to the Embassy and the shape of the project for Sikkim will depend on the suggestions and feedback received from people.
Speaking to NOW! the CEE Regional Director [North and North-East], Abdhesh Gangwar, informed that the project will have research, collaboration and other exchange programmes between India and Switzerland and also have community capacity developments on climate change and provide cope-up mechanisms to face climate change and prepare for the future.
He also informed that in the project, existing climate change policies at the centre, state and village level will be analyzed to provide suggestions and recommendations on loopholes and lapses that are noticed.
Speaking on today’s programme, Mr Gangwar informed that the Sikkim component of the project depends on today’s consultation programme as the project included the need and proposals of the stakeholders.
The programme posed four questions to the participant- community perception and case studies of effects and impacts of climate change on Sikkim with examples; increase in vulnerability of natural resources, biodiversity, forests and horticulture Impact and new opportunities created due to climate change; existing practices developed by the community to cope up with climate change.
The final agenda of the consultation programme was on needs and areas for future interventions in Climate Change adaptation strategies, which will become the part of the project.  
He informed that the detailed project will be prepared in October and this five-year project will start next year and continue till 2017.
Speaking to the participants, the RMDD Special Secretary, Sandeep Tambe, encouraged them to come out openly with their suggestions and problems in the programme to design an effective project for Sikkim.
He mentioned that through this project, the state government would also carry out pilot projects on the topic.
Mr Tambe said that Sikkim was a leading state on climate change policies and programmes, which have been appreciated throughout the world. He informed that the state government has also made an action-plan on climate change and has submitted it to the central government.
He also spoke about the various projects and programmes being carried out by the State Government in this field.
“The Government of Sikkim is performing well to address the challenge of climate change, and this project is also a challenge for Sikkim, so there is need of everyone’s participation to do this project well,” Mr Tambe said.