Photo Courtesy: C. Lachungpa, CCF (LU&E)

Zemu Glacier [1982]                                                 Fragmentation of Zemu Glacier [2004]

Alarm Calls

Changing Himalayan Environment & its Impact on Development

Compiled by:  ENVIS CENTRE SIKKIM, On Status of Environment & Related Issues, Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department, Government of Sikkim,

Climate change refers to a statistically significant variation in either the mean state of the climate or in its variability, persisting for an extended period (typically decades or longer). Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forcing, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use. Although climate change has been a salient issue for the scientific community for several decades, it exploded upon the world stage in full force only in 2007.

Fragmentation of Zemu Glacier [2004]

Zemu Glacier [1982]

Photo Courtesy:  S. T. Lachungpa, RO (W/L),North

It is evident that the effects of globalization and climate change are being felt at even the most remote Himalayan Environments. Sikkim, a tiny Himalayan state situated in the north-eastern part of the country is subjected to immense pressure. Sikkim covering just 0.2% of the geographical area of the country has tremendous biodiversity and has been identified as one of the 34 global biodiversity hot-spots. With the advent of ill-effects of changing Himalayan Environment, diminishing of natural resources and threat of biodiversity loss is imposed.

In context to the impact in our geographical area, Sikkim can be evaluated by the rate of glaciers melting in the state. Sikkim has large number of glaciers; the most important ones are Zemu Glacier, Rathong Glacier and Lonak Glacier in North Sikkim. These glaciers act as natural reservoirs for supply of water to major river systems in the State. Zemu glacier is the largest and the most famous glacier of the eastern Himalayas. It is 26 km in length and is situated in a large U-shaped valley at the base of the Khangchendzonga massif in northwestern Sikkim. The Teesta river rises from the snout of this glacier.

This decade has witnessed Sikkim at its peak state of economic development. The tiny state with varied topography and rich wetlands has been the attraction for several hydro power projects. These projects may prove to be better income resources to the people of Sikkim. However, at the same time, it could be disastrous for the local inhabitants, where during rainy season due to heavy rains, the protective walls of the dams might not be able to stand the pressure of the volume of water and the fury of the rains leading to havoc in the surrounding sites of the dam areas.  Also, at this rate of diminishing water resources, in decades to come, Sikkim may no longer hold any of these hydro projects at all.

Impact of Global Warming in Sikkim Himalaya:-

An evidence of increase in the temperature in the Himalayan regions can be witnessed by the fact that there has been a marked change in the diversion of the glaciers. The meltdown of age-old glaciers in the north district of Sikkim may render environment hazards and warming impact on the hydrological regime of the region.

·         An ocular observation of Zemu glacier in 1982, 2004 and 2008 shows that there has been a considerable enlargement of the snout.

·         The height and the length of glaciers above Gurudongmar Lake also appear decreasing at an ocular estimation.

·         The Tambao lake has been fragmented due to GLOF* formation and development of supra glacial ponds and clear view of terminal Moraine.

·         The total area of hidden glacier is also reduced.

·         The depth of snow fall and duration of snow fall along Nathula- Jelepla and Chola ranges has been practically reduced with no permanent snow.

·         With the changes in snowfall and rainfall, there is a possible threat on availability of water resources.

·         Springs, ponds and streams in the villages are drying up.

·         A British expedition team comprising Colin Knowles (58), Jerzey Wieczorek (51) and Adrian O' Connor (46) on their 28-day expedition to Goechala-Green lake trek recently, observed that the landscapes of the glaciers like Zemu, Thongsong and Talung had changed irreversibly over past 80 years.

·         The expedition team, which had a map of the trek route undertaken by a British army official in 1930, found to their dismay that the Talung glacier had shrunk by about 70 metres since 80 years ago.

·         The trio discovered that they had to descend down to 70 metres from a hill and climb the steep slopes to navigate the stretch around Talung glacier, which they claimed, could be walked across in 1930.

·         The British expedition team also found that Talung glacier was no longer connected to Thongsong glacier as was recorded in the photographs and the map which they had with them.

