Climate Change and Its Impacts: Findings from a Perceptual Survey in a Tribal Population of India

Tribal populations in India largely reside in climatic-sensitive geographic regions and maintain close relationship with their surrounding environment. They are most vulnerable to climate change and its impact. This article captures the tribal people's conceptualization of climate change, reflects on its variations from scientific understanding, and examines various perceived impacts. A cross-sectional perceptual survey was carried out among Gonds, a tribal community in India. The findings indicate that the tribal people perceive climate change and strongly agree that the changes occur in all the key climatic sensitive parameters-rainfall, temperature, groundwater, surface water, and forests. Their perception, to an extent, corroborates the observed and recorded changes in these parameters. However, their perceptions are largely restricted to a limited time frame highlighting local variations in weather conditions influencing their perceptions. Gonds possess a comprehensive understanding of the intricate linkages that exist between different climatic parameters. Understanding and incorporating these perceptions in climate strategies are important in efforts to build climate-resilient tribal communities.