Intro:
• Mountain ecosystems—fragile zones with high biodiversity, critical watersheds, & cultural heritage.
• Faces degradation due to infrastructure development, unregulated tourism, and climate change.
• Examples: Himalayas (Char Dham Highway), Western Ghats (encroachment, hill station tourism).
Negative Impacts:
• Deforestation & habitat loss – for roads, hotels, hydropower (Tehri Dam, Manali).
• Waste accumulation – plastic, sewage (e.g., Shimla’s garbage crisis).
• Landslides & soil erosion – triggered by slope destabilization and blasting.
• Water resource depletion – groundwater overuse in tourist hubs.
• Cultural dilution & socio-economic disruption – commercialization, migration.
Restoration Strategies:
• Eco-sensitive Zoning (ESZ) – implement MoEF&CC guidelines, restrict heavy construction (e.g., around Nanda Devi).
• Sustainable Tourism – cap tourist inflow, promote eco-tourism (e.g., Sikkim’s organic tourism model).
• Green Infrastructure – slope-compatible architecture, use of local materials.
• Afforestation & Soil Stabilization – native species plantation, bioengineering techniques.
• Community Participation – Van Panchayats in Uttarakhand, awareness drives.
• Waste Management Systems – zero-waste policies, decentralized treatment (e.g., Munnar’s model).
• Climate Adaptive Planning – integrate disaster risk reduction (DRR), early warning systems.
• Carrying Capacity Studies – mandatory EIA for all projects.
Conclusion:
• Restoring mountain ecosystems demands a shift from growth-centric to eco-centric planning.
• Balancing development with conservation via sustainable models is crucial for long-term resilience.
