The Himalayas need an inclusive approach and cannot be dealt with merely few conservation drives. The locals would be forced to abandon the Himalayas if effective measures are not taken now to resolve the problems being faced by the community, said Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO) founder Anil Joshi. He was addressing the media here regarding the fifth Himalaya Day slated to be commemorated on September 9.
According to Joshi, “The Himalayan region is predominantly known for its culture and community so focusing on these two issues is also important to give proper direction to conservation efforts. It is simple to understand that any important initiative to conserve the Himalayas cannot be executed without its people. Community is the most important stakeholder in the Himalayas as it shapes the environment here. Any plan to restore the Himalayan region cannot be undertaken successfully without the participation of the local community,” he stressed.
Joshi said that at the local level, imbalanced development is among the major factors responsible for migration of the mountain folk to the towns and plains. Additionally, the apathy shown by the authorities towards the locals and the spate of disasters taking place in the mountainous regions has shaken the confidence of the public. If effective measures are not taken without delay, the migration of people from the mountainous will assume alarming proportions, he warned.
“In the whole debate of Himalaya’s health, the issue of local community remains neglected. We have seen in the past too that most of the policies and plans overlook the role of the community and its perspective. This is one of the major reasons for the community losing sense of belonging towards the Himalayas and its resources. Poor and inappropriate livelihood opportunities have left them without choice. They either have to lead a hand to mouth existence or migrate to towns in the plains for employment.
The Himalayas could become uninhabited in the future if effective measures are not taken to resolve this problem. Efforts to save the Himalayas cannot be effective if the local community loses interest in its habitat. It is therefore vital to include the views and priorities of the community in the first place. local resource based economy needs to be given a fresh boost so that ecological and economical sustainability can be achieved practically. The Himalaya Day celebrations this year will focus on the local community,” he added.