This book provides a unique and comprehensive assessment of the changes that have been taking place in the Himalayas. It describes in detail all the aspects of change, both natural and cultural, along with their implications, and suggests policy measures to help mitigate them. The book is divided into two major sections on natural changes and cultural changes and 11 chapters: an introduction, six addressing changes that concern natural aspects, and four exploring cultural changes and presenting the book's conclusions. The content is based on a study conducted using a participatory observation/empirical method. Time series data from secondary sources is also included, helping to analyze the various changes. The findings are presented in the form of color graphs, models, maps, photographs, and tables. ****

The book offers a valuable resource for policymakers, and will prove equally useful for all other stakeholders, e.g. researchers, students and development agents.

Presents an empirical and observational study of environmental and cultural change in the Himalayas Provides detailed descriptions of the recent changes, addressing both natural and cultural aspects Features a wealth of illustrated color maps, graphs, models and tables

Autorentext
Vishwambhar Prasad Sati (b. 1966), D.Litt. and Ph.D., a Senior Professor of Geography and Resource Management, is currently working at the Mizoram University (A Central University), Aizawl, India. With a teaching career of about three decades, he has served in several higher education institutions within and outside India, some of them being 'Eritrea Institute of Technology', Asmara, Eritrea (NE Africa), 'Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment', Chengdu, China, 'Madhya Pradesh Higher Education', and 'HNB Garhwal University', Srinagar Garhwal. In the same field, he has deeply been involved in research, and has worked as a Visiting Professor and Visiting Scholar in the world's various renowned research and academic institutions, including 'The World Academy of Sciences', 'Chinese Academy of Sciences', 'Indian National Science Academy', 'Indian Council of Social Science Research', and 'Indian Institute of Advanced Studies'. Currently, he is a Senior Global Fellow of the Grassroots Institute, Canada. Besides, he has travelled widely - 40 countries and all over India. He has impactful expertise in the fields of Natural Resource Management, Environment-Development Interface, Climate Change, Rural Livelihoods, Disaster-Related issues, and Culture of the Himalayan region. He has developed several models and action plans for environmental conservation and economic development of the fragile Himalayan ecosystems/landscapes. More than a dozen of national individual projects and projects with international collaboration have been conducted by him. With more than 180 research papers and articles, and about three dozen books published, his academic contribution is well-documented at national and international levels.

Inhalt

Introduction.- Natural Aspects.- Chapter 1.- Geography and Geology.- Chapter 2.- The Climate of the Uttarakhand Himalaya.- Chapter 3.- Glaciers of the Uttarakhand Himalaya.- Chapter 4.- Water Resources and Change.- Chapter 5.- Forests of Uttarakhand Himalaya.- Chapter 6.- Increasing Events of Disasters.- Chapter 7.- Change in Culture and Customs.- Chapter 8.- Population, Social and Economic Change.- Chapter 9.- Migration and Agrarian Change.- Chapter 10.- Sustainable Development under Changing Environment.- Chapter 11.- Conclusions: Drivers of Change, Resilience and Adaptation.- Index.