Transhumance

Subject: Geography /Art and culture

Context: Ladakh’s nomads have been forced to migrate due to climate change and other reasons with impact on future of pashmina wool.

Concept:

Pashmina is considered the finest craftsmanship in the world which transforms the exceptionally warm and delicate Cashmere threads to opulent accessories.
The fleece of Changthangi Goat is known as Pashm. This goat is exotic and is only found there, 15000 feet above sea level in Ladakh – Jammu and Kashmir, making the art of Pashmina even rarer and revered all over the world.
Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has published an Indian Standard for identification last year for marking and labelling of Pashmina products to certify its purity

About Pashmina Goat

It is a breed of goat indigenous to the high-altitude regions of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, also found in Nepal, Tibet and Central Asia
They are raised for ultra-fine cashmere wool, known as Pashmina once woven.
These goats are generally domesticated and reared by nomadic communities called the Changpa in the Changthang region of Greater Ladakh.

Pashmina goats and climate change

Pashmina wools of such quality needs exceptionally warm, light and fine fibre, the animals need the particular climatic conditions of the Changpa’s homeland.
Northern India is at the forefront of the ravages of climate change, suffering more droughts, floods and cyclones.
Social, cultural and environmental impacts such as the loss of culture, loss of language, loss of territory and loss of biodiversity due to climate change is leading to migration of these nomads.

About Transhumance

Transhumance is a form of pastoralism or nomadism organized around the migration of livestock between mountain pastures in warm seasons and lower altitudes the rest of the year.
Most people who practice transhumance also practice some form of crop cultivation and some kind of permanent settlement seasonally.
These are practiced mostly in mountains, highlands, or other areas that are too cold to be inhabited and utilized for grazing except in summer.