Diversifying and Enhancing Livelihood Options in an Ecologically Fragile Mountain Terrain of the Garhwal Himalaya

摘要

The Garhwal Himalaya provides a unique landscape,plenty of natural resources - land,water,and forest (life supporting layers),agro-biodiversity,feasible environmental conditions,ecological services,and rich socio-cultural heritage for diversifying and enhancing livelihood options.The mighty Himalaya,river valleys,and three-dimensional landscapes further accelerate tremendous potentials for tourism and hydroelectricity projects.Optimum utilization of these entire natural and biodiversity resources together will enhance livelihoods,augment employment,and reduce out-migration largely.Enhancing livelihoods through utilizing biodiversity resources and diversification of agriculture through extensive and intensive cultivation of crops is another dimension to sustainable livelihood.Involvement of the local people,government departments,and extension workers,in enhancing and diversifying livelihood,should be ensured for improving food security and reducing malnutrition.The present study focuses on the diversifying and enhancing livelihood options in the ecologically fragile terrain of the Garhwal Himalaya.This study is based upon the data gathered from the primary and secondary sources.Qualitative and quantitative analysis of data was carried out through case studies of seventeen villages and by using SPSS and indices respectively.The study reveals that optimum utilization of biodiversity resources can enhance the livelihoods and reduce poverty of this region.