National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, Explained!

The National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem is one of the eight missions under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC). It was launched with a budget outlay of Rs. 550 crores.

The mission was launched in 2010 and implemented in the year 2014. It covers eleven states (Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, West Bengal) and two Union Territories (Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh) of India.

Indian Himalayas cover an area of 5 lakh sq. km which is 15.6% of the country’s entire geographical area. Several perennial rivers originate in this ecosystem like the Ganga, the Yamuna, The Brahmaputra, etc. Apart from these, there are several parallel mountain ranges that exist from the northwestern boundary of India to the northeast boundary. These are highly productive ecological zones that need urgent attention.

Read more: NATIONAL MISSION FOR SUSTAINING THE HIMALAYAN ECO-SYSTEM Mission Document 

National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem: AIM

• Understand the processes affective this eco-system in a scientific manner
• Evolving sustainable measures to preserve the ecosystem including Himalayan Glaciers
• Work jointly with states that cover the Himalayan ecosystem in order to better implement policies.

This is a multi-sectoral mission that aims to preserve the Himalayan Ecosystem, which sustains most of the population in Northern India. Furthermore, it aims at fostering time-bound action programs that help sustain ecological resilience in the sensitive and extremely productive ecosystem.

Read more: NMSHE: National Mission For Sustaining The Himalayan Ecosystem 

ISSUES ADDRESSED

• Biodiversity and wildlife protection and conservation
• Prediction and mitigation of natural hazards in the region
• Critical evaluation to help tackle governance issues related to the conservation of the Himalayan Ecosystem
• Analyzing traditional knowledge and traditional healthcare systems in tackling climate change
• Proper restoration and rehabilitation in Uttarakhand

Over 51 million people practice hill agriculture in the Himalayan Region. Scientists with the help of NMSHE have been able to disseminate information gathered scientifically to farmers practicing agriculture in the Leh region. Furthermore, enabling them to use sustainable and climate-resilient practices of agriculture.

Read more: Approval for the National Mission for Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem launched under the National Action Plan on Climate Change

IMPLEMENTING AUTHORITY

The Department of Science and Technology is responsible for implementing the NMSHE. Since the mission is multi-faceted in nature, there are other task forces appointed by the government that looks after issues like Natural and Geological Wealth; Water, Ice, and Snow resources including glaciers; Forest resources and Biodiversity; Traditional Knowledge Systems, and Himalayan Agriculture.

Also Read

• National Mission On Sustainable Habitat, Explained!
• National water mission, Explained!
• National Mission For Enhanced Energy Efficiency (NMEEE), Explained!
• National Solar Mission, Explained!

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