Restoring the ecological health of the Himalayas

Context: The Supreme Court of India has requested the government to propose a solution for restoring the ecological well-being of the Himalayas. 

Details:

• The damage to the environment in the Himalayan states of Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Sikkim has sparked a discussion on the capacity of these regions to sustain development. 
• The Supreme Court of India has requested the government to propose a solution for determining the carrying capacity of the Indian Himalayan Region, including its urban areas.
• The government has suggested the creation of a committee, led by the Director of the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, to recommend measures for this restoration. 
• Additionally, the government has asked the Supreme Court to instruct the 13 Himalayan states to establish state-level committees, chaired by the Chief Secretary, to address the same issue.

What difficulties does the Himalayas face when it comes to maintaining ecological health?

The ecological health of the Himalayas is being challenged by various factors. 

• These include climate change and the melting of glaciers, which results in floods and disrupts the flow of water downstream.
• The young nature of the Himalayas makes them prone to tectonic activities, such as landslides, avalanches, and earthquakes.
• Soil erosion and landslides are also a concern, caused by deforestation, construction activities, and improper land use practices. 
• Unsustainable tourism treats the Himalayas solely as tourist destinations, upsetting the natural balance of the ecosystem. 
• Flawed development models prioritise large-scale infrastructure projects without considering their environmental impact. 
• The erosion of cultural values of environmental conservation has occurred due to unsustainable urbanisation. 
• The growth of invasive species in the Himalayas has disrupted the delicate ecosystem balance and threatens native species. 
• Improper waste management has also affected the natural balance of the Himalayan ecosystem.

Importance of Himalayan Ecosystem:

• The Himalayas receive plenty of rainfall and have extensive snow-fields and glaciers, which provide water to important rivers like the Ganga and Brahmaputra. This guarantees a stable water supply in Northern India.
• Around one-third of the thermal electricity and over half of the hydro power in the country rely on rivers that originate in the Himalayas. 
• The Himalayas play a crucial role in sustaining the Indian monsoon and preventing cold air masses from Central Asia from entering India. This helps maintain a favourable temperature for civilization to thrive in the Indian subcontinent.
• The forests in the Himalayas offer fuel wood and a wide range of resources for industries like pharmaceuticals. 
• The Himalayas are considered sacred by many religions, and they are also known for their rich biodiversity which helps maintain ecological balance globally. For example, the Eastern Himalayas are a hotspot for biodiversity.

Government initiatives to restore the Himalayan ecosystem:

• The National Mission on Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem was initiated in 2010 and includes 11 states and 2 union territories in India. It is part of the National Action Plan on Climate Change, consisting of eight missions.
• The SECURE Himalaya Project is funded by the Global Environment Facility and is part of the Global Partnership on Wildlife Conservation and Crime Prevention for Sustainable Development. Its goal is to encourage sustainable management of alpine pastures and forests in the high range Himalayan ecosystems.
• The Mishra Committee Report of 1976 suggested implementing limitations on activities such as heavy construction, blasting, and tree cutting in the Himalayan area.

What methods are used to measure the ecological health of the Himalayas?

• The ecological health of the Himalayas is evaluated using the concept of carrying capacity, which refers to the maximum number of individuals that an environment can support without causing harm to its natural resources. 
• Understanding and managing carrying capacity is essential for maintaining a balance between human activities and preserving the ecosystem’s long-term sustainability. 
• When the carrying capacity is exceeded, it leads to the degradation of the Himalayan ecosystem’s health, which has been observed in various instances.

Future Prospective:

The Union Govt’s proposed committee should include citizen representation, conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment for infrastructure projects in the Himalayan region, design towns with local ecosystem considerations, and re-engineer dams.

Sustainable tourism growth, vigilance in protected areas, and the creation of an international network to monitor risks are also crucial.

Source:TH

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