Traditional institutions aiding the management and survival of natural resources in the fragile regions of Ladakh are gradually disappearing. What are its implications for the region?
Indigenous communities have long managed their ecology, environment and food security and livelihood needs through traditional knowledge and institutions guided by socio-cultural norms, values, sacred beliefs, taboos and codes of conduct. These institutions help in survival of communities in times of limited resources, fragile environments, low productivity and uncertain external environments by building resilience and enhancing adaptability to changing conditions.
However, urbanisation, sociopolitical changes coupled with climate change are providing new set of challenges to these institutions and threatening the existing traditional knowledge and practices informs this paper titled ‘Local institutions in Ladakh, India: community-based resource management in mountain agropastoralism‘ in Current Science.
