Mountain ecosystem

Mountainous regions occupy one-fourth of the world’s terrestrial surface, most rich in diverse landscapes and hold on to the biodiversity and cultural diversity along with supporting 10% of humankind with their direct life support base. Most mountainous regions have been at the far periphery of mainstream societal concerns for a long time. Remote, relatively inaccessible, they were generally pictured as difficulty, unyielding and unprofitable environments. Very less have focused attention on mountainous people and cultures, primitive religion, marginal survival, unusual adaptation to very high altitude, fraternal polyandry to obliterate informed communication and more meaningful analysis in practical sense. Early research concentrated mainly on specialised studies with little cross disciplinary endeavour. During the last few decades there have been spasmodic accounts of the highland and lowland mainly induced by events of great economic or political significance and due to the degradation of highlands which are potential threats to subjacent lowland population centre. Recent developments, expanding highland research and awareness spread by institutions and governments have shone a new ray of light towards the bright future. However, increased awareness with political advocacy must be pursued further.

1. MOUNTAIN
ECOSYSTEM
DELHI SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

2. 2
GroupMembers

3. CONTENTS
1
A.Aesthetic and Serene beauty
B.Rich Biodiversity
C.Resources
D.Services of Mountain
ecosystem
Introduction
2
A.Mountain Environment
Degradation
Theory
3
A.Dimensions
Highland & Lowland:
concept
4
A.Global initiatives
B.SWOT analysis
C.Challenges
Sustainable Mountain
Development
6
A.Reference
Conclusion
5
Recommendations for
mountain development

4. 4
INTRODUCTION
▪AESTHETIC AND SERENE BEAUTY
▪RICH BIODIVERSITY
▪RESOURCES
▪SERVICES OF MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEM

5. 5
a)Theecosystemofthemountains.
b)Stronglyaffectedbyclimate,whichgetscolderaselevationincreases.
c)Stratifiedaccordingtoelevation:
•Higheraltitude:Harshenvironmentalcondition;Treelessalpine
vegetation.
•ModerateAltitude:Denseforests.
•LowerSlope:Montaneforests,tropicalortemperateforest,savanna,
scrubland,desert,tundraetc.
d)Mountainscover24%oftheEarth’slandsurface.Theyarehometo
12%oftheworld’spopulationandanother14%ofthepopulation
resideintheirimmediateproximity.
e)Theyprovidevitalgoodsandservices-particularlyfreshwater.
f)Mountainsarekeycentersofbiologicalandculturaldiversityaswell
importantsitesoftraditionalecologicalknowledgeandinfluencethe
climateatmanyscales.
g)Freshair
h)TraditionalZoogeographicregionaremountainranges.
i)Tourism.
MOUNTAINECOSYSTEM

6. 6
a)AestheticandSerenebeauty
•Mountainscoverapproximatelyonefourthoftheworld'ssurface.
•Thelustfulgreentreesofthemountains.
•Alpinegrasslandcoveredwithsnow.
•Theworld’smountainsencompasssomeofthemostspectacularlandscapes,a
greatdiversityofspeciesandhabitattypes,anddistinctivehumancommunities.
b)RichBiodiversity
•Mountainrangesarehometosomeofthegreatestregionsofbiodiversityonthe
planet.
•TheSierraNevadamountainrangealoneisestimatedtohousefrom10,000to
15,000separatespeciesofplantsandanimals.
•Mountainbiodiversityplaysakeyroleinthesupportofglobalenvironmental,
economic,socialandculturalsectorsthroughconnectionsto;invasivespecies,air
pollution,climatechange,mining,hydropower,tourism,forests,agriculture.
•Mountainsarehotspotsofbiodiversity.
•Theplantsandanimalsfoundinmountainousareaswillvarydependinguponthe
locationofthebiome:
I.Temperatezonemountains
II.Tropicalmountains
III.Desertmountains
CHARACTERISTICSOF MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEM

7. 7
a)Temperatezonemountains
•Mountainsinthetemperatezone,suchastheRockyMountainsin
Coloradogenerallyhavefourdistinctseasons.
•Theyusuallyhaveconifertreesontheirlowerslopesthatfadeinto
alpinevegetation(suchaslupinesanddaisies,)abovethetreeline.
•Faunaincludedeer,bears,wolves,mountainlions,squirrels,rabbits,
andawidevarietyofbirds,fish,reptiles,andamphibians.
b)Tropicalmountains
•Tropicalareasareknownfortheirspeciesdiversity.
•Tropicalmountainsmaybepopulatedbyevergreentrees,grasses,
heathers,andshrubs.
•ThousandsofanimalslikegorillasofCentralAfricatothejaguarsof
SouthAmericamaketheirhomesintropicalmountainareas.
c)Desertmountains
a)Theharshclimateofadesertlandscape-lackofrain,highwinds,and
littletonosoil,makesitdifficultforanyplanttotakeroot.Butsome,
suchascactiandcertainfernsarefound.
b)Animalssuchasbighornedsheep,bobcats,andcoyotesarewell
adaptedtoliveintheseharshconditions.

