1. Kosi-Katarmal, Almora 263 643, India
Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation -experiences from trans-boundary landscape initiative in west Himalaya
Ranbeer S Rawal
G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment & Sustainable Development
Kosi-Katarmal, Almora , India

2. Towards Transboundary Cooperation…
Towards Transboundary Cooperation…
As the environment and ecosystem boundaries transcend administrative and political boundaries, for better natural resource governance at scale, the concept of transboundary cooperation is increasingly advocated as an integrated ecosystem management approach to achieve conservation goals…

3. Transboundary Landscapes in HKH…
ICIMOD, in collaboration with Regional Partner Countries, has identified 6 potential landscapes in HKH requiring transboundary cooperation

4. Setting Example - Kailash Sacred Landscape…
First of its kind transboundary cooperation : diversity, sacredness and cultural linkages as key
KSL area 31,175sq km
China (34%), India(23%), Nepal(43%)
Representativeness
Richness
Uniqueness
Life support value
Cross border linkages

5. Programme components…
Building on sacred values and socio-cultural heritage for well being of people and ecosystem – beyond boundaries

6. KSL - India… Area - 7120 km2 1 3 2 5 4 Unique bio-cultural area
Pithoragarh %; Bageshwar - 04%
Altitude range <400 to >6800 m as; (>53% above 3000 m asl)
Population – approx 5 lakh 1 3 2 4 5
Unique bio-cultural area
Site of ethnic intermixing and cultural assimilation
Centre of activities for ethnic and lingual groups
Biodiversity rich and representative
[1. Bhot: Tribal - Shauka, Rang-Shauka; 2. Askot : Tribal- Rajees, Non Tribal; 3. Seera: Non tribal ; 4. Sor: Non tribal; Gangoli: Non tribal]

7. Innovative livelihoods…
Targeting un-tapped potential – strengthening of
Institutions & building capacity of communities
Chyura Honey and by-products
NABARD Support – Van Rajees
Transboundary sharing – Nepal
Kidney bean & Bamboo crafts (Pro-poor VC )
Bamboo: first time income (20 families)
Kidney bean: first time earning (80 families)

8. Spring-Shed Management…
Comprehensive mapping of springs
Understanding spring and water governance
Hydro-geological mapping, classification of spring
Spring discharge & quality monitoring
Recharge area identification
Developing spring-shed management plans
The Interventions(Convergence with UKFD under JICA programme)

9. Ecosystem management…
Action Research & Transboundary Linkages
Participatory Assessment of Carbon Stock in Sacred forests completed – manual developed for promoting participatory assessment
Askot- ANCA Trans boundary Cooperation Strengthened – regional workshop
Transboundary rapid surveys – sensitive species (e.g. snow-leopard) & habitats

10. Restoration of Degraded Land…
Participatory Forest Resource Augmentation
Restoration of Degraded Land…
Capacity Building and participatory plan development
Implementation of plan – leveraging resources from MGNREGA, community participation 30%, technical inputs GBPIHED/UKFD
On-site capacity building – restoration of land
Technical cooperation with Eco Task Force – training on plantation technology
Implementation – plantation in > 300 ha (2016)

11. Access & Benefit Sharing…
Institution building, awareness and capacity building
Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) formed (26 No; Draft PBRs12 and BCPs prepared)
Capacity of BMCs and other stakeholders built – [awareness raising material, training of stakeholders (landscape level workshop, local community level trainings)]
Documentation of community rights & benefit sharing – TSGs identified (documentation yet to achieve)
[SBB identified 30 BMCs/Village Panchayats for study]
State Authorities sensitized
Chief Minister & Forest Minister

12. Conservation & Long-term Monitoring…
Building datasets & information base; Detecting changes
GLORIA SITES (2) Established - First of its Kind – in Indian Himalayan Region (diverse precipitation regimes)
Permanent Monitoring Plots established & data sets generated – forests & grasslands
Multidisciplinary Landscape Yatra – first hand info from remote higher Himalaya
Regional Vegetation classification Harmonization achieved - transboundary cooperation
Uniformity of Approach:
Spring-shed Management & Monitoring; Ecosystem valuation -SANDEE

13. Radiating from village to landscape…
Building on learning of village level pilots – PNRM
Comprehensive conservation, development & long-term
Planning for cluster of villages
Implementation at
Village Cluster
Watershed level
District (Landscape) level
Village/cluster level consultations, Community organizations, NGOs/GOs
Convergence with District Agencies
29 Agencies; 16 willing
Learning from & Sharing with
Other Landscapes
(Transboundary Cooperation)

14. Cross border learning and cooperation…
Yartsagumba Guidelines (India and Nepal)
Agenda-setting for Government Negotiations on heritage tourism (China and Nepal)
Common Protocols for Biodiversity Monitoring (China-India –Nepal)
Consultations on World Heritage Site Nomination
KSL-ABS India best practices influencing Nepal and China
Landscape journey as process tool getting acceptance across partner countries

15. Thanks…