Natural Capital in the Eastern Himalayas: A Lifeline for Communities

Ashok Kumar Gupta

The Eastern Himalayas (EHR) – a region dotted with snow capped rugged peaks, green lush forests, gushing rivers and vast valleys feels like a totally different world – away from the chaos of human civilization tucked away in the lap of nature.

Spread across over 2500 kms encompassing countries like Nepal, India, Bhutan, China, it is home to more than 30 million people.

The region is part of one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots – home to over 10,000 floral species and 300 species of mammals and also one of the richest reserves of what ecologists and economists call ‘natural capital’.

Natural Capital in the Eastern Himalayas: A Lifeline for Communities

First brought into the mainstream by E.F. Schumacher in his influential 1973 book Small is Beautiful, the idea of natural capital proposed that the total stock of renewable and non-renewable resources which includes plants, animals, air, water, soils, and minerals underpin all life forms on earth by generating a continuous flow of benefits to people in form of ‘ecosystem services’.

For instance – The forests of Arunachal Pradesh sequester large amounts of carbon while also supporting biodiversity and communities with food, medicine and fuel. While in the floodplains of Assam, wetlands including the iconic ‘beels’ act as natural sponges – protecting against floods caused by excess rainfall while recharging groundwater and filtering pollutants.

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These critical ecosystem services are not simple ecological functions but have become life-support systems for the people. It is therefore important that we adopt the philosophy of ‘ecology is economy’ and actively measure, manage and invest in strengthening the region’s natural capital. To protect the region’s natural capital is therefore to protect life in the region itself!

Ecology is Economy

The EHR for the longest time has been marked with continuous geological, economic, social changes and the ecology has sustained these changes throughout history. Around 60-70% of the population in the region depend on forests, rivers and land to sustain their lives. More than 80% of the population in the region is dependent on farming including a mix of traditional farming systems like Jhum, agroforestry, livestock integrated farming etc.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Apatani tribe have been practicing wet-rice cultivation for generations and continue to do so even today. In Meghalaya, the Khasi tribe depend on Sacred Groves to access medicinal herbs, timber, fuel and fruits etc. And not just subsistence, natural capital has helped communities take up various livelihoods opportunities.

In the sacred groves of Khasi Hills, community led eco-tourism has become a source of revenue with growing demands for homestays and local guides in peak seasons. Sikkim has led the revolution of organic products by being the first Indian state to promote organic farming. It has demonstrated that with investments in nature positive practices, farmer’s income can increase by up to 30% through the premiumization of their agro produce.

Similarly, in Assam, Tripura and Mizoram, bamboo based craft has penetrated very well with artisans crafting baskets, furniture and home decor items that are popular in the local and tourist circles.

As is clear by examples, the regional economy is playing a critical role in boosting the economy consequently also improving overall life outcomes for communities in the EHR. Communities in the region have weaved their lives around natural capital and synchronised the rhythm of their everyday lives with that of the ecosystem services provided by nature.

Challenges of Migration and Cultural Loss

Despite all this wealth of natural resources and visible benefits derived from them, the region is faced with a stark challenge – outmigration! The aspiration of a good quality life is forcing communities especially the youth to move out to urban centres. Data suggests that around 30% of the youth population could be leaving their homes in search of better education and work opportunities.

This is a huge number when put in perspective. It’s not just a statistic but also an indicator of the changing realities and deeper transformations in the people-nature relationship.

Migration looks simple from outside – a person moving from one address to the other but what follows is a weakening cultural heritage in the form of disappearing local dialects, decline in traditional agricultural practices and more importantly loss of customary resource management systems – taking away the vibrant cultural element from natural resource management.

Investing in Natural Capital to Build Human Capital

The EHR’s natural capital stock can be the right asset to help create entrepreneurial opportunities for communities especially the youth through nature-based livelihoods and check migration. Policies and schemes like the Van Dhan Yojana can play an important role in this.

The initiative seeks to support 9 lakh tribal gatherers nationwide by enhancing their livelihoods through the promotion of sustainable use of Minor Forest Produce like mushrooms, honey, bamboo shoots, lac, tendu leaves and empowering tribal gatherers as entrepreneurs by helping to set up Van Dhan Vikas Clusters in forest-rich tribal districts.

Grassroots organizations working with the community can be an important resource in empowering the communities to transform raw materials into high-value goods. Balipara Foundation has been pioneering community driven solutions in Assam and other North-Eastern states through various initiatives like community nursery in which native species are propagated and then planted in degraded land turning them into rich forests.

Eco-tourism training has attracted the youth as it acts as a steady source of income without upfront capital. It has helped the communities upskill themselves while they work as trek guides and homestay managers.

Promoting agroforestry has helped communities grow their own food while ensuring their dietary and nutritional security. Landscape restoration projects have helped create thousands of jobs while also restoring ecosystems. Such initiatives act as great examples of how bridging traditional knowledge and modern markets can foster collective pride and root the communities in nature.

Way Forward

The Eastern Himalayan Region’s natural capital is at risk from degrading landscape, unchecked development, deforestation, and climate change. For the ecosystems to flourish and communities to thrive, it must retain its natural capital. As reiterated above, the ecology of the region pins the economy of the region and therefore strengthening nature-based activities cutting across different facets of life can help protect these ecosystems.

Policies like Van Dhan Yojana need to be leveraged to focus on creating green jobs, ensure market access for entrepreneurs, and promote local stewardship of resources. The region’s true wealth lies in nurturing its nature and working with it to ensure resilience – both economic and ecological for the current and future generations.

Ashok Kumar Gupta is connected with the Balipara Foundation. e-mail: ashok.gupta@baliparafoundation.com

05-06-2025

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