8. 8
a)Thereisabundanceofresourcesinthemountainecosystem.
b)Mountainforestsaremainprovideroftimberandfuelwood.
c)Geneticresourcesareconsideredasbeingofkeyimportancein
mountainecosystems.
d)Mountainsareimportantascentresofcropdiversity.
e)Lowlandpeoplealsodependonmountainenvironmentsforawide
rangeofgoodsandservices,andopportunitiesforrecreationand
spiritualrenewal.Mountainsprovideforthefreshwaterneeds.
f)Mountainwaterisalsoasourceofhydroelectricpowermostof
whichareusedbythelowland.
g)MineralsinHIMALAYAS:
•Igneous:granite,diorite,gabbro,tonalite,monaziteandpegmatiteetc.
•Sedimentary:marl,dolomite,greywacke,siltstone,shaleand
limestone,fossilsetc.
•Metamorphic:schist,migmatite,phyllite,gneiss,amphibolite,Quartzite
etc.
RESOURCES

9. 9
Ecosystemservices-Ecosystemservicesarethemanyandvariedbenefits
thathumanfreelygainfromthenaturalenvironmentandfromproperly
functioningecosystem.
Mountainecosystemservicesaredividedintofourcategories:
▪ProvisioningServices:Theseservicesaretheproductdirectlyobtainfrom
ecosystem.
a)Extractingresourcesforexamplewaterfordrinking,irrigation,timberandsoon.
b)Agriculturalproduction
c)Medicinalplantsandpharmaceutical
d)Nontimberforestproduct
e)Geneticresources
▪Regulatingservices:Benefitsobtainfromregulationofecosystem
processes.
a)Climateregulation
b)Diseaseregulation
c)Waterregulation
d)Waterpurification
e)Biodiversity
SERVICESOF MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEM

10. 10
▪Cultural services: Non material benefits obtain from mountain
ecosystem.
a)Spiritual and religious
b)Recreational and ecotourism
c)Aesthetic
d)Inspirational
e)Educational
f)Sense of place
g)Cultural heritage
h)Migration
▪Supporting services: Services necessary for the production of all
other ecosystem services.
a)Soil formation
b)Nutrients cycle
c)Primary production

11. 11
THEORY
▪MOUNTAIN ENVIRONMENT DEGRADATION

12. 12
Thereisagrowingalarmabouttherapiddeteriorationaboutthe
HimalayanEnvironmentoverthepast3decadesorso.
Thesephysical,human,socio-economic,andpoliticalprocessesare
frequentlylinkedtogetherintoagiganticcauseandeffectnetwork
whichisclaimedtobepushingboththeHimalayasandthenorthern
plainsoftheIndian-subcontinentcollapse.
TheoryofHimalayanEnvironmentalDegradationseeksafuller
understandingthedynamicsoftheHimalayanregion.Itisalso
intendedtodemonstratetheneedforamuchbroaderanddeeper
perspectiveoftheproblemsfacingtheHimalayanregionasa
prerequisiteforthedevelopmentofmoreeffectivesolution.
Thus,wewillbeginwithasynopticresponsetothequestion-whatis
thenatureoftheperceivedcrisis.
THEORY OF HIMALAYAN ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

