Towards Sustainable Livelihoods And Ecosystems In Mountain Regions

Sustainable livelihoods and ecosystems are far-reaching and burning issues in the wake of high growth of population, low production and per ha yield of crops and depletion of biodiversity resources. Mountainous regions of the world are facing the menace of poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. Further, tremendous growth in population and slow pace of development have together forced most of the population to live below poverty line. Traditionally depending upon cultivating subsistence crops for food requirement, the people living in mountainous region are unable to produce sufficient food grains to run their livelihood smoothly. The Himalayas is one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and has an abundance of natural resources: land, water and forest – life sustaining factors. The geo-environmental conditions – climate and landscape further enhance the possibility of sustainable livelihoods through eco-tourism, harnessing water resources and utilizing forests and their products sustainably. Diversifying agricultural practices through cultivating cash and cereal crops and enhancing livelihood options through extensive use of timber and non-timber based forestry products can help to eradicate poverty and provide food security. This book consists of an introduction and nine chapters, covering geo-environmental setting, socio-economy and population profile, sustainable livelihoods: diversification and enhancement, livelihood analysis, development of tourism and hydroelectricity, case studies, mountain ecosystems, sustainable mountain development and also presents a conclusion.

This contributed volume focuses on the sustainability of mountain ecosystems in the face of a changing climate. Its chapters highlight climate change impacts on the livelihoods of the people and communities that live in mountains and ways that these effects can be mitigated through adaptive measures. The chapters herein address a gamut of topics from use of remote sensing tools to assess changing ecosystems, disaster management in mountains, policymaking between institutions, and more. This book is suitable for students (undergraduate and postgraduates) of ecology and environmental studies/sciences, mountainous agriculture, mountain forestry, teachers, researchers, climate change scientists in academic and research institutions. It will also be useful to environmental management agencies particularly working towards sustainable development in mountainous regions, disaster management authorities, government agencies and policy makers.

Sustainable development and sustainability—the two interchangeable used words—are significantly attracting the world academia to analyze emerging patterns of development. The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), followed by Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), have been framed by the United Nations, suggesting the world to formulate the relevant developmental policies to achieve a sustainable future. Constraints in Achieving Sustainability of India gives an in-depth discussion on major issues and challenges India is facing towards realization of the sustainable development. Purpose of the book is to develop, contribute, and disseminate scientific knowledge pertaining to the issues related to sustainable development. The chapters are developed so that the contents can facilitate comprehension of the major constraints in achieving sustainability including but not limited to environmental, social, economic, and governance-related issues from local, regional, to national level. Resource management, climate change, agriculture, population, education, women, poverty, infrastructure, crime, corruption, governance, are the other relevant topics that have been both identified and suitably discussed. Constraints in Achieving Sustainability of India can be utilized as a guiding tool for realizing sustainability in development, especially, in the Indian context. The book covers environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability in Indian context with ample case studies from local communities to highlight impact of various dimensions. Table of Contents: Preface Contributors 1. Introduction and Overview 2. Sustainable Development: concept, components and history 3. Environment, Culture, and Sustainable Development: a historical perspective 4. Management and Rural Livelihood Sustainability in High Mountain Villages of Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand 5. Evaluating the Role of Agro-forestry in Combating and Adapting to Impacts of Climate Change in the West Sikkim District, Sikkim 6. Water Resource Issues and its Sustainable Management in Urban Villages of South Delhi 7. Population Dynamics and Sustainability Issues in the Indian Himalayan Region 8. Gendered Occupations or Occupational Genders: a study of Kolkata metropolis 9. Urban Rurality, In-betweenness of Place and Urban Planning Process of Khora Colony, Uttar Pradesh 10. Critical Role of Higher Education Institutions in Achieving Sustainable Development in India 11. Perspectives on Public Health Policy and Sustainable Development Goals in India 12. Sway of Indian Cinema in Diffusing Environmental Sentience 13. Poverty Lines and Poor in India: a trend analysis from 1983-84 to 2004-05 14. Sanitation Workers and Associated Problems for the Sustainability of Religious Events: a case study of Magh Mela, Prayagraj 15. Assessment of Basic Infrastructure Development and Associated Issues in India 16. Assessing Urban Basic Services, Crime and Well-being in Low-income Housing of Shiv Vihar, JJ Colony, Delhi and Way to Sustainability 17. Corruption in India and Sustainable Development Goals: mapping the role of law and good governance 18. Principles and Challenges of Good Governance in Achieving Sustainability of India Index About the Editors

This book explores the relationships between natural resources management, sustainable livelihoods, and integrated watershed management in the context of the mountainous region, especially in the northeastern region of India. The book also sheds light on the current state of regional issues, identifies gaps in the existing practices and proposes future policies for effective conservation and sustainable development. The environmental degradation in the northeastern region of India is basically attributed to the increasing biotic pressure on the fragile ecosystems in the absence of suitable investments and proper management practices to enhance and conserve the natural resources. Population growth and poverty on the one hand and the pressure of rising demand from wealth and consumerism on the other hand, have been exerting powerful pressure on the ecosystems. Natural resources planning and management and sustainable livelihoods through integrated watershed management is not just a technical challenge; it is also a social challenge. The book is a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, practitioners and stakeholders involved in natural resource management, sustainable development and watershed management in the Himalayan region.

This publication presents a collection of case studies by Mountain Partnership (MP) members from around the world, highlighting experiences of agroecological mountain farming systems. It aims to increase attention toward agroecological principles and approaches and showcase their potential. The MP, the only United Nations global voluntary alliance dedicated to sustainable mountain development, is fully committed to promoting actions that can improve the resilience of mountain people and environments. In mountains, the practice of agroecology and the conservation of agrobiodiversity results in more resilient agricultural and food systems. Sustainable mountain farming systems can drive progress towards reducing rural poverty, contributing to zero hunger, and ensuring the resilience of mountain communities while maintaining the provision of global ecosystem services, especially those related to water. Food security in mountains is a matter of concern. Through adequate and coordinated pro-mountain policies, investments, capacity development, services, and infrastructures, as well as efforts to provide smallholders and family farmers with access to innovation, mountain farming systems have the potential to become pathways for change. In doing so, they can provide valuable support and impetus to the transition to sustainable food systems, contributing to revitalizing rural areas and lifting mountain peoples out of poverty and hunger, while protecting fragile mountain environments for the future.

This book presents a socio-economic and livelihood analysis of agriculturally-dependent communities of Mizoram, the eastern extension of the Himalaya, using the sustainable livelihood approach. Such an approach to poverty reduction is inevitable, particularly, in areas where livelihoods depend largely on biomass-based agriculture and livestock production. Mizoram possesses abundant natural resources – land, water and forest – but those resources are largely unused. The region suffers from chronic poverty and malnutrition, and climate change has further influenced livelihood patterns. This work studies all the aspects of natural potentials and livelihood status in Mizoram. It also discusses the major driving forces that influence livelihood patterns. Based on a detailed analysis of empirical data, several policy measures are suggested to cope with chronic poverty and malnutrition. The book is therefore highly useful for all stakeholders; students, researchers, academicians, policy makers and politicians involved in rural/community development.

Mountain areas cover almost one quarter of the earth's land surface, with a quarter of the global population living on them or very close by, and they are sources of water, food, timber, minerals and other natural resources. They provide many opportunities for recreation, as well as being centres of biological and cultural diversity and religious significance. Unfortunately, mountain environments and populations are also particularly threatened by climate change and political conflicts, and their inhabitants include many of the poorest and most vulnerable in the world. This publication includes a number of papers which explore a range of sustainable development challenges for mountain regions.