Mountains that sustain millions

Context: Various challenges faced by the people living in the Himalayas have been often neglected or even exasperated by the outsiders.

Significance of Himalayas: 

• The region is among the 36 world biodiversity hotspots.
• According to a report by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, the region encompassing the Hindu Kush Himalaya encompasses 240 million people.
• Signifying Conservation: In 2014, the Uttarakhand government declared September 9 as Himalaya Diwas to spread the message of conservation of the Himalayan ecosystems.

Several challenges: Resilient mountains but vulnerable inhabitants

• Challenge for local sustenance: Due to dwindling natural resources, unsustainable agricultural practices, lack of basic amenities 

• Few livelihood options:  Forests form an essential life support system for the locals and when destroyed, leads to low food availability and decreased self-sufficiency.

• Uneven precipitation and erratic rainfall

• Challenges to capacity-building in the region: Due to demographic shifts, weak institutional capacity, poor infrastructure. For E.g. 

• Increase in male out-migration.
• Lack of irrigation sources to irrigate unconsolidated pockets of farms.

• Declining Agro-biodiversity due to change in dietary preferences. 

Way Forward: Mountain-specific policies to strengthen livelihood opportunities 

• Promote organic farming methods.

• Local food systems need to be revived, and niche products of the mountain need to be developed. 

• Strengthen marketing systems and infrastructure 

• Healthy livestock management practices should be explored

• Ensuring region-specific water security through rejuvenation of natural springs and aquifers and using cleaner energy solutions.

• Peoples inclusion:  In policymaking and the decision-making process since they are custodians of important traditional knowledge on preparation of seeds, harvesting, the medicinal use of plant species.