Greening the Mountain Deserts--Developmental Perspectives in the Himalayan Mountain Desert

Contents: 1. Introduction. 2. The desertification phenomenon. 3. Development model. 4. Greening the desert. 5. Irrigation. 6. Agriculture and allied activities. 7. Research and development. 8. Organizational setup, personnel and financial management and vox populi. 9. Recommendations and benefits. References. Annexure: 1. GOI resolution. 2. Afforestation schemes. 3. Growth pattern. 4. List of nurseries in Spiti. 5. Weather data of Spiti. 6. Silt load in Spiti river. 7. General flora of Spiti area. 8. Irrigation schemes in Spiti. 9. Major policy decisions. 10. Projectwise funds released and expenditure incurred under DDP since inception upto 1992-93. 11. Questionnaires.

"\'Desertification\' is one of the most serious problems facing the world today. Several of world\'s deserts are characterised as high latitude types. In India, Ladakh, Lahaul-Spiti and part of Kinnaur are cold deserts (Western Himalayas). Because of the extreme climate and poor economic conditions of the people, Spiti is one of the worst scourged areas on earth. Nature places it behind the rain shadow of the great Himalayan divide. It was a part of the Tethys sea during pre-Cambrian times. The greening of these areas would enhance the global sinks for green house gases. This ambitious task on the sustainable development of fragile cold desert of Spiti is unique in its formulation, assessment, monitoring and evaluation. Cold deserts have their own characteristics of isolation, marginality and low level of development which is hampered due to a variety of social, cultural, economic, biotic and ecological factors. Results of this book will give an insight into the efficient resource planning for greening cold deserts. These results are global in nature and can act as a guideline for all the policy planner, scientists, foresters, engineers, administrators, NGOs and host of other grass-root functionaries." (jacket)