Indian Himalayan Region
- October 28, 2023
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
No Comments
Indian Himalayan Region
Subject :Environment
SECTION: Climate change
Context:
- The Indian government has taken various initiatives regarding overall development in the Indian Himalayan region (IHR).
National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE):
- Launched in 2010 by Department of Science & Technology
- It is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
- Primary objective of the mission is to develop in a time bound manner a sustainable National capacity to continuously assess the health status of the Himalayan Ecosystem and enable policy bodies in their policy-formulation functions and assist States in the Indian Himalayan Region with their implementation of actions selected for sustainable development.
- his would call for suitable learning systems for balancing changes in ecosystem with responsible human actions.
- The mission attempts to address some important issues concerning:
- Himalayan Glaciers and the associated hydrological consequences,
- Biodiversity conservation and protection,
- Wildlife conservation and protection,
- Traditional knowledge societies and their livelihood and
- Planning for sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem.
Indian Himalayas Climate Adaptation Programme:
- The project aims at strengthening the capacities of Indian institutions in climate science, with a specific focus on glaciology and related areas, as well as institutional capacities of Himalayan states in India on adaptation planning, implementation and policy.
- The IHCAP builds on three pillars: (i) enhancing capacities and knowledge of the Himalayan ecosystem through collaboration between Indian and Swiss scientific institutions; (ii) institutional strengthening in the Himalayan state on adaptation planning and implementation; and (iii) linking science and community level action to policies across IHR.
- The programme supports India’s National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE).
- The programme aims to strengthen the information base and institutional capacities, leverage international and local financial resources and develop strategic partnerships towards supporting and facilitating the implementation of the NMSHE and related State Action Plans on Climate Change in the Himalayan States.
Secure Himalaya Project
- Launched in 2017.
- Funded by the Global Environment Facility.
- It supports the government’s efforts for conservation of snow leopard and its habitat by developing and implementing a landscape-based approach for Himalayan ecosystems, and addresses key issues of habitat degradation, threatened livelihoods and illegal trade in wildlife.
- Components:
- Conservation of key biodiversity areas and their effective management to secure long-term ecosystem resilience, habitat connectivity and conservation of snow leopard and other endangered species.
- Securing sustainable community livelihoods and natural resource management in high range Himalayan ecosystems.
- Enhancing enforcement, monitoring and cooperation to reduce wildlife crime and related threats.
- Gender Mainstreaming, Monitoring, evaluation and knowledge management.
- Project Landscapes:
- Changthang, Ladakh Landscape, Jammu & Kashmir
- Lahaul-Pangi and Kinnaur Landscapes,
- Gangotri-Govind and Darma-Byans Landscapes,
- Khangchendzonga-upper Teesta Valley.
Guidelines on the ‘Carrying Capacity’ of the Himalayan region 2022:
- The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has proposed the formation of a 13-member technical committee to evaluate the ‘carrying capacity’ of 13 Himalayan states, including cities and eco-sensitive zones.
- This initiative is essential to ensure sustainable development and preservation of the fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
- Carrying capacity refers to the maximum population size that an ecosystem can sustain without degradation.