13. 13
Thistheorybasicallycharacterizesthewiderregion:
1.Followingtheintroductionofthemodernhealthcare,medicine,andmalariapost1950,givingwaytoan
unprecedentedwaveofpopulationgrowth.
2.Thisveritablepopulationexplosionisaugmentedbyuncountedanduncontrolledimmigrationfrom
neighboringlowlands.Furthermore,leadingtorapidlyincreasingdemandsforfuelwood,constructiontimber,
fodder(thedomesticanimalpopulationhasundergoneaparallel,orevengreater,increasetothatofthe
humanpopulation),andagriculturallandonwhichtogrowfoodduetolessdevelopedinfrastructureand
transportationsystems.
3.Thenextstepinwhathasbeendescribedasaviciouscircle,isthattheneedsoftheburgeoning
subsistencepopulationareexertingincreasingpressuresontheforestcover.Thishasledtomassive
deforestation.
4.Thedeforestation,whichincludesthecuttingofagriculturalterracesonsteeperandmoremarginal
mountainslopes,hasledtoacatastrophicincreaseinsoilerosionandlossofproductivelandthrough
acceleratedlandslideincidence,andtothedisruptionofthenormalhydrologicalcycle.
5.Thissituation,inturn,hasledtoincreasedrun-offduringthesummermonsoonandincreasesindisastrous
floodingandmassivesiltationintheplains,andlowerwaterlevelsandthedryingupofspringsandwells
duringthedryseason.Relatedillsare:rapidsiltationofreservoirs;abruptchangesinthecoursesofrivers;
spreadofbarrensandandgravelacrossrichagriculturallandontheplains;andincreasedincidenceof
diseaseindownstreamareas.
THE THEORY

14. 14
6.TheincreasedsedimentloadoftheriversemanatingfromtheHimalayansystemisextendingthe
GangesandBrahmaputradeltaandcausingislandstoformintheBayofBengal.
7.Thecontinuedlossofagriculturallandinthemountainsleadstoanotherroundofdeforestationtoenable
theconstructionofmoreterracesonwhichtogrowsubsistencecrops.Yet,asthelaborofwalkinggreater
distancesfromthevillagetofuelwoodsuppliesincreaseswiththerecedingforestperimeter,acritical
thresholdisreachedwherebytheavailablehumanenergy(principallyfemale)becomesprogressively
overtaxedandanincreasingquantityofanimaldungisusedforfuel.
8.Consequently,anotherviciouscircleislinkedtothefirstone:terracedsoilsaredeprivedofnatural
fertilizer-theanimaldungnowbeingusedforfuel,thusdeprivingtheagriculturalterraces,inmany
instances,oftheironlysourceoffertilizer.Thislowerscropyields.Also,theensuingweakenedsoilstructure
furtheraugmentstheincidenceoflandslides.Evenmoretreesarecutonmoremarginalandsteeperslopes
tomakeroomformoreagriculturalterracestofeedtheever-growingsubsistencepopulation.
ItfollowsfromthisbriefexpositionoftheTheoryofHimalayanEnvironmentalDegradationthataseriesof
linkedviciouscirclesisenvisagedasoperatinginexorablytodriveadownwardspiral.

15. 15
HIGHLAND AND
LOWLAND
INTERACTION
▪DIMENSIONS

16. 16
Theterms‘highlands’and‘lowlands’arelooselydefined:‘highlands’
assynonymouswith‘mountains’and,therefore,‘lowlands’asthose
areasbeyondandbeneaththemountainsthatareinfluencedby
down-slopephysicalprocessesandbyhumanrelationshipslinking
thetwo.
Whydoweneedtostudythehighlandandlowlandinteraction?
Itisthisbiologicalandculturalendemismthatisoneofthereasons
formuchofthecurrentgrowthoflowlandinterestinmountainareas.
Dimensions:Theinteractionbetweenhighlandandlowlandare
mainlydividedintofourmajordimensions
1.Ecological
2.Social
3.Economical
4.Political
HIGHLAND AND LOWLANDINTERACTION

17. 17
ECOLOGICALDIMENSIONS
Mountainscover24%oftheEarth’slandsurface.Theyare
hometo12%oftheworld’spopulationandanother14%ofthe
populationresideintheirimmediateproximity.
Theyprovidevitalgoodsandservices-particularlyfreshwater-
toasignificantproportionofhumanity.
Noothermountainsystemintheworldhasaffectedthelivesof
thepeopleandshapedthedestinyofthenation,asthe
Himalayas.
TheHimalayasareactuallycalledthebodyandsoulofIndia.
TheNorthernMountainsareimportantduetothefollowing
reasons.

18. 18
▪SourceofRivers:Enoughrainfallandvastsnow-fieldsinthese
mountainsarethesourceofperennialriversforthelowlands.The
meltingsnowprovidesenoughwaterduringthedryseason.
▪FertileSoils:Inthecourseoftheirflow,theriversandtheirtributaries
bringwiththemlargeamountofalluvium.Whendeposited,these
sedimentsprovideextremelyfertilesoilintheNorthernPlainswhich
haveapositiveimpactinlowland.Thus,itissaidthatthenorthern
plainsofIndiaaretheGiftoftheHimalayas.
▪Hydroelectricity:TheRiversandtheirtributariesmakeseveralnatural
waterfallsintheNorthernMountains.Thesearethesites,wheredams
canbeconstructedacrosstheriverforproducinghydroelectricity.
Example:TehriDam
▪ForestWealth:ThelowerslopesoftheNorthernMountainsarethickly
forested.Treesvaryfromtropicaltothealpinetypes.Theseforests
providefuel,wood,timberandrawmaterialsforvariousindustries.
▪Agriculture:Theslopesofthemountainshavebeenterracedto
producerice,maize,potatoes,vegetablesandfruits.Teaplantations
areextensivelydevelopedonthelowerslopes,especiallyinthe
EasternHimalayas.
Example: Apple cultivation in Himachal region.

