Learning Objectives

The course envisages that the student will be able to:

1. Describe the origin of mountains, their types, and specificities
2. Understand the linkages between mountains, people, and their livelihoods
3. Describe the environmental linkages of mountain systems, including the Chure hills and the Tarai plains
4. Understand the mountain glacier and alpine ecosystems
5. Develop the knowledge of Integrated Mountain Development

Unit 1: Mountains and HKH (7 hrs)

1.1 Introduction to mountains and mountain specificities

1.2 Origin of mountains, theories, and types

1.3 Major mountain ranges of the world

1.4 Evolution of Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH)

1.5 Theory of Himalayan Environmental Degradation (HED) and criticisms

Unit 2: Mountains and People (8 hrs)

2.1 Biophysical condition: Geology, Climate, Water, Soil, Vegetation, Wildlife, Land use

2.2 Geomorphologic processes

2.3 People and livelihood strategies: Demographic characteristics, Agriculture and livestock, Food security, Off-farm activities (non-timber forest products), Remittance

2.4 Mountain hazards, risk, adaptation, and resilience

2.5 Human impacts on mountain ecosystems

Unit 3: Mountain Linkages (15 hrs)

3.1 Upstream-downstream linkages: Flow of water, sediment, and nutrients, Flow of environmental services

3.2 Chure hills and Bhabar: Origin and formation process, Geological features and physical boundary, Land use change, Forests and biodiversity, Socio-economy and livelihood, Environmental problems, Conservation efforts

3.3 Tarai plains: Landforms and process, River channel morphology and dynamics, Land use and human settlements, People and their livelihood, Environmental issues

3.4 Linkages between Chure hills and Tarai plains: Flow of people, goods and services, Partnership in conservation and management

Unit 4: Alpine Landscape and Glaciers (7 hrs)

4.1 Introduction to Alpine Landscape

4.2 Alpine climate and landform

4.3 Landscape change in the high Himalaya

4.4 Threats to alpine ecosystems: Grazing, Tourism, and Exploitation of alpine resources

4.5 Alpine rangeland management practices

4.6 Introduction to mountain glaciers

4.7 Snow and ice in the mountains

4.8 Glacial landform and processes (Glacial erosion, Glacial deposition, Glacial lakes and ponds)

4.9 Glacier mass balance

4.10 Glacier response to climate change

4.11 Glacier hazards (GLOF, Avalanche)

Unit 5: Integrated Mountain Development (8 hrs)

5.1 Concept of integrated mountain development

5.2 Natural resources in the mountains and their sustainable use

5.3 Indigenous knowledge for resource management

5.4 Linking social (including gender perspective) and ecological systems for building resilience

5.5 Prospects of eco-tourism in the mountains

5.6 Development challenges: Road, Hydropower, Service facilities (Health, education, market, communication, industries)

References

1. Blyth, S., Groombridge, B., Lysenko, I., Miles, L., and Newton, A. (2002). Mountain watch: environmental change and sustainable development in mountains. United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), Cambridge.
2. CSRC.(2007). Charbroiled Chure. Community Self-Reliance Centre, Kathmandu.
3. Gurung, H.(2004). Mountain reflections: pattern and development. Mandala Publications, Kathmandu.
4. Ives, J.D. and Messereli, B.(1981). The Himalayan dilemma: reconciling development and conservation. Routledge, Oxon.
5. Koirala, M., Ramakrishnan, P.S., and Saxena, K.G. (2011). Livelihood linked environmental determinants in the Himalaya landscape: environmental determinants of livelihood-related food production system in a mid-Himalayan landscape, east Nepal. Lambert Academic Publishing, Saarbrücken.
6. Korner, C. (2003). Alpine plant life: functional plant ecology of high mountain ecosystems. 2nd ed. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
7. McNeely, J., McCarthy, T., Smith, A., Olsvig-Whittaker, L., and Wikramanayake, E. (Eds).(2006). Conservation biology in Asia. Society for Conservation Biology Asia Section and Resources Himalaya Foundation, Kathmandu.
8. Price, L.W. (1981). Mountains and man: a study of process and environment. University of California Press, Berkeley.
9. Rhodes, R.E. (2007). Listening to the mountains. Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque.