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The idea that human assault might ever triumph over such powerful features of our natural landscape seemed almost unimaginable. But now climate change is disrupting the ecological balance of the Tibetan Plateau and the mighty glaciers of the Himalaya are, in fact, disappearing...
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Shimla warmer by one deg celsius It is emerging as a ‘Himalayan’ challenge to stem the tide of climate change that threatens to wipe the very nomenclature, ‘abode of snow’, from the mighty ranges. |
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Mountainous environments are essential for the survival of the global ecosystem. They are an important source of water, energy, biological diversity, minerals, forest and agricultural produce, thus representative of the complex and interrelated ecology of our planet. The over-exploitation of these resources in the mountainous regions has resulted in: loss of biodiversity especially rare species of medicinal plants; stress on traditional agriculture and reduction in the number of species cultivated; net loss of agricultural land; inequitable terms of trade (high production cost, unequal or unfavourable access to markets; increase in natural hazards and disasters like landslides |
Sequestering carbon through indigenous agriculture practices
 About 10% of the world's population depends directly on the use of mountain resources for their livelihoods and well being, an estimated 40% depends indirectly on them for water, hydroelectricity, timber, mineral resources, recreation and flood control. The resilience and adaptation of people in mountain regions have acquired important dimension in the light of changing climatic conditions. Ironically, agriculture is not only affected by climate change but also contributes to it. |
Adaptive agriculture in flood affected areas
Eastern Uttar Pradesh, in the foothills of the Nepal Himalayas,has been prone to floods for centuries. In the last 60 years,however, their frequency has increased dramatically. People living in the region have slowly developed ways to cope with the floods. These adaptive measures had not been documented until now. A booklet has recently been produced detailing adaptive agriculturalpractices in this specialised region. |
Making an opportunity in changing climatic scenario: A case of Kullu and Lahaul valley
While rising temperatures and changes in weather conditions is affecting agriculture and is a matter of serious concern,farmers in Himachal Pradesh have converted it into an opportunity. Apple farmers affected by climate change have shifted to crops like kiwi and pomegranate. Farmers who were earlier not able to grow apples are happy growing apples now, in few other districts. |
Sustainable Hydro Power Policy for Himalayan States
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Impact on Himalayan Glaciers The Himalayas’ permanent ice cover is around 97,000 sq.km. with 12,930 sq.km. volume of ice and snow – 10 – 20 % are covered by glaciers and 30-40% are seasonal snowfalls. The Himalayan streams and rivers are fed by the melting of snow and ice of approximately 500 sq.km / year. 40% reduction has occurred in the Himalayan glaciers in the last 40 years. 67% of the glaciers have retreated in the last decade. Gangotri is retreating at the rate of 28 m per year.[1] |
MOUNTAINS OF CONCRETE: Dam Building in the Himalayas The dams' reservoirs, tunnels, transmission lines and related works will destroy thousands of houses, rivers, forests, fragile hills, towns, villages, fields, ecology, spiritual sites and even parts of the highest “Mountains of Concrete” is published by International Rivers and can be downloaded from http://www.internationalrivers.org/node/3601.
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A report - "Himalayan Glaciers Melt...Water? |