19. 19
Migration:Migrationisperhapsthemostsignificantandfar-reachingofthehighland-lowlandlinkagesinsocial
dimensionduetoitspullfactoroflowlandwithbetterfacilitiesineverypossiblesectors.
Migrationpatterns
I.HighlandruraltoHighlandurban
II.HighlandurbantoLowlandurban
III.HighlandruraltoHighlandrural(AndeanmigrationpatternbyPaulbakerandhisresearchteam-1976)
SOCIALDIMENSIONS
Migrationfromthehighlandsoftenbeginswithyoungmalesseekingwage
employmentintheneighbouringlowlandsduringtheagriculturaloffseason
or,dependinguponlocalconditions,onadailybasis.Thishasbeen
facilitatedbytherecentpenetrationofroadnetworks.
Later,individualmalesandyoungcouplesmaymigrate,orentirefamilies,
evencommunities,forayearormore,orpermanently.Especiallywhere
suchaprocessinvolveslargenumbersofpeople,asitfrequentlydoes,
thentheconsequencesarehighlysignificant.
Example:Uttaranchal(nowUttarakhand)representsahighrateofout-migration
29.7percent(Census,1991)andmajorityofthepopulationmigratetovarious
urbanareasforbettereconomicopportunities.

20. 20
TourismandTransferofEconomicCostsandBenefits
Thedevelopmentoftourismhasbeenanacceleratingworld-wide
phenomenonsincethe1950s.Itismajorlydependeduponthegrowthin
rapidtransportationlinks;ithasalsoservedasadrivingforceforsuch
growth,aself-reinforcingprocess.
Twoprimaryareasoftouristdestinationhavecometodominate:seaside
andmountain.Tourismisfrequentlyclaimedastheworld’slargest
industry,employingover200millionpeopleintheearly1990s--atenth
oftheworld’sworkforce--andensuringacashflowofUS$3.4trillion.
Thesefiguresareexpectedtodoublewithinthenextdecade(World
TravelandTourismCouncil,1995).
ECONOMICDIMENSIONS
Tourismhasalsodevelopeditsownseriesofspecializations:generalmasstourism;eco-tourism,
adventuretourism,culturetourism,andevenspecialitiessuchasgrouptourstoviewbutterfliesorto
photographasinglerarespeciesofanimalandthesacredsitesoftheHimalaya;MountKailas.
Uncontrolledtourismcanalsohaveanegativeimpactofmountainecosystemsoitcanalsohavea
negativeimpacttohighlandandlowlandinteraction.

21. 21
EnvironmentalResources:TransferofEconomicCostsandBenefits
Throughouthumanhistory,transfersofpeoplesandtwo-waycost-benefit
exchangesbetweenlowlandsandhighlandshavepersisted.Thesetraditional
formsofinteractionhaveinvolvedprimarilycontractually-sharedaccessto
renewablenaturalresources.Theprimeexampleisseasonaltransferof
domesticanimalsfromwintergrazingatlowelevationstohigh-altitudesummer
pastures.
JONBEELMELA:ifyouthoughtthebartersystemisathingofthepast,youare
mistaken.InAssamonecanstillfinditinvogueattheJonbeelmelainMorigaonwhere
peoplefromtheplainsandthehillsbartergoods,accordingtotheirneeds.
Inthethreedaylongfestivalthepeoplefromhillsbringsspices,herbs,ginger,fruitsto
exchangethemwithrice,fish,cakesandotherstuffwhichdonotgrowinhills.
Technologytransfer:Thiselementofhighland-lowlandinteractiontendstobe
predominantlyfromlowlandtohighlandinform.Therehasbeenaconcerted
efforttoensuretransferoftechnologyintheformofsmall-scale‘appropriate’
additionstomountainliving.Partoftheobjectivehasbeentoreducepressure
onlocalforests,forinstance,byintroductionofwindandsolarenergy
generators,mini-hydroelectricplants,andpassivesolarhousingconstruction
and,atlowerelevations,biogasplants.

