Mountains that sustain millions

The Hindu     9th September 2020     Save    

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.