Pressures on Thanpattan Pastureland: Biodiversity

1. Location and Significance of Thanpattan

Geography: Located in Lahaul-Spiti district, Himachal Pradesh.
Cultural Heritage: Home to the indigenous Gaddi herder community.
Biodiversity: Known for diverse wildlife including snow leopards and Himalayan brown bears.

2. Gaddi Community and Transhumant Pastoralism

Lifestyle: Gaddi herders practice seasonal migration with livestock.
Socio-economic Importance: Livestock grazing crucial for their livelihood.

3. Environmental Pressures

Grazing Impact: Excess grazing leading to rangeland degradation.
Human-Wildlife Conflict: Competition for resources and livestock depredation.

4. Research Findings on Thanpattan

Conservation Value: Identified as a high conservation value area (HCVA).
Wildlife Corridor: Critical for species with extensive range requirements.
Challenges: The need for participatory management in conservation efforts.

5. Coexistence Struggles

Ecological Balance: Managing the delicate balance between economic survival and ecological fragility.
Conservation Efforts: Involving local communities, authorities, and conservationists for sustainable management.

6. Proposed Solutions

Training and Education: For forest officials and local communities on wildlife monitoring and law.
Pastureland Management: Demarcating grazing areas, regulating degradation, disease surveillance.
Conservation Plan Development: Involving the forest department and stakeholders.

Conclusion:

Thanpattan’s story is a complex narrative of ecological balance, economic intricacies, and the struggle for coexistence, calling for collaborative efforts to preserve this unique ecosystem and the traditional livelihoods of the Gaddi community.

SRIRAM’s