While designing and implementing public and private interventions in the mountain areas, at both macro- and micro-levels, explicit consideration should be given to their characteristics. The important mountain characteristics or conditions that distinguish mountain regions from other areas can be termed mountain specificities.
When any development intervention or resource-use practice overlooks the presence and operational imperatives of mountain specificities, it tends to lead to long-term unsustainability. Taking into consideration these specific characteristics will certainly assist in facilitating long-term sustainability of mountain resources' management. These mountain specificities can be both a constraint and an opportunity to mountain development.
Dimension and Major Imperatives for Development Interventions | ||||
Mountain Specifities | Physical (Climatic, Edaphic) | Biological | Social/Cultural | Economic |
---|---|---|---|---|
Inaccessability | Reduce through multiple options such as roads, ropeways, waterways, telecom, etc. | Explore and develop as new available resources (e.g., unexplored, unexploited genetic resources) | Reudce through education, participation, and support systems | Reduce disparities Improve accessibility- special programmes for target groups |
Fragility | Reduce by stabilization, conservation measures Restricted use and other conservation measures | Conserve by R&D and other support systems(e.g., endangered genetic resources/species) | Protect value systems/institutions endangered by development | Strengthen sustenance capabilities through dependable options |
Marginality | Reduce and prevent by physical and biological measures Regulate use intensity | Conserve and reduce by R&D support Integrate with farming systems development | Reduce by institutional reforms and support systems Prevent by controlling the negative side effects of development interventions | Reduce by special support programmes; opportunities Prevent by safeguarding against backlash of development |
Diversity | Diversified/decentralised approach to use and development options Homogeneise some resource categorise by irrigation, land-shaping, etc. | Harness, enhance through support systems, infrastructure R&D use | Protect and orient to integration | Reduce inequalities Strengthen diverse options/flexibilities |
Niche/Comparative advantage | Prevent over-