22. 22
Thepoliticalelementsofhighland-lowlandinteractionareworldwidein
importanceandthemostsignificantfactorismilitarypower.Theyalso
haveserioussocial,economic,andenvironmentalrepercussions.
LikeforexampleKashmirissuesuchmarginalmountainareasremain
‘hot-spots’ofpoliticaltension,includingtheentirelengthoftheHimalaya
andKarakorum.
Centraltomanyofthepoliticalandmilitaryaspectsofhighland-lowland
interactionsarethreeoverarchingthemes.
a)Thefirstistheconceptofmountainsasnichesforminority
peoples(ethnicityandconflict).
b)Thesecond,whichiscloselyrelated,istheconceptofmountains
aslastfrontiers(migrationandconflict).
c)Athirdtheme,mountainsasenclavesofpoverty(marginalization
andconflict).
POLITICALDIMENSIONS

23. 23
SUSTAINABLE
MOUNTAIN
DEVELOPMENT
▪GLOBAL INITIATIVES
▪SWOT ANALYSIS
▪CHALLENGES

24. 24
TheconceptofsustainabledevelopmentwasintroducedintheWorldConservation
Strategyinwhichlaterin1980s,itbecamemorepopularthroughthereportofthe
WorldCommissiononEnvironmentandDevelopmentor“BrudtlandReport”,where
inOurCommonFuturedefineditas“developmentthatmeetstheneedsofthe
presentwithoutcompromisingtheabilityofthefuturegenerationstomeettheirown
need”.
WhyMountain?
Mountainistheimportantsourceofallbiologicalresourcesandwhichisusefulfor
purposefulactivitieslike-agriculture,mining,recreationalactivities,etc.
Mountainenvironmentareessentialfrofutureglobalecosystem.
SUSTAINABLE MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT

25. 25
RioWorldSummit’92:Chapter13ofAgenda21entitled“ManagingFragileEcosystemSustainable
MountainDevelopment”whichincludestwo”Programmeareas”:
a)Generatingandstrengtheningknowledgeabouttheecologyandsustainabledevelopmentofmountain
ecosystems.
b)Promotingintegratedwatersheddevelopmentandalternativelivelihoodopportunities.
Spreadawarenesstowardsthepressingissuesinhighlands:
a)Watershortageandhydroelectricitydemand
b)Mediadiffusionwarsconcentratedinmountainousregion
c)Mismanagementofmountainenvironment
d)Alarmingglobalclimatewarmingmoreproneintheregion
UNESCO’sManandtheBiosphere(MAB)Programmeinmountainareas
a)TheMABprog.Isaninterdisciplinaryundertakingofenvironmentalresearch.
b)Itwaslaunchedin1972anditsbasedonrationaluseandconservationoftheresourcesofthebiosphereand
globalimprovementrelationshipbetweenpeopleandtheenvironment.
c)Sinceitrequiresstudiesofbothsocialsciencesandnaturalsciences,andthusnameoftheProgrammecame
tobeknownas“ManandtheBiosphere”.

26. 26
MaBprog.Studiesthefollowingfactors:
a)Humansettlementsathigheraltitudes
b)Effectsoflandusealternativesonmountainecosystems.
c)Impactoflarge-scaletechnologyonmountainecosystem
d)Effectsontourismandrecreationonmountainecosystem
StudiesRegionalissues:
a)Resourcedevelopmentandhumansettlementsinhightropicalmountains
b)Tourism,technologyandlanduseintemperatemountainsinthemiddlelatitudes-winterand
summerseasons;
c)Land-useandproblemsinhighlatitudesmountainandtundraecosystems:inreferencetograzing,
industrialdevelopmentandrecreation.
Therefore,UNESCO-MABinitiativewhichwillbaseenvironmentalconservationon
traditionalbeliefsandculturalvalues:
a)Itgaveemphasistosavenaturalsacredsitesespeciallyplantsandwildlife.
b)Italsooffersinterdisciplinaryresearchopportunitiesforenvironmentalscientistsandanthropologists
tosavesacredsitesofmountainareasofAfrica,AsiaandLatinAmerica.

27. 27
RECENTGLOBALINITIATIVESONGLACIALMOUNTAIN
Tomonitortheglacierfrommeltingbytakinginitiativestogetherbymountaincommunities,scientists
andpolicymakersworldwide-especiallyAndesofPeruandHimalayasofNepal.
Variousworkshopsheld:
▪AdoptingtoaworldwithoutglaciersheldLimaandHuaraz,OeruinJuly2009
▪Andean-AsianMountainsGlobalKnowledgeExchangeonGlaciers,Glaciallakes,waterandHazard
ManagementheldinMt.EverestregionofNepalinSeptember2011.
▪“GlacialFloodingandDisasterRiskManagement:KnowledgeExchangeandFieldTraining”heldin
Huaraz,PeruinJuly2013.

