Restoring the Ecological Health of the Himalayas- Explained Pointwise

Introduction

Recently, the SC of India has asked the Union Govt to suggest a way forward in restoring the Ecological health of the Himalayas. The Union govt in its affidavit has proposed to set up a committee- under the Chairmanship of Director of the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment– to suggest measures to restore the ecological health of Himalayas. Further, the Union govt has asked the SC to direct the 13 Himalayan states to form a committee at the state level under the chairmanship of the Chief secretary for the same purpose.

How is the Ecological Health of the Himalayas measured?

Ecological health of the Himalayas is measured by the metric of ‘carrying capacity’.
Carrying Capacity- Carrying capacity of a region is the maximum population size that an ecosystem or environment can sustainably support over a specific period without causing significant degradation or harm to its natural resources and overall health.

Carrying Capacity is crucial in understanding and managing the balance between human activities and the preservation of natural ecosystems to ensure long-term sustainability.

When the carrying capacity of the ecosystem is breached, there is deterioration of the ecological health of the ecosystem. We have witnessed several examples of deterioration of ecological health of the Himalayan ecosystem.

What are the Challenges to the ecological health of Himalayas?

Mentioned below are the challenges to the ecological health of Health of the Himalayas-

Climate Change and Glacial Melting- Rising temperatures due to climate change have led to the rapid melting of glaciers triggering Glacial lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) and affected the downstream flow of water. Ex- A/c to National Remote Sensing Centre’s (NRSC) Glacial Lake Atlas of 2023, India is prone to GLOF due to climate Change which can be seen in the Sikkim GLOF 2023.

Tectonic activities in the Himalayas- The Himalayas are young, fold mountains are prone to tectonic activities. This makes the region prone to natural disasters such as landslides, avalanches, and earthquakes.

Soil Erosion and Landslides- Deforestation, construction activities and improper land use practices increase soil erosion and the risk of landslides during heavy rainfall or seismic events. Ex- Recent Landslides in HP during the heavy rainfall.

Unsustainable Tourism- Himalayan mountains are treated only as tourist destinations, ignoring their micro-climate which has led to upset in the natural balance of the Himalayan ecosystem. Ex- Large crowds and jams in Shimla, Manali.

Flawed Development Model- Building of large scale infrastructure projects without taking into account their impact on environment of the Himalayan region. Ex- Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna, a massive infrastructure project has claimed lakhs of trees, acres of forest land and the fertile topsoil of the fragile Himalayas.

Erosion of Cultural Values of Environmental conservation- Traditional Himalayan communities have distinct cultural practices and ways of life closely tied to their natural surroundings. However, Unsustainable urbanisation has been led to the erosion of cultural values of environmental conservation. Ex- Movements like Chipko Movement are no longer observed.

Growth of Invasive species- The growth of Invasive species in the Himalayan natural ecosystem has disrupted the delicate balance of ecosystem and threatened the survival of native species. Ex- Clusters of purple flowers (Cirsium arvense), mats of white clover (Trifolium repens) and small tumbleweed mustard with bright yellow flowers (Sisymbrium loeselii) are the threatening invasive species of the Himalayas.

Improper Waste Management- The slopes of Himalayan mountains have been dumped with garbage which has affected the natural flora and fauna balance of the Himalayan ecosystem.

Read More- Forum IAS

What is the importance of Himalayan Ecosystem?

Water Security- Abundant rainfall, vast snow-fields and large glaciers in Himalayas are the feeding grounds of the mighty rivers of India like Ganga, Brahmaputra. This ensures water security in the Northern India.

Energy Security- Almost 33% of the country’s thermal electricity and 52% of its hydro power is dependent on river waters originating in the Himalayas.

Influence on Indian Climate- By virtue of their high altitude, length and direction, the Himalayas help in the sustenance of Indian monsoon. They also prevent the cold continental air masses of Central Asia from entering into India. It helps to maintain an ambient temperature in the Indian subcontinent which favours the flourishing of civilisation.

Forest Wealth- The Himalayan forests provide fuel wood and a large variety of raw materials for forest based industries. Ex- Medicinal plant based pharmaceutical industry.

Cultural and Spiritual Significance- The Himalayas are regarded as a sacred and spiritual centre by numerous cultures and religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism.

Biodiversity Hotspot- The Himalayan region is recognized as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots and contributes to global ecological balance. Ex- Eastern Himalayan Biodiversity hotspot.

What are the government initiatives for the restoration of the Himalayan Ecosystem?

Government has taken the following initiatives for the restoration of the Himalayan Ecosystem.

National Mission on Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem- It was launched in 2010 and covers 11 states (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, all northeast states and West Bengal) and 2 UTs (J&K and Ladakh). It is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).

SECURE Himalaya Project- It is a part of “Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development” (Global Wildlife Program) funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). It promotes sustainable management of alpine pastures and forests in the high range Himalayan ecosystems.

Mishra Committee Report 1976- The committee recommended placing restrictions on heavy construction work, blasting and felling of trees in the Himalayan region.

What Should be the Way forward?

The expert committee should not become a bureaucratic or technical group- The proposed committee of the Union Govt must include adequate citizen representation from panchayats and other urban local bodies (atleast one-third).

Separate EIA for Himalayan Ecosystem- Policymakers should explore a separate Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the infrastructure projects in the Himalayan region.

Sustainable Infrastructure Projects- The building design of towns associated with the Himalayan region must reflect the local ecosystem while incorporating seismic fragility and aesthetics. Sustainable hydropower projects must be designed and the dams must be re-engineered in the Himalayan ecosystem.

Sustainable Tourism- Appropriate mechanisms should be devised to help achieve tourism growth in the landscape in a sustainable manner having minimal impact on biodiversity.

Vigilance and Regular Patrolling- Protected areas in Himalayan region like Hemis National Park and Karakoram Sanctuary in Ladakh require vigilance and regular patrolling to reduce unwanted wildlife-tourist interaction as well as habitat destruction.

International Collaboration- Himalayan countries need to build an international network to monitor risks such as those from glacial lakes and give early warning of hazards like GLOFs.

Implementation of geo-technical solutions for mitigation of GLOFs-The geo-technical solutions such as the excavation of channels for regulated discharge, drainage using pipes and pumps, spillway construction and setting up small catchment dams to cut the speed of outflow must be implemented.

Multi-Disciplinary Approach- A multi-disciplinary approach which involves inputs from all scientific agencies like the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC), Central Water Commission (CWC) and the NDRF must be implemented.