The ministerial declaration issued by India, Bhutan, Nepal, and Bangladesh addressing food, water, energy, and biodiversity concerns in the Himalayan region is a welcome initiative to protect this biodiversity-rich mountain range. The vast area faces a variety of problems that directly affect the local communities, and threaten ecosystem services provided to millions of people in neighbouring countries. Some of the serious issues that need urgent attention are accelerated forest loss, soil erosion, resource degradation, and loss of habitat and biodiversity. Climate change is a major source of worry, and needs intensive study because of its potential for severe ecological damage. It is a step forward therefore that four countries in the subcontinent convened the Climate Summit for a Living Himalayas in Bhutan and evolved a consensus-based mitigation effort primarily for the eastern part. The task before the signatories is to build institutions that will pursue research and share knowledge, beginning with a centre for the study of climate change. Sustained effort is necessary to achieve the key goals: access to reliable and affordable energy; food and water security; demarcation of connected conservation spaces; and sustainable use of biodiversity for poverty alleviation.
The Himalayan region includes many climatic systems: tropical, sub-tropical, temperate, and alpine. Thanks to sheer inaccessibility, this remote and difficult landscape has mostly escaped the ill-effects of the industrial farming system, such as pesticide and insecticide use and the introduction of hybrid or transgenic crops. Himalayan biodiversity provides a resource base for an estimated 80 million people, mostly subsistence farmers and pastoral communities. The challenge is to provide strong support systems to help them adapt to climate change. And yet data that can aid conservation of biodiversity are far from comprehensive. India, for instance, acknowledged at the summit that an inventory of the Eastern Himalayas, the target region for protection, at the level of genes, species, ecosystem, and landscape is yet to be completed. This task can brook no delay. The Himalayas form part of global natural heritage, and the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change must provide substantial funding for research, capacity-building, and preservation. It is also important to harness traditional knowledge and get local communities to participate in conservation programmes. A good example of this is the protection plan for snow leopards in India's Spiti valley. The Himalaya protection programme can achieve even more, if Pakistan, China, and Afghanistan join the initiative.
Keywords: Himalayan ecosystem, Himalaya conservation, Himalaya biodiversity, biodiversity protection, ecosystem protection
Protecting the biodiversity of 'The Great Hymalayan Region' is one of the greatet challenge for our sub-continet. The degredation of nature by human beings is mainly caused by the growing distance between nature and man. We have to decrease this distance and 'go back to the nature'. The initiative which has been taken by this countries is a great step to reach our goal. If other contries spread their hand for this great mission the the target will be more closer than it has been seen now. Still we keep our hope that we have to do it for the sake of the existance of human beings.
O Himalah! O rampart of the realm of India!
Bowing down the sky kisses your forehead
.....
Iqbal
Protecting he environment has become a necessity failing which the existence of human habitats and the rest of the ecosystem would get completely disturbed, a sense of which is already being experienced in terms of recent climatic changes in the region. This biodiversity rich mountain range is a life line for millions of people living in the subcontinent. This is a welcome move which should get more support from others which have not participated in the common declaration this time.
And we are out to create as many thermal stations as we can by destroying the rich forests sitting on the greedy policy makers' black gold! Unless we practice a modicum of sensible frugality we shall be true to Mahatma Gandhi's encapsulation of modern civilization: Given enough time modern civilization will destroy itself. Please reorganise you rich persons or persons aspiring to grab all the wealth. Is there a need for mudaraya barnadhikaries wanting more and more land for more and more nagaras-concrete jungles? Walk to work. Enjoy muscle power. Reforest for millennia. All over the world! We are still waiting for the reforestation of the gangetic plains. We are still waiting for the idiots not to grow eucalyptus and australian acacias. We are still waiting for a rebuilding of rural areas. Instead the idiots are craving for cities. You will fail if you do not grow viable living communities where return is practiced. Will you take five jute bags to the market instead of a plastic bag?
This is a very good initiative by the four neighbouring countries to protect the Himalayan biodiversity which is a source of varied flaura and fauna and a source of livelihood for millions. The most important being the huge role played by the Himalayas in bringing monsoon to Indian subcontinent which Indian agriculture heavily replies on. The significant role played by it in regulating the climate should never be ignored.
Well written from preservation of Himalayan Biodiversity. There are
genuine reservations about participation of China. China has already
played havoc in Tibet, not only committing grave human rights
violations; but to the Himalayan ecology also. By constructing roads and
railways in that region..and developing human settlements; by
transporting thousands of people from China to these regions; China is
already destroying the ecology. It may take years to convince China
about human rights and environmental preservation.
this is really a good step towards the growth and security. growth in the sense that flaura and fauna will survive, which is at the point of danger . next is growth ,it will grow more species . it will maintain biodiversity in this region. this is the most essential part of india have myriad of natural medicine plants and home of rare species. thus the countries which are paying attention to maintain it will be a welcome move . A comprehensive and high discussion is needed and would be a amicable conclusion. the programme should be within a time frame and should be followed strictly.such moves should also be taken in the north eastern region by which indian biodiversity would be conserved and we could handover to our next generation...
Protecting the Himalayas should be common concern of the region and the world. Article addressing these issues is appreciable.
Good article to gear up environmental support.
This is really appreciable initiative taken by India & other countries but all of the concerned countries must take the initiative to preserve the Himalayan biodiversity and other areas so that our Himalaya will serve as the one of the most beautiful places and also a source of unity among the related countries.
Well written about Himlayans. Truly we need to pull our sleeves to save its ecosystem. And as suggested above we need China, Pakistan and Afghanistan along to protect as China did a lots of construction work in the region which is serious threat to the system.
Good initiatives at times go quietly without any canvass. This Himalayan meeting is one of them and Editor's note that such an initiative would lead to perfection if China, Afghansthan and Pakistan too join the deliberations. Well said! All these nations are indeed cousins, neighbours and such periodical meetings on 'any issue under the SUN' is bound to improve trust, goodwill and confidence ensuring only best results. Leaders, please continue this positive trend and avoid 'Himalayan Blunders'. Truth alone triumphs !
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