5. Himalayan Grasslands: Indigenous Knowledge and Institutions for Social Innovation

This chapter presents the importance of the Himalayan grasslands in terms of ecosystem services provided for both upstream and downstream people and the environmental problems associated with grassland degradation in the Himalayan region. Over half of the total area of the Himalayas support about 150 million people for their livelihood in the upstream regions, and three times as many people living in downstream regions with the important ecosystem services they provide. The sustainability of the Himalayan grasslands has significant impacts on both upstream and downstream populations. However, environmental degradation associated with human overexploitation and climate change has been challenging the sustainability of the Himalayan grasslands. Building on the case studies from grassland ecosystems and pastoral societies across the Himalayan countries, China, India, and Nepal, this chapter argues and illustrates that the indigenous knowledge and local institutions are critically important to promote the sustainable grassland management in the Himalayan region. The local pastoralists in the Himalayan region have developed adaptive strategies through social innovations to mitigate environmental challenges and socioeconomic pressures. Adjustment of grazing practice and grassland management is a key adaption strategy derived from evolving traditions of pastoral communities with environmental and social-economic changes.