BIOM17
Global Biodiversity Challenges in the Himalayas
The Himalayan mountain range is not only the the youngest range on Earth but is also home to the highest peaks with the altitude ranging from 300 to 8,500 masl. Due it its unique global positioning, the Central and Eastern Himalayas cross three Biogeographic realms, four major biomes (tropical, subtropical, temperate and alpine) and support numerous eco-regions and is recognised as a global biodiversity hotspot and endemic bird area.
The Himalayas face a range of natural and anthropogenic threats. Each threat poses significant challenges to the region's ecosystems, biodiversity, and communities. The main threats include:
Climate Change: The Himalayas are highly sensitive to changing climatic patters, including changes to regular temperatures, fluctuating precipitation patterns impacting plant growth, groundwater storage, and creating soil erosion and retreating glaciers. These changes can have far-reaching consequences for groundwater availability, agriculture, and the livelihoods of millions of people.
Glacier Retreat and Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs): Accelerated melting of glaciers is leading to the creation of glacial lakes. Sudden outbursts pose a risk of floods and bursting of dams further downstream. GLOFs in October 2023 resulted in devastating downstream impacts on communities, infrastructure, and agriculture.
Deforestation and Habitat Degradation: Deforestation, illegal logging, and unsustainable land use practices are contributing to habitat loss and degradation in the Himalayas and exacerbating the impacts of climate change and human-wildlife conflicts. Himalayan forests and rich and diverse and provide critical ecosystem services by playing a crucial role in regulating water flow, preventing soil erosion, and supporting biodiversity, but they are increasingly under threat from human activities.
Land Degradation and Soil Erosion: Soil systems in the Himalaya are incredibly diverse. However, due to the monsoon and general extreme slop angle of the landscape, unsustainable agricultural practices, overgrazing, and deforestation contribute to land degradation and soil erosion in the Himalayas. Soil erosion reduces the fertility of agricultural land and leads to increased sedimentation in rivers and lakes, exacerbating flood risks.
Water Pollution: Rapid urbanization, industrialization, untreated sewage, agricultural runoff and inadequate waste management practices contribute to water pollution in the Himalayan region affecting water quality and posing risks to human health and aquatic biodiversity.
Invasive Species: The introduction of invasive plant and animal species threatens native biodiversity in the Himalayas by outcompeting native species for resources, disrupting ecosystems, and altering ecological processes, leading to loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Tourism Pressure: The Himalayas attract millions of tourists each year for trekking, mountaineering, and other recreational activities contributing to environmental degradation, pollution, habitat disturbance, and cultural erosion if not managed sustainably.
This course takes students to the heart of the Himalayas, a small Indian state called Sikkim, to study the threats first hand. Sikkim is a rapidly developing Indian nation, however, its Green State mission align with UN Sustainability goals. Students will use enquiry-based learning to evaluate how Sikkim's biodiversity is being impacted by these threats and if the policies to more sustainable manage the ecosystems are effective and could be improved
