Rangeland s comprising 60% of the land area in the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH), are predominantly managed under pastoral production systems. The high-altitude rangelands provide critical nature-based solutions to societal challenges, including climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity, and food security. Mountain pastoralism, characterized by the seasonal migration of livestock between different elevation pastures, significantly contributes to the economy, food and water security, nutrition, health, cultural identity, indigenous knowledge systems, and biodiversity. In mountainous countries like Nepal and Bhutan, mountain pastoralism also alleviates pressure on lowland areas where land and resources are scarce. However, over the past few decades, government restrictions on traditional pasture management practices, such as cutting and burning, have led to alpine pastures being overtaken by shrubs, significantly reducing forage quality and availability. Additionally, these pastures face severe impacts from erosion, scree flows due to melting glaciers, permafrost thaw, and intense rainfall. Transitional and winter grazing areas suffer from overuse, erosion, and invasion by unpalatable plants, resulting in poor fodder production. Shrub invasion by Rhododendron lepidotum and Berberis spp and land erosion is further diminishing the availability of high-value medicinal plants and herbs, while critical water sources are also drying up for wildlife, livestock, and herders. This degradation is negatively affecting the biodiversity and ecosystem services, leading to the unprofitability of pastoralism, youth out-migration from mountain regions, and the erosion of traditional pastoral cultures. To address these issues, we are piloting rangeland restoration projects in Tseko, Bhutan, and Shailung, Nepal. These projects employ a combination of methods, including prescribed burning, cutting, thinning, uprooting of weeds such as Rumex nepalensis and water management. Through these efforts, we aim to restore and sustainably manage rangeland resources, thereby enhancing ecosystem services, improving pastoral livelihoods, and preserving cultural heritage.
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