WWF-India’s Initiative for Conservation Himalayan High Altitude Wetlands

WWF-India’s Initiative for Conservation Himalayan High Altitude Wetlands
Himalayan high altitude wetlands (3000 m asl) are crucial for biodiversity and sustainable economic growth not only locally but also at the river basin and regional levels. One of the most unique and most productive ecosystems in the western Himalaya is high altitude wetlands. In the lap of lofty snow-clad mountains of Himachal Pradesh, there are myriad lakes with cool and serene water, which mirror the immense beauty of this paradise on the earth. In the state there are very few natural wetlands which have developed by tectonic movements, glacial activities and changing river courses. Besides these, a few wetlands have developed by impounding large volume of river water. These wetlands are important for the survival of wildlife in the region and for the mountain communities who directly or indirectly deepened upon these wetlands for their livelihoods. These wetlands are also important for food production, environmental protection, soil and water conservation, flood management, wildlife conservation, recreation, aesthetic setting. Many lakes in the state attract large number of tourists, pilgrims. These wetlands are also have large body of avian fauna especially during summer months. These lakes are part of the cultural ethos of the local inhabitants and in many places, religious sanctity is given to them. The surrounding area of wetlands are repository Of flora, especially medicinal herbs.
Yet to despite their importance, they are under increasing threats from climate change, tourist and unsustainable exploitation for the wetlands themselves and also of the catchments draining into them. At present in Himachal Pradesh most of these high altitude wetlands are under tremendous pressure as a result of increasing population and unregulated development activities. Some of these wetlands are also being degraded as a result of unplanned and unregulated tourism activities. Some wetlands are also degraded by over grazing pressure and human interference. Due to religious importance some of wetlands in Himachal Pradesh like Manimahesh is degraded by pilgrims by throwing worship material in the sacred lake. These lakes are also deteriorating by the local people. It is customary to take holy dip in the lake and some time people leave their clothes in the lake. Other major threats and issues on these high altitude wetlands are high pressure of pilgrims, tourists, trekkers and their unmanaged activities, unscientific extraction of medicinal plants around wetlands, over grazing surrounding the catchment of wetlands, sanitation, dwindling size and diminishing life span of wetlands, facing siltation problems (e.g. Chandartal, Dasher and Dal lake), receding glacial and fluctuations in temperature, unawareness of the wetlands importance, erosion of the surrounding catchments denuded due to deforestation, grazing etc., pose extremely serious threats of siltation in wetlands, lack of local database on wetlands, wildlife, natural resources, endangered rare and vulnerable species, lack of wetlands conservation groups and lack of coordination between different stakeholders. The threats from unregulated tourism is also more serious for high altitude wetlands as peak period of tourism in these area is also the peak period of biological activities.
Keeping in view the importance of high altitude wetlands WWF-India initiated a conservation programme “Saving Wetlands Sky-High! A high altitude wetlands conservation programme in the Hindu Kush Karakorum Himalaya”. Himachal Pradesh is one of the project site of this programme. Initiatives are taken by WWF-India to conserve and manage these High altitude wetlands through scientific and participatory approach for human well beings.
WWF-India, Field Office, Shimla after starting this project in June, 2008 have first time documented in the state more than 20 high altitude wetlands (above 3000 m) in Chamba, Kullu Lahaul-Spiti, Shimla and Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh. To involve all the stakeholder in this conservation programme WWF have organised various environmental awareness trainings and workshops for wetlands conservation through out the Himachal Pradesh. Among different stakeholders are students, teachers, PRIs, NGOs, CBOs, tour operators, tourist guide, forest field staff, researchers, Mahila Mandal and Indian Army.

EARTH HOUR 2010

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.

In March 2009, hundreds of millions of people took part in the third Earth Hour. Over 4000 cities in 88 countries officially switched off to pledge their support for the planet, making Earth Hour 2009 the world’s largest global climate change initiative.Earth Hour 2010 takes place on Saturday 27 March at 8.30pm (local time) and is a global call to action to every individual, every business and every community throughout the world. It is a call to stand up, to take responsibility, to get involved and lead the way towards a sustainable future. Iconic buildings and landmarks from Europe to Asia to the Americas will stand in darkness. People across the world from all walks of life will turn off their lights and join together in celebration and contemplation of the one thing we all have in common – our planet. So sign up now and let’s make 2010 the biggest Earth Hour yet!

Bharmour A Historical Town

Bharmour is a small village and the Headquarters of Bharmour Tehsil in district Chamba of Himachal Pradesh. This had once the distinction of being the seat of government of the old sovereign state of Brahmpura for 350 years from the 7th century. Then the capital was shifted to the newly laid out town of Chamba which later came to be called Chamba. Bharmour is inhabited by Gaddis a Himalayan tribal community has semi-pastoral, semi-agricultural. Now more than 50% of the Gaddis are migrated and settled in district Kangra.

