|
|
The transboundary landscape approach builds on principles of integrated social-ecological systems with conservation and development perspectives at a transboundary level
. The evolution of one such transboundary landscape in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) from the 1990's to the present is discussed through a phase-wise process. Both global and regional discourses have been influential in designing the transboundary Kangchenjunga Landscape which is shared by Bhutan, India and Nepal. The 25,085 sq.km landscape ranges in elevation from 40 to 8,586 m asl and is home to more than seven million people, while hosting more than 4,500 species of plants and at least 169 mammal and 618 bird species. With the aim of conserving and managing the landscape for sustained ecosystem services that ultimately contribute to the livelihoods of the women and men residing therein, the Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative was implemented since 2016. Lessons from the Kangchenjunga Landscape indicate that participatory and iterative boundary delineation, transboundary cooperation, identification of a lead institution, ensuring the global-local-global feedback cycle, and regional data sharing are key components for implementing transboundary landscape programmes in the region
Read More
|
|
|
Management of natural resources (land, water, soil, vegetation) has multiple benefits
. It not only provides ecosystem goods such as food, timber, fuelwood but also services like regulation of hydrological flows, erosion control, carbon sequestration and conservation of biodiversity. Sustainable management of natural resources in the upper catchments of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) is critical for both upstream and downstream communities
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bhutan Land Act of 2007 is the latest policy change, which will have huge impacts on nationwide traditional rangeland management practices
. It was approved in 2007 and will be implemented by 2017, keeping a grace period of 10 years for preparation to the change. Rangeland users across the country might have to adapt to a new system once the act is implemented. In the process of adaptation to the change they might become vulnerable to socio-economic and environmental changes. The expected impacts of the policy change and other drivers of change like socioeconomic factors on traditional rangeland management systems of yak herding communities of Toorsa Strict Nature Reserve were investigated in this study. The household survey was conducted in three yak herding gewogs of Haa, while key interview and focus group discussions were conducted with the herders and the livestock extension officers from the same gewogs. It was found that implementation of the latest policy would breakdown the customary rangeland management practices and traditional institutions. The change is also likely to trigger heaving grazing pressure in temperature zones while grazing pressure in the alpine zones might get reduced. These changing dynamics will alter the ecosystem composition and functioning of highaltitude rangelands thereby threatening the livelihood of the yak herders by making them more vulnerable to environmental and economic changes.
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shifting cultivation is a dominant form of farming in the eastern Himalayas, practised by a diverse group of indigenous people from the most marginalized social and economic groups
. The survival of these indigenous people and the survival of their forests are inextricably linked. However, policy makers and natural resource managers perceive shifting cultivation to be wasteful, destructive to forests, and unsustainable. Although policies have tried to ban it or ‘wean’ shifting cultivators away from the practice by incentivizing them to take up alternative options, shifting cultivation persists. As a result, neither the livelihood issues of the shifting cultivators nor the health of the forest ecosystems on which shifting cultivation depends are properly protected. Shifting cultivators and policy makers must seek common ground to improve shifting cultivation for farmers and forests. A joint solution is also required to address climate change as good forest cover plays a prominent role in the sequestration of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide. This publication is the result of research undertaken in Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal on the promotion of innovative policy and development options for improving shifting cultivation in the eastern Himalayas. It is divided into two parts: Part 1 presents the findings of the study on the effect of government policies on customary tenure and institutions and alternative options. Part 2 presents a discussion of the findings of the three countries as well as some general and country-wise recommendations. It is hoped that the findings of the research will enable governments to improve their shifting cultivation polices, which will, in turn, help shifting cultivators to improve their economic and social status
Read More
|
|
|
Ning, W.; Ismail, M.; Joshi, S.; Qamar, F. M.; Phuntsho, K.; Weikang, Y.; Khan, B.; Shaoliang, Y.; Kotru, R.; Sharma, E.
This publication provides a valuable baseline on issues related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the Karakoram-Pamir region of China and Pakistan
. The report provides an overview of available information on the major features of the landscape, its ecosystems and biodiversity, and the socioeconomic and cultural situation. It was compiled through the efforts of many scientists and stakeholders in the two countries. The information is intended to support the development of a conservation strategy and associated comprehensive environmental monitoring action plan for the landscape, as well as being useful in the formulation of national strategies and regional cooperation frameworks
Read More
|
|
|
Throughout the Hindu Kush Himalayas, uncultivated plants provide a green social and cultural securityÅ to millions of people supporting their livelihood
. Review on evaluating the multifunctional role of uncultivated plants in perspective of livelihood support finds that plants add diversity to local food systems, reinforce local culture and contribute diversity to farming systems, and finally are important for household food and nutrition security, social security, income generation and health care. Further, this paper clarifies that local people maintain and conserve diversity for the sake of use. The wise conservation and use of uncultivated plants are essential elements for increasing food security, eliminating poverty, and maintaining the environment. However, the value and potential of uncultivated plants for food and nutrition security, household level health care, income generation opportunity are not yet realized. Fast changing climate and early projections on its impacts suggest that such programmes must increasingly consider the sustenance of ecosystem that promotes uncultivated plants as basis for the welfare of millions
Read More
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Kangchenjunga landscape, shared by Bhutan, India, and Nepal, is one of the seven transboundary landscapes identified by ICIMOD for development of regional cooperation for effective conservation and management of natural resources
. This publication draws recommendations for transboundary and participatory biodiversity conservation from ICIMOD's pioneering Kangchenjunga Conservation Landscape Initiative. The Kangchenjunga landscape includes 15 protected areas (PAs). The conservation and management practices in these PAs differ, as do the conservation-related policies of the three countries. The publication analyses past and present conservation policies and practices in the landscape and draws recommendations for enhancing participatory biodiversity conservation and management at the landscape level
Read More
|
email alert
or subscribe to the 
RSS feed.
