Abstract
The long-time pristine characteristics of the Himalayas have been threatened by environmental degradation. Destruction of forests and vegetation, the shrinking of the glaciers, and population pressure are many examples of the regional environmental problems faced by the Himalayan region. The region has developed distinctive patterns of land use and land ownership in response to environmental changes. The region can be subdivided into three geologic zones: the Outer Himalayas, the Middle Himalayas, and the Great Himalayas. Regional variations in environmental degradation can be observed. Conditions range from the extremely severe situation in Nepal to a moderately serious situation in the Indian Himalayas and somewhat less serious conditions in Bhutan. A geographic analysis of environmental degradation in the region posits several responses to environmental stress, such as ‘planning for conserving soil and water in various subregions,’ ‘preservation of Himalayan environment,’ ‘a holistic as opposed to piecemeal approach seeking solutions to environment problems,’ ‘examining uncontrolled growth with conservation,’ and ‘addressing the role of women in Himalayan society.’
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Karan, P.P. (2015). Land, Life, and Environmental Change in the Himalaya. In: Dutt, A., Noble, A., Costa, F., Thakur, S., Thakur, R., Sharma, H. (eds) Spatial Diversity and Dynamics in Resources and Urban Development. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9771-9_11
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9771-9_11
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