·         Thongsong glacier has been separated from Talung glacier and the thicknesses of the snow cover of the two glaciers have receded over the years due to global warming.

Warming in the Himalayan region has been much greater than the global average. Weather patterns are becoming more unpredictable and extreme – dry seasons become dryer and wet seasons wetter. This phenomenon is causing concern over the long-term reduction in total water supply, affecting the lives and livelihoods of the Himalayan people, especially in agriculture practices and long-term food security. The increase in temperature and changes in rainfall pattern would directly affect the hydrological make-up and water flows. Added to the melting of the Himalayan glaciers, increased snow cover melting could also be expected to change water flows in the rivers originating in the Sikkim Himalayan.

Climate change is a slow and a gradual process generally taking place over a long span. Climate change in Sikkim Himalaya can also be witnessed by the changes in season:-

·         The sowing seasons are changing.

·         Rain-fed cereal yield is reduced.

·         Failure of Cardamom due to heat affecting eco-system.

·         The availability of green leafy vegetables in winter months is gradually dwindling.

·         Due to the increase in the temperature in the mountains, there is an availability of new crops in the mountains too. About 20 years ago, no crops were grown during winter. Radish, turnip were stored in deep pit underground for winter, but there has been marked changes with crops growing in winter months too.

·         Vegetation of crops like Maize, Squash is also moving up mountain site at an altitude of 2,400 meters.

·         There is less use of woolen cloths these days as compared to earlier days.

·         Migration of people during the winter months from the higher region to lower region has reduced.

The impact of climate change in the Himalayan region at present is just preliminary and the worst is yet to come. At this rate of rise in global temperature, by the end of 21st century as predicted by the best scientific consensus, the global mean temperature would be from 1oC to 4oC. This will be accompanied by much greater variability in both temperature and precipitation. This means that variable temperature would result in more frequent heat waves and cold snaps. Variance in precipitation would result in more frequent droughts as well as deluges. Over the Indian subcontinent, the projected increase in temperature in terms of both magnitude and variability is greater for the north than the south, in part because of the buffering influence of the ocean on the peninsula. This explains the intensity of threats that the Sikkim Himalayan would have to encompass.

Sikkim Himalaya has been exposed to the bigger challenge on this alarming issue of global warming owing to it bountiful natural resources. The most possible threats yet to come are:

·         Increased water stress.

·         Reduced cereal yield.

·         Decrease in quality, increase in scarcity.

·         Increase in stresses among poor households.

·         Developmental activities in agriculture, forestry policies to add pressures on the poor, such as increase in conflict over land and natural resources.

·         Changes in rainfall pattern would add to the basket of woes regarding the ongoing crisis in agriculture. Heavy and unexpected rains are more likely.

·         Increase in frequency of major flooding due to swollen rivers, alternatively resulting in an increase in the frequency of lean flows due to droughts.

·         Change in the water flows in rivers originating in the Himalayan region would adversely affect the ongoing hydel power stations. The state’s own economy is under serious threat.

·         Spatial changes in the climate would result in enhanced degradation and fragmentation of the forest resources due to enormous human pressures on them.

·         The fate of most of our wildlife species in the face of rapidly changing climate is vulnerable to massive loss. Currently, Sikkim is a part of hot spot zone and is enrich with about 4500 species of flowering plants, 362 species of ferns and its allies, 11 species of oaks, 9 species of tree ferns, 30 species of Primulas and 28 species of bamboos, 550 species of Orchids and 36 species of Rhododendrons. In fauna, the state is also very rich, 144+ species of Mammals, 550 species of birds, over 600 species of butterflies and many times more of moths. Imagine the state of our biodiversity in decades to come; the above figures would then be only history. The diminishing trend and loss of biodiversity would only anguish the mere existence of human life.

·         The impact of changing Himalayan environment would make the Sikkim Himalaya vulnerable to short-term shocks and long-term stresses. The topography of Sikkim is such that prolonged heavy downpour may result in alteration of the landscape resulting is mass devastation of infrastructure and human life as well. We have seen that in recent years, Sikkim has been adversely hit by landslides creating unusual chaos in several aspects. These calamities are more likely to happen in greater scale which may lead to serious lifestyle changes in the Himalayas.

