MainDBDraft: Protecting the Himalayan icon of rangeland through transboundary cooperation
Title:
Protecting the Himalayan icon of rangeland through transboundary cooperation
Geographic region:
Asia
Target group:
Academics and scientists; Communities; Policy makers; Practitioners; Private sector
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Date of submission:
11/01/2021
Further information:
NWPPartner:
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development
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Geographic scope:
Local; Subregional
Adaptation element:
Institutional arrangements; Socio-economic data and information; Stakeholder involvement
Adaptation sector/theme:
Biodiversity; Ecosystems
Climate hazard:
Land and forest degradation; Loss of biodiversity
Implementing partners:
Ministry of Forest and Agriculture, Royal Government of Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan Govind Ballab Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Almora, India Ministry of Forest and Environment, Government of Nepal, Kathmandu, Nepal International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, Kathmandu, Nepal ICIMOD, GPO Box 3226, Kathmandu, Nepal/ info@icimod.org https://www.icimod.org/initiative/klcdi/ Research Centre for Applied Sciences and Technology, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Civil society
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Country:
Kangchenjunga Landscape – Eastern Nepal, Sikkim and North Bengal of India and Western Bhutan
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The KLCDI, being a transboundary programme, went through a progressive evolutionary pathways of rigorous interdisciplinary research, participatory planning across scales from local to global, multistakeholder consultation, as well as regional commitment for conservation and development outcomes by the participating countries. Over a period of three years (2012-2015), three countries agreed to cooperate for regional initiative and initiated the feasibility assessment process and consolidated in a Conservation and Development Strategy and Regional Cooperation Framework (RCF) that was agreed upon for implementing the initiative. Yak was identified as one of the key components for regional cooperation. In 2016 with the endorsement of RCF by the respective governments, implementation phase initiated with five year cycle letter of agreements between ICIMOD and the three Governments – Bhutan, India and Nepal. Pilot areas were identified and implementation plans for each pilot areas were developed during 2016 and 2017. During the implementation phase, few strategic focus were prioritized for sustaining the programme. First, the respective Government agencies were sensitize on the state and urgency for interventions on Yak and associated rangelands and age old culture. This was followed facilitating interactive dialogues among the policy makers, herders and government departments. Some of the lessons were bringing all stakeholders on board right from day one of the inception. Rigorous planning and understanding the need based issues, challenges and opportunities. It was also important to think in an integrated manner at landscape level and identify common issues that need regional cooperation for both biodiversity and human wellbeing. The limitations are the young generation being less interested in Yak herding, products are not projected as organic and healthy, and due to less populated area the Government priority is comparatively less. ICIMOD has made a long term programme to revive this culture through strengthening network, technology transfer and cross learning opportunity along with better economic opportunities.
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Technical document/report
Description:
The Kangchenjunga Landscape, a transboundary initiative conceived in 2012 by Bhutan, Nepal and India to protect the Mount Kangchenjunga – the world’s third highest mountains, identified a number of challenges and opportunities to rationalize regional cooperation. Among the potentials areas of cooperation, Yak and associated rangelands and an age old culture linked to this lifestyle was identified as one of the focused interventions areas. The Kangchenjunga Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KLCDI), a long term programme with 20 year vison document facilitated by International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), an Inter-Government regional knowledge and enabling centre based in Kathmandu, Nepal, is investing in redefining the opportunities that can provide support to marginalized rural communities. Yak (Poephagus gruniens) is the cornerstone of life in high mountain areas. By providing milk, fibre, meat, transport, fuel, and labour for agriculture and tourism, yak form a foundation on which pastoralists are able to support themselves in these hostile environments. The culture and economy around yak rearing have connected people in adjacent parts of Bhutan, India, and Nepal for centuries. The transboundary movement of herders among the highlands of the three countries is an age-old practice important for the prosperity of herding communities and the vitality of their herds. However, the evolving geopolitics, rapid development and climate change have affected pastoral practices by isolating herders and impacting traditional pastures. As a result, the productivity and populations of yak are declining. With limited market opportunities, the younger generation has little interest in pursuing a way of life that involves such hardship. The programme has been focusing on reviving vanishing culture through rangeland management for better productivity of fodders, organizing festivals for awareness, genetic exchange of yak for population viability, diversifying yak based products and market linkage and linking Yak and Yak herding community with tourism for better income.
Outcome:
As the main objectives of the intervention was part of the larger landscape goal to sustain ecosystem services and enhance resilience through conservation of biodiversity and development interventions, Yak has been one of the good success indicators. The programme was able to enhance rangeland productivity through introduction of quality fodder plants in Bhutan which was then taken at national level due to promising result. The interventions on awareness through festivals were also effective to as so far three festivals in Nepal, two in Bhutan have been organized and the first one in Sikkim has been initiated but delayed due to COVID 19. The programme has also been able to bring key stakeholders from all eight countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya and provided platform for science, policy and practices dialogue. In addition, strengthening of community institutions in Sikkim and formation of national and regional networks for exchange of knowledge and good practices have been initiated. One of the major achievement is the exchange of Yak bull from Bhutan to Nepal and India (Sikkim) to revive the genetic exchange. As an evaluation purpose, three major pillars of sustainability - social, ecological and economic dimensions wee address by putting effort on social security of these marginalized community emphasizing on presentation of rich tradition and culture; conservation interventions and rangeland heath for Yak and its habitat and finally linking it with product diversification and market for economic security. These interventions are increasingly seen as resilience building process for community and the rangeland contributing to social-ecological resilience.
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Case study
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Processed
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Created at 11/01/2021 15:22 by
Last modified at 11/01/2021 15:25 by crmmocservices
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