This book offers a complete picture of the Indian Central Himalayan Region and its livelihood. Coverage includes geo-environmental setting, socio-economy and population profile, sustainable livelihoods, and development of tourism and hydroelectricity.

Sustainable livelihoods and ecosystems are far-reaching and burning issues in the wake of high growth of population, low production and per ha yield of crops and depletion of biodiversity resources. Mountainous regions of the world are facing the menace of poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition. Further, tremendous growth in population and slow pace of development have together forced most of the population to live below poverty line. Traditionally depending upon cultivating subsistence crops for food requirement, the people living in mountainous region are unable to produce sufficient food grains to run their livelihood smoothly. The Himalayas is one of the world's biodiversity hotspots and has an abundance of natural resources: land, water and forest life sustaining factors. The geo-environmental conditions climate and landscape further enhance the possibility of sustainable livelihoods through eco-tourism, harnessing water resources and utilizing forests and their products sustainably. Diversifying agricultural practices through cultivating cash and cereal crops and enhancing livelihood options through extensive use of timber and non-timber based forestry products can help to eradicate poverty and provide food security. This book consists of an introduction and nine chapters, covering geo-environmental setting, socio-economy and population profile, sustainable livelihoods: diversification and enhancement, livelihood analysis, development of tourism and hydroelectricity, case studies, mountain ecosystems, sustainable mountain development and also presents a conclusion.

Unique in terms of enhancing livelihoods in the mountain region in general and the Himalaya mountains in particular No similar work on this issue in the Himalayan region Gives a comprehensive picture of the Indian Central Himalayan Region and its livelihood enhancement. It is a valuable resource for all stakeholders working for the provision of sustainable livelihood in the Himalayas Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Vishwambhar Prasad Sati, born in 1966, holds a Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) and Ph.D. degrees, currently serving as a Senior Professor of Geography and Resource Management and Dean of Faculty, School of Earth Sciences and Natural Resources Management at Mizoram University, a Central University in Aizawl, India. With nearly three decades of teaching experience, he has contributed to various higher education institutions within and outside India, including the Eritrea Institute of Technology in Asmara, Eritrea (NE Africa), the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment in Chengdu, China, and HNB Garhwal University in Srinagar Garhwal. Throughout his illustrious career, he has actively engaged in research, holding prestigious positions as a Presidential (PIFI) Fellow/Visiting Professor (2016) ‘Chinese Academy of Sciences’ (CAS), Visiting Scientist (2014) ‘Chinese Academy of Sciences’, Visiting Scholar (2010) ‘The World Academy of Sciences’ (TWAS), Visiting Scientist (2012) ‘Indian National Science Academy’ (INSA), General Fellow (2008-2009) ‘Indian Council of Social Science Research’ (ICSSR), and Associate (2008) ‘Indian Institute of Advanced Study’ (IIAS). He is recognized as 0.5% researchers of the world and 50 top influential academicians of India. Furthermore, he has received recognition for his contributions, including a Visiting Professor Award from the Ministry of Education and Science at Lviv Polytechnic National University in Lviv, Ukraine, IMPRI India, a Best Paper Award from Natural Hazards Research (an Elsevier Journal), Best Presentation Award in the International Conference, held at Jurich, Switzerland, and the title of Senior Global Fellow from the Grassroots Institute in Canada. His extensive academic travels, spanning 50 countries and all over India, have contributed to his comprehensive understanding of diverse geographical landscapes. Additionally, he has successfully supervised more than a dozen Ph.D. scholars. His expertise lies in Natural Resource Management, Environment-Development Interface, Climate Change, Rural Livelihoods, Disaster-Related issues, and the Culture of the Himalayan region. Vishwambhar Prasad Sati has developed numerous models and action plans for environmental conservation and economic development in the fragile Himalayan ecosystems. His impactful contributions extend to more than 200 research papers and articles and over three dozen published books, establishing his academic legacy at both national and international levels.

Inhalt
Geo-Environmental Setting.- Socio-Economy and Population Profile.- Sustainable Livelihoods: Diversification and Enhancement.- Livelihood Analysis.- Development of Tourism and Hydroelectricity.- Case Studies.- Mountain Ecosystem.- Sustainable Mountain Development: Challenges and Opportunities.