Himalayan Women a source of inspiration

Himalayan Women are very hard working. They start their day early in the morning and start their house and field work. During day time they are busy in grazing their livestock. In the pictures a lady is busy in weaving wool manually by traditional method. This tradition is also going in the Kullu, Lahaul and Kinnaur valley. They weave shawl as wear by the lady in the Photo. Happy Women Day to the all Himalayan Women, Who have not a knowledge about the celebration of women day. Mostly this day is celebrated in the towns and city-------------------Himalayan Women a source of inspiration --------------------------

Gaddis: A social community for environmental management and resource conservation in the Himalaya

The people living in the mountains of Himachal Pradesh are primarily agriculturists and their secondary occupation is rearing of sheep and goats. The people are marginal farmers as the land holdings are small. Agriculture is done on terraced fields and is totally dependant on rainfall. The production from the fields is enough to meet their own demand. The rearing of cattle was thus the other source of food and dairy. The shepherd community in the Pradesh is called as Gaddi. The Gaddies are the nomadic tribes who rear cattle and migrate with the flocks to alpine pastures in the summers and to the low lying areas of the Shiwaliks in the winter for grazing their cattle. The gaddies are the tribals who reside mainly in the districts of Kinnaur and Tehsils of Bharmaur and Pangi of the Chamba district.
Gaddis are the tribes residing in the Bharmour tehsil of district Chamba in Himachal Pradesh of northwestern Himalaya. The old name of Bharmour was Brahmpura which was founded by King Meru Barman and made Brahmpura the capital of Chamba state. The Gaddis are ‘semi nomadic’, ‘semi pastoral’ and ‘semi agricultural’. Some of the Gaddis are also found in the lap of Dhauladhar range of Kangra district. The word “Gaddis” seems has been derived from the word “Gadar” a Hindi term for shepherd and ewe; or form ‘Gahar’. Gather is an alpine pastures grazed in spring. Gaddi is also described as Kailash. Kailash is considered as “Gaddi” connoting seat or throne of their God, Lord Shiva. Those who pray the “Gaddi” of lord Shiva were known as Gaddis. Lord Shiva is the principal God of Gaddis. The entire area is called Gather where Gaddis are inhabited and Bharmour is called the abode of Gaddis and the entire Tehsil is named as Gather or Gaudier region.
Gaddis are simple, strong and honest. They are hard working and keep concern with their job only. Sheep rearing is the main occupation of the Gaddis. Gaddis live close to the nature and spend most of their time living under the open sky. Environment is their best friend for them because they have spent most of the time with their animal in the open sky. They are familiar with the environment and know the worth to them and their animals. The source of food and shelter to them and their animals is these pastures. They have conserved the environment of these pastures for centuries. In the present days there were very few Gaddis in the region who maintain their traditional occupation and culture because of the developmental pressures. They now follow the roads and seldom cross the passes from one valley to the other valleys which were the traditional silk routes of trade as well. Gaddis are also engaged in horticulture and other tertiary sector for there living and most of the Gaddis are now migrated and settled in the lower hills of Kangra and Chamba district due to the lack of facilities in the Bharmour.
‘Chula’ and ‘Dora’ are their popular dress and are worn on the most of the festivals and fair. Now most of Gaddis are wearing modern dresses and now they are not recognised with their dresses, now very few people those who are in old age wear traditional dresses in some area of Bharmour. ‘Dora’ is most important dress of Gaddis men, women and children. The maximum length of ‘Dora’ of adult male is 60 meter, the adult female wear Dora about 50 meter whereas Dora worn by children range from 10-50 meter. Both cap and turban were used by male to cover head. They have a strong belief that keeping head and trunk warm keeps one away from any disease. The chola is also made up of crude wool with the hair of the cattle which not only makes it warm but also water proof. They stick ‘Kali’ which is a plume of Monal or Tragopan on cap and keep flowers on their turban especially during marriage and fair. But in present time these dresses were seen occasionally in fair when people were gathered to dance.
Gaddis played a very important role for the management and conservation of the surrounding environment. All festivals like Bashikhi or Bisu, Minjar, Sair, Patrora and Manimahesh Yatra, Lohri, Holi, Janamshatmi and Dushera are directly or indirectly linked with the environmental management and conservation. Gaddi community are mainly depending upon the natural resources like forest, minor forest produce, water sources and pastures for their livelihood. These resources formed the part of common resources of the people and were managed and utilised by the Gaddis or village communities. Their local deities were placed near the water bodies and in the forest. Gaddis have their religious faith and respect to the natural sources. They ensured to keep the water bodies clean and trees were not allowed to cut near the villages or around the temples.