·         There will be immense pressure on the adaptive capacity of both human and wildlife to withstand the depredations due to climate change. Frequent interference of human activities is more likely which could result in degradation of wildlife protected areas.

Combating the Impacts of Climate Change in the Himalayas

Sikkim state government led by the nation’s greenest chief minister, Dr. Pawan Chamling has been very concious about the impact of global warming on the glaciers in Sikkim. As such, Sikkim’s Hon’ble CM has set up a commission under Prof. S. I. Hasnain to study the state of glaciers in 2007. Several officials from the department of Science and Technology and Forests, Environment & Wildlife Management Department have been keeping close tab on the condition of glaciers through satellite mapping and remote sensing.

A high-level glaciologist’s team led by Professor Hasnain and accompanied by officials and members of various project teams visited West Sikkim to study the state of Rathong glacier during their nine-day expedition. The team found that glaciers have been melting at an “alarming” rate over the years and may pose environmental hazards in the region. Teesta and Rangeet rivers are prone to dry due to the result of it. The team observed that the landscapes of the glaciers — Zemu, Thongsong and Talung — have changed irreversibly over past 80 years.

To combat the impact of climate change in the Himalayas, experts support transects approach for understanding biodiversity loss in the Himalayas. The remoteness of the Himalayan region and its endemic poverty has isolated it from the rest of the world, but they can't protect it from the global ravages of climate change. The rising temperatures are threatening a tremendous loss of biological diversity in this ecologically sensitive region, a loss that threatens mountain livelihoods and regional security.

Several biodiversity experts, global programme leaders and representatives of Himalayan countries have met to share, network and develop future strategies to understand climate change and to help preserve mountain biodiversity.

At present, the lack of basic environmental data for the Himalayan region is so serious that the region is still a 'white spot' for data. Without this data it is impossible to develop appropriate plans for avoiding or adapting to the worst problems. There is an urgent need for reliable data. There is a need to share and benefit from global programmes on climate change impacts and volunteer to collaborate as needed.

The Himalayas are too big for any group to study the whole area, but experts have proposed a solution: selecting representative 'transects' or north-south 'corridors' in different places from east to west, and encouraging everyone, from big global programmes to individual researchers, to focus their efforts in these sites under a coordinated arrangement that helps make all the information produced available for everyone to use. Many representatives of global programmes have enthusiastically expressed the willingness to support the transect approach for research and gathering data. This indeed would be a significant and tangible first step towards the long-term preservation of the Himalayan genetic heritage. There is a need of crucial link between international technical support and the national institutions in Himalayan countries.

Typical test sites will make use of existing protected areas, national parks, bird sanctuaries, Ramsar sites, and World Heritage sites, covering critical eco-regions and transboundary areas. The transects stretch across national and international boundaries. Hence regional cooperation is needed to tackle the problems holistically and make the most of country’s and organization’s individual efforts.

Himalayan experts need to meet to discuss ways of systematically gathering and sharing the information needed, developing a reliable picture of the present situation, and formulating approaches to respond. There is a need of a forum where world-renowned experts and representatives of global programmes could discuss issues with the countries of the Himalayan region to develop a common future strategy for mountain biodiversity conservation.

Conclusion

While climate change is mostly caused by the highly industrialized parts of the world, the effects are taking their toll in the sensitive mountain areas. Scientific evidence shows that the effects of globalization and climate change are being felt in even the most remote Himalayan environments. The signs are visible, but the in-depth knowledge and data from the Himalayan region is largely missing. Global measures of scientific co-operation and regional collaboration are needed to reduce this information gap. What happens in this remote mountain region is a serious concern for the whole world.

References

-   The Hindu Survey of Environment 2008

-   Web: http://weblog.greenpeace.org

-   Observations of Mr. C. Lachungpa (IFS), CCF (LU&E) on local effects of climate change.

Greenpeace team in the Himalayas documenting the impacts of climate change on the glaciers.

-   Photo courtesy: http:/weblog.greenpeace.org