Environmental Change and Development in Ladakh, Indian Trans-Himalaya (Advances in Asian Human-Environmental Research)

The Trans-Himalayan region of Ladakh has witnessed important changes linked to its geo-strategic importance, the rapid development of means of communication with other parts of India, socio-economic transformation processes and the effects of climate change. The sixteen chapters document these key changes, ranging from melting glaciers and extreme weather events to the exponential increase in infrastructure, tourist and military activities. The book examines the impact these changes are having on the environment and on the socio-economics and identity of Ladakhi communities. The book also attempts to evaluate the likely direction of future changes, identify some of the main environmental challenges faced by Ladakh in the 21st century, and provide perspectives for sustainable development of the high mountain region. Foreword Contents Contributors Chapter 1: Introduction References Chapter 2: Glaciers of Central Ladakh: Distribution, Changes and Relevance in the Indian Trans-Himalaya 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Glacier Distribution in Central Ladakh 2.2.1 Historical Reports 2.2.2 Glacier Distribution 2.2.3 Glacial Lakes 2.2.4 Glacier Changes and Glacial Lakes in Selected Watersheds and Ranges of Central and Eastern Ladakh 2.2.4.1 Central Ladakh Range 2.2.4.2 Stok Range 2.2.4.3 Kang Yatze Range 2.2.5 Impacts of Cryosphere Changes on Water Resources and Hazards 2.3 Discussion and Conclusions References Chapter 3: Floods and Debris Flows in Ladakh: Past History and Future Hazards 3.1 Geological Evidence 3.2 Floods and Debris Flows in Recorded History 3.3 Changing Settlement Patterns and Increased Vulnerability 3.4 Recent Climate Patterns and Future Prospects 3.5 Reducing Risk or Incubating Future Disasters? Appendix: Tentative Chronology of Major Recorded Floods and Debris Flows in Ladakh References Archival Sources Published Sources Chapter 4: Impact of 2010 Leh Cloudburst: A Psychological Perspective 4.1 Datasets and Methodology 4.2 Results and Discussion 4.2.1 Mental Disorders Faced by the Patients 4.2.2 Gender of the Psychiatric Patients 4.2.3 Cause of Distress in Psychiatric Patients 4.2.4 Age Group of Psychiatric Patients 4.2.5 Socio-economic Status of Psychiatric Patients 4.2.6 Status of Psychiatric Patients Two Years After the Disaster 4.2.7 Psychosocial Support in Leh District 4.3 Conclusion References Chapter 5: Traditional Mathematical Theories of Rainfall Prediction Through Lotho as Practised in Ladakh 5.1 Methods of Weather Forecasting 5.1.1 Modern Methods 5.1.2 Indigenous Methods 5.2 History of Tibetan Astro-Science 5.3 Brief Introduction of the Tibetan Almanac 5.4 Mathematical Theories of Weather Forecasting 5.5 Conclusion 5.6 Suggestions for Future Research References Chapter 6: The Contribution of Czech Researchers to the Botanical Survey of Ladakh 6.1 General Features 6.2 History of Botanical Exploration 6.3 Flora of Ladakh 6.4 Vegetation 6.5 Life-Forms 6.6 Clonality 6.7 Altitudinal Limit of Vascular Plants 6.8 Climate Change and Vegetation 6.9 Nutrient Status of High-Elevation Plants 6.10 Role of Cushion Plants in High-Alpine Communities 6.11 Growth Dynamics of Myricaria elegans 6.12 Anatomy of High-Mountain Plants 6.13 Microbial Communities and the Soil References Chapter 7: The Adaptations of High-Altitude Mushrooms in the Cold Desert of Ladakh 7.1 Methodology 7.2 Fungal Phenology Patterns 7.3 Substrate Preferences 7.4 Cold Adaptation Strategies 7.5 Conclusion References Chapter 8: A Brief Description of Sacred Trees (lhachang) 8.1 Epilogue References Chapter 9: Environmental Change in Ladakh ́s Changthang: A Local, Regional and Global Phenomenon 9.1 Study Area 9.2 Climate Change, Extreme Weather Events and Impacts 9.3 New Forms of Land Use and Impact 9.3.1 Pasture and Wetland Degradation 9.3.2 Pollution 9.3.3 Wildlife Disturbance 9.4 Waterbird Population Trends as Proxy for Environmental Degradation 9.5 Sustainability of Ladakh Ecosystems: An Attachment to the Past or an Urgent Priority? 9.6 Some Perspectives on Sustainability References Chapter 10: Wildlife Versus Livestock: Conservation Dilemma of the Pastoralists of Changthang 10.1 Pastoralism and Pashmina Production 10.2 The Wildlife Versus the Livestock of the Changthang 10.3 Genesis of the Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary 10.4 The Continuing Crisis 10.5 Opportunities and Risk 10.6 Conclusions and Recommendations References Chapter 11: Harnessing Traditional Knowledge for Wildlife Conservation in the Ladakh Trans-Himalaya 11.1 Study Area 11.2 Livestock Composition 11.3 Wild Ungulates 11.4 Grazing Pattern 11.5 Livestock Production System 11.6 Conservation of Wild Ungulates 11.7 Livestock Management Practices 11.8 Conclusion and Recommendations References Chapter 12: Changing Production, Changing Consumption: Food System Transformation in Ladakh 12.1 Introduction: Food Security in High Mountains 12.2 Food System Transformation in Ladakh 12.2.1 Changing Agrarian Practices and Food Production 12.2.2 Market-Oriented Production and Livelihood Diversification 12.2.3 Access to Food and Subsidies 12.3 Dietary Transitions: Changing Preferences and Consumption Patterns 12.4 Nutrition and Health Outcomes 12.5 Discussion and Conclusion References Chapter 13: Eating Habits In and Around Leh Town 13.1 Methodology 13.2 Findings and Discussion 13.2.1 Traditional Food Culture 13.2.2 Recent External Influence 13.2.3 Fast Food 13.2.4 Cooking Methods and Food Preferences 13.2.5 Health and Dietary Habits 13.2.6 Promotion of Local Food Crops 13.3 Conclusion References Chapter 14: Seeds of Change: A Review of Agricultural Developments in Central Zangskar 14.1 Zangskar ́s Traditional Agricultural Practice 14.2 Agricultural Change: Productivity and Diversification 14.3 Agricultural Production, Livelihoods and Imported Foods 14.4 Environmental Change 14.5 The Harvest Race 14.6 Agricultural Futures 14.7 Postscript, December 2020 References Chapter 15: Influences of Tourism, Indian Administration and Army on Community Identity Processes in Padum (Zangskar) 15.1 Means of Communications with Padum and Zangskar 15.2 Demography of Padum 15.3 Administration in Zangskar 15.4 The Military Presence 15.5 A Seasonal Activity: Tourism 15.6 Evolution as Regards Community Membership 15.7 Conclusion References Chapter 16: ``We Are Puppets in the Hands of Nature ́ ́: Road Construction and the Transformation of People-Environment Relation... 16.1 The Ladakhi Landscape: Approach and Concepts 16.2 Nature Versus Development 16.3 Building the Road, Constructing the Landscape 16.4 Consequences of Roads on Mobility and the Landscape 16.5 Conclusion References Chapter 17: Trade-off Between Continuity and Change in Leh District: An Emergy Evaluation in Time Series: 1999-2011 17.1 Materials and Method 17.1.1 Database 17.1.2 Methodology 17.2 Results and Discussion 17.2.1 Emergy Indices ́ Analysis 17.3 Conclusion References Index