Evanescence: visioning the Dokrani- Dingad landscape in an era of climate change

Abstract

The Dokrani-Dingad landscape is an important, highly used landscape on NH-34, 40kms from Uttrakashi towards Gangotri in the Garwhal Himalayas. Dokrani Bamak is an important medium sized glacier of the Garwhal Himalaya that forms the source of the Bhagirathi river system. It comprises of two cirques found within the watershed created by the Draupadi-ka-Danda (5600msl) and Jaonli (6000 msl) peaks. The Dingad stream emerges at the mouth of this 5 km long glacier at an altitude of 3800 msl and joins the Bhagirathi at Bhukki village (2kms walk from NH34) about 25 km downstream. The ecology of the Dingad valley comprises Quercus, Pine, Rhododendron& Deodar at the lower reaches and Himalayan Birch (Bhojpatra) and Fir, with within steeply rising high altitude (approx. 3500msl) alpine meadows in a dramatic settings of u-shaped valleys and high peaks formed foundationally through tectonic forces and glacial action. The region is a cultural landscape, its origins lost in antiquity, formed and tracing its origins from the gods, and their peoples, the transhumant communities called van-Gujjars, nomadic herders who perform seasonal migrations; popular among scores of trekkers and numerous campsites are found within this highly scenic area; in addition, the Nehru Institute of Mountaineering situated at Uttarkashi, in the Garwhal region of Uttarakhand has used the glacier and surrounding areas for training purposes. Each year, the valley is visited by several hundred trainee mountaineers and others adventureenthusiasts. Research is being conducted by Scientists from Wadia Institute of geology, on climate change & glacial retreat. However, large-scale visitation, and poor awareness in this fragile landscape has led to the degradation of its ecology. Further, increasing climate variability compounds anthropogenic pressures1. 1 Anecdotal evidence points to an increasing frequency of landslides, species outmigration, generation of waste, pollution of water resources, & changing species compositions in the alpine meadows Increasing frequency of landslides, species out-migration, generation of waste, accumulation of non-degradable waste at higher altitudes, pollution of water resources, & changing species compositions in the alpine meadows have been observed in the recent years. Over time, contests over resource extraction and space are likely to develop in rapidly degrading ecosystems, highlighting the need for applying newer approaches that incorporate consensus through participatory approaches, and multi-dimensionality. Landscape approach has been advanced as means of “reconciling conservation and development through interventions in different components of a landscape matrix some of which are managed toward livelihood development goals and others for conservation.” (Sayer et al2 2013) In this thesis an attempt is made to reconciling the competing needs of development along with conservation. User centered and participatory design and management, Increasing legibility, interactive elements, can increase people’s awareness & admiration for the andscape. The present study attempts to synthesize experts’ findings from several domains of research interest, with the needs of the landscape and its users.