28. 28
INDIA
IndianHimalayanregion(IHR)tourismhasexperiencedcontinuousgrowthandarereasonforfastestgrowing
economicsectorsofIndia.
Predictionofitsgrowthforthissectorwhichisexpectedupto7.9%from2013-23.
Oneofthegoodexamples’forIHR,Ladakhwhichexperiencedhighesttourismattraction,whichwasonce
usedtobearemotestplace.
Indiaranks3
rd
amongfastestgrowingtourismindustryoverthenextdecade.
Indiaalsohasalargemedicaltourismsectorwhichisexpectedtogrowatanestimatedrateof30%annually
toreachabout₹95billionby2015.
AccordingtoUN,issuessuchasclimate,resourcemanagement,reductionofpovertyandgrowthintourism
development.
Sustainabledevelopmentalgoals,recognizes17goalplanofactionforpeople-amongwhichgoal8and12
includesmountaintourismespecially.
▪Goal8:Promotionof“Sustainedinclusiveandsustainableeconomicgrowth’’,fullandproductiveemploymentand
decentworkforallincludesastaget8.9.“By2030,deviseandimplementpoliciestopromotesustainabletourism
thatcreatesjobsandpromoteslocalcultures”.
▪Goal12:“Ensuresustainableconsumptionandproductionpatterns”includesastarget12BtoDevelopand
implementtoolstomonitorsustainabledevelopmentimpactsforsustainabletourismwhichcreatesjob,promotes
localcultureandproducts”.

29. 29
Sincewithincreasingtourismalsoincreasingconcernsandrisks
associatedwithtourismdevelopmentandlossofecologicalvaluesand
culturalheritageinIHRdemand:
a)Minimizingthenegativeimpactsoftourismoncommunitiesandthe
environment.
b)Maximizingtourism’spositiveandcreativecontributiontoIHRlocal
economies,conservationofnaturalandculturalheritage
c)Maximizequalityoflifeofvisitors.
d)Increaseopportunitiesandinnovativeactionstomaketourismsustainable.
Therefore,nationallevelconsultationon7April2017,NITIAayog,in
associationwithsomekeynationalinstitutionsandInternationalcenterfor
IntegratedMountainDevelopment(ICIMOD)setuponActonAgendafor
“SustainableDevelopmentofMountainsofIndianHimalayanRegion”in
which“SustainableTourisminIHR”wasselectedasoneofthekey
themes.

30. 30
▪Provide us ecosystem services
▪Water towers of world
▪Biodiversity richness
▪Influences the global systems
▪Eco-tourism
▪Fulfil the lowland needs
▪Disaster barrier (e.g. floods)
▪Spiritual significance
▪Aesthetic beauty
▪Wetland
STRENGTHWOT
STRENGTHS

31. 31
▪Sensitivity to climate change
▪Ecosystem fragility
▪Marginalised
▪Inaccessibility
▪Social needs
▪Skeleton soil
▪Water management
▪Soil loss due to erosional activities
▪Less productive soil
▪Biodiversity fragility
▪Climate change
WEAKNESS
SWEAKNESSOT

32. 32
▪Ecotourism
▪Payment for ecosystem services
▪Source of 6 asia'sgreatest rivers -water tower
▪Natural resources
▪Diverse culture
▪Biologically richest areas on the earth : 10000
plant species , 977 birds , 300 mammals , 269
freshwater fishes , 176 reptiles , 105
amphibians.
OPPORTUNITIES
SWOPPORTUNITIEST

33. 33
▪Population inflow
▪waste disposal
▪Increasing vehicular movements
▪Pollution
▪Tourism
▪Deforestation
▪Wetland degradation due to overgrazing, pollution,
tourism, climate change
▪Soil degradation
▪Global warming
▪climate Change
▪Vulnerability to disasters
▪loss of life
▪Threats to biodiversity -due to habitat loss and
poaching
▪Increased of glof(glacier lake outburst flood)
▪Torrential rain, cloudburst
▪threat to economy -loss of property-increase of poverty
▪Mining
THREATS
SWOTHREATS

