Perception and Adaptation Strategies of Local Communities to Climate Change in Meshkinshahr county

Although climate change affects all human societies, villagers are the most affected by, especially in developing countries. International organizations and scientific associations have given much attention and emphasis to community-based adaptation strategies. However, adaptation of villagers to climate change in Iran has been insufficiently studied in previous studies. This study aims to investigate villagers’ understanding of climate change in Meshkinshahr County, Ardabil Province, identify their adaptation strategies, and develop measures to improve their adaptive capacity. We used a quantitative approach and grounded theory method for data collection and analysis. The required data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 55 employees in the economic sectors (farmers, ranchers, gardeners) and coded and analyzed using ATLAS.ti software. The respondents believe that the increase in the frequency of droughts and wind, the number of hot days and the decrease in rainfall are related to climate change and have negatively affected their livelihoods in various ways. These include the reduction in the quality and grade of agricultural products, the decline in the water table, the degradation and destruction of pastures, the reduction in rural water resources, the reduction in livestock products, and the lack and high cost of agricultural inputs. In addition, villagers have developed various strategies to address these impacts, including rain-fed agriculture, water harvesting, drip irrigation, goat rearing, water consumption management, digging illegal wells, and migration to cities, to name a few. In addition, interventions such as education, developing insurance, providing financing and credit, developing modern irrigation systems, and marketing agricultural and livestock products were identified as measures to improve their adaptive capacity.