ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY ADAPTATIONS ON CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS USING PRINCIPAL COMPONENTS ANALYSIS

Climate change brings serious impacts to human-environment systems and a regional climate model can be used to project future climate scenario [1]. Estimations of climate impacts can be done based on these projection data. By understanding well the causes, mechanisms and consequences of climate change, effective adaptation actions can be taken by individual or stakeholders in response to climate change [2]. This research assesses the impacts of climate change on water resources and community adaptations in Cameron Highlands. Surveys were done in local communities through focus group interviews. 40 respondents were involved. Reliability test, descriptive analysis and principal components analysis were used to investigate the relationship of climate change impacts on water resources and community adaptations in Cameron Highlands. It was found that local communities were aware of the current issue. Principal components analysis showed that the three components being extracted are loaded to food security, forest ecosystem services and agriculture based on focus group. They were conscious of the environmental impacts and actions are taken at individual level to preserve and restore the conditions in Cameron Highlands.