34. 34
STRENGTH
Scenario in Himachal and Uttarakhand:
Himachal Pradesh
▪Great Climatic conditions
•Diverse climatic conditions
▪Rivers
•Ravi, Chenab, Sutluj
▪Attraction of Sport tourism
▪Cultural resources
Uttarakhand
▪Climatic Conditions
•Cooler
▪Rivers
•Ganga, Yamuna
▪Attraction of Ecotourism
▪Training institutes & Programmes
WEAKNESS
Himachal Pradesh
▪Lack of quality tourists
▪Poor infrastructure for adventure
tourism
▪No policies related to environmental
problems
▪Poor air connectivity
Uttarakhand
▪Lack of the information related to
adventure tourismStable political
environment
▪Poor roads conditionsTax
▪Poor banking
system/telecommunications
▪Lack of hotel infrastructure

35. 35
THREATS
Himachal Pradesh
▪Safety concern
▪Avalanche threats
▪Ethical issues
▪Threats from neighbouring states
Uttarakhand
▪Tremendous pressure on natural
resource
▪Increased competition from other sates
▪Pricing/quality of the products
▪Melting of the glaciers
OPPORTUNITIES
Himachal Pradesh
▪Lot of opportunities for private
investors.
▪Multi dimension products available
▪Civil aviation
▪Numerous unexplored treks to be
explored
Uttarakhand
▪Abundant natural resources
▪Stable political environment
▪Health Tourism
▪Tax exemption.

36. 36
CHALLENGES ASSOCIATED WITH PILGRIMAGE TOURISM IN INDIAN HIMALAYA
Tourist destinations in Indian Himalayan region:
a)Pilgrimage
b)Hill stations
c)Adventure tourism-trekking, mountain climbing, sightseeing and winter sports
Challengesassociated with pilgrimage as well as the whole tourism in Indian
Himalaya:
▪Disasters during the tourist season
a)Kedarnathflood, Himalayan tsunami
b)Landslides during monsoon and post monsoon season
▪Security of tourists
a)Mansarovaryatra, terrorist attack
▪Environment degradation
a)deforestation
b)unplanned building of hotels, resorts etc.
c)water pollution
d)effects on wildlife
e)solid waste and dumping problems

37. 37
▪Changeinsocio-culturalstructureandstyles:
a)affectingthestructureandstyleoflocalcommunitiesbymixingnewculturalpracticesonit.
b)interactionwithtouristsandtheirnewpractices,influencethelocalpeopletobecomesocalled''modern''.
History of tourism in Indian Himalayan Region
In ancient times only pilgrimage was dominating factor for tourism in Himalayas. For people Himalaya was a
representation of divine place to worship. Eg-Kedarnath, Badrinath, etc
But in beginning of 19
th
century, British discovered the Himalayas as recreational areas and became more tourist
attraction in hill stations like Shimla, Missouri, etc
With the beginning of 1950s and onwards, as after Sir Edmund Hillary and TenzingNorgay climbed the world’s
highest mountain-Mt. Everest and made record which afterwards became a huge attraction of sport and
adventure tourism as well. Eg-paragliding, rafting, trekking, etc.

38. 38
Modernapproachesontourismrelatedissues-
▪Tourismshouldbeonepartofabalancedeconomy
▪Theuseoftourismenvironmentsmustallowforlong-termpreservationandforuse
ofthoseenvironments.
▪Tourismshouldrespectthecharacterofanarea.
▪Tourismmustprovidelong-termeconomicbenefits.
▪Tourismshouldbesensitivetotheneedsofthehostpopulation.
Strategiesforcreatingasustainabletourism:
▪Theseasonaldispersalandregionaldiffusionoftourists:
a)Helpsintakingpressureoffthelocalecosystem.
b)Achievedbyeitherregulatingthetouristsallowedinacertainarea
c)Byintroducingamoredynamicpricingpolicy,crestingincentivestovisitless
frequentedareasortovisitoutsideofthepeakseason.

39. 39
▪Thepromotionofalternative,fuelsavingtechnologies:
a)useofmicro-hydrocanhelpinreducingtheuseoffirewoodbylocalsandtourists,itwillalsohelpinreducingthe
pressureonlocalforests.
▪Thecreationandpromotionofdesignatedcampsites:
a)itwilloffercertainamenities(suchaswashingfacilities)theamountof''wild''campingalongthetrailscouldbe
reduced.
▪Thesharingofrevenues:
a)themanagementoftheenvironmentcaninvolveanenormousamountofmoney.Therevenuefromusercharges
andmountaineeringroyaltiesshouldbesharedbetweenthegovernmentsandtheareaswherethisrevenueis
created.
▪Thetrainingoflocalpeopleasguides-
a)itcanhelpthelocalpeopletodeveloptheskillsneededtoguidethetourists.
b)itwillhelptodevelopconfidencetogetinvolvementintourismbusinessandstartownenterprise.
c)whentheservicewillbeimproved,theycanexpecthigherincome.
▪Thecreationofcommunitybased,participation-orientedtourismmanagementcommittees-
a)allowslocalstoparticipateinthedecision-makingprocessandinfluencetheirlivesdirectly.
b)participationincreasesthesupportandco-operationofthelocalsforprotectionprojects,becausetheyhave
properknowledgeaboutlocalenvironment,andwaystosaveit.
ExampleofSikkimbiodiversityandecotourismproject(1995)

