Fragility of Himalayan Ecosystem

Source – This post on Fragility of Himalayan Ecosystem has been created based on the article “A battle to save Ladakh, and all of humanity” published in “The Hindu” on 11 April 2024.

UPSC Syllabus-GS Paper-3– Conservation, Environmental Pollution and Degradation, Environmental Impact Assessment.

Context– Ramon Magsaysay award winner and climate activist Sonam Wangchuk has recently announced 21-day climate fast to highlight the larger issue of the fragility of the Himalayan ecosystem.
Ladakh comprises 97% indigenous tribes and tribes depend on farming and animal rearing for a livelihood. Apart from border issues, it also faces the damaging effects of climate change through floods, drought, landslides, greenhouse gases, and other pollutants.

What are some of the recent disasters in the Himalayan region?

There have been several disasters in the Himalayan region since 2010 causing loss of lives and livelihoods.
For ex-

A) In 2013, a cloudburst in the upper reaches of the Himalayas led to flash floods at Kedarnath that claimed 6,000 lives
B) In January 2023, disaster struck Joshi math, when water gushed down a lower slope of the mountain, submerging parts of the town.

C) In November 2023, 41 workers were trapped in the collapsed Silkyara tunnel project in the Himalaya.

Read more- Problems of plastic waste in Himalayan states

What are the reasons behind these tragic events?

1) Infrastructure boom– Since Ladakh became a Union Territory, many big infrastructure projects have been launched. For ex- the Zojila tunnel (14.15 km long), the Kargil-Zanskar National Highway (230 km long) etc. Incidentally, all these areas are vulnerable to climate change-related disasters.

2) Disregard for scientific warning– Despite continued warning from geologists and ecologists, Uttarakhand, where all these tragedies occurred, has started many   infrastructure projects. Further, an expert committee constituted by the Supreme Court has suggested limiting the number of pilgrims visiting the Char Dam Himalayan shrines. However, pilgrim numbers have only increased every year.

3) Lack of due diligence- There are no proper scientific risk assessment, safety measures and geological and seismic analysis before starting infrastructural projects.

4) Role of NMSHE– National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) was started with the objective to develop a capacity to scientifically assess the vulnerability of the Himalayan region to climate change and continuously assess the health status of the Himalayan ecosystem. However, it could not fulfill its objective effectively.

Pursuit of development should not upset the fragile balance in the Himalayan ecosystem and its biodiversity.

Question for practice

Highlight some of the recent tragic events in Himalayan ecosystem. What are the reasons for it?