Agrobiodiversity in the Kangchenjunga Landscape: Status, threats, and opportunities

The varied agro-climatic conditions of the transboundary Kangchenjunga Landscape support rich agrobiodiversity. However, despite its tremendous social, economic, and ecological significance, agrobiodiversity has been declining in the landscape in recent years. Key factors behind this include changes in people’s food preferences; replacement of traditional crops and varieties by high yielding varieties; commercialization of agriculture; climate change; introduction and promotion of improved breeds of livestock; shortage of fodder resources; and shortage of labour due to out-migration of male members of the household. There is limited documentation of the landscape's agrobiodiversity status, its agro-economic potential, its significance to mountain communities, and potential threats. This publication seeks to fill these gaps by documenting and discussing the status, challenges, and opportunities surrounding agrobiodiversity in the Kangchenjunga Landscape.