40. 40
Goal
▪Theconservationofbiodiversityandnaturalresourcesthrough
increasedcapacityandactionsofthestakeholders.
▪Inthatareathefuelwoodconsumptionproblemhasbeentackled
byintroducingalternativefuelsavingtechnologies.
▪Between1996to1998,thefuelwoodconsumptionwasreduced
by60%.
▪Participationbythelocalsandprivatesectorindecision-making
processhasrisenupto50%inthatarea.

41. 41
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
MOUNTAIN
DEVELOPMENT

42. 42
▪Value Ecosystem Services and Mountain Biodiversity: Modernization and democratization of local
communities in the management.
▪Enhance Natural Regeneration of Forests: Over-emphasis on plantations, protection of individual trees (e.g.,
complete ban on tree cutting over 1000 m altitude), and promotion of a few fast growing individuals have
trivialized the importance.
▪Linking Biodiversity Conservation with Rural Livelihoods: Be it the quest for fuel wood for cooking and
heating, leaf fodder for cattle, or the open grazing of domestic animals, all these are responsible for
significant forest degradation and biodiversity losses in the Himalaya.
▪Participatory Resource Management (PRM): Pro –active action is required in involving the hill women in
resource management. Sensitisation of the bureaucracy, scientists and decision makers, including
community leaders is needed so that they can effectively collaborate in joint –initiatives and extend support.
▪Mountain communities are rich repositories of traditional knowledge, practices and resources. Traditional
knowledge and practices have evolved through generations of empirical experimentation. The involvement of
mountain communities in technology development, conservation and management of mountain resources
needs to be strategically formalized.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT

43. 43
▪Preparing research priority matrix for regions covering the information gaps, allocate adequate funds and
execute coordinated and scientific research through Universities and Institutes.
▪Develop empirical models, depicting climate change scenarios for key glaciers and subsequent river
discharge, with reference to changes in hydrology, primary productivity of various ecosystems, biodiversity
and mountain farming.
▪Networking and developing partnerships among the civil society, research organizations, CBOs and
NGOs have been reiterated time and again in various plans and policy documents.
▪Himalayan mountains have been attracting mountaineers from all over the world, but this activity
(mountaineering) has not been perceived beyond just being a sport / a past time. Integration of various
departments such as tourism and sports, defensepersonnel, departments of environment and mountain
hazard mitigation need to consider this aspect and train the local youth, committing members, including
their own persons and women in mountaineering and other adventure sports.

44. 44
CONCLUSION

45. 45
Mountainousregionsoccupyone-fourthoftheworld’sterrestrialsurface,mostrichindiverselandscapesand
holdontothebiodiversityandculturaldiversityalongwithsupporting10%ofhumankindwiththeirdirectlife
supportbase.Mostmountainousregionshavebeenatthefarperipheryofmainstreamsocietalconcernsfora
longtime.Remote,relativelyinaccessible,theyweregenerallypicturedasdifficulty,unyieldingandunprofitable
environments.Verylesshavefocusedattentiononmountainouspeopleandcultures,primitivereligion,marginal
survival,unusualadaptationtoveryhighaltitude,fraternalpolyandrytoobliterateinformedcommunicationand
moremeaningfulanalysisinpracticalsense.Earlyresearchconcentratedmainlyonspecialisedstudieswith
littlecrossdisciplinaryendeavour.Duringthelastfewdecadestherehavebeenspasmodicaccountsofthe
highlandandlowlandmainlyinducedbyeventsofgreateconomicorpoliticalsignificanceandduetothe
degradationofhighlandswhicharepotentialthreatstosubjacentlowlandpopulationcentre.Recent
developments,expandinghighlandresearchandawarenessspreadbyinstitutionsandgovernmentshave
shoneanewrayoflighttowardsthebrightfuture.However,increasedawarenesswithpoliticaladvocacymust
bepursuedfurther.

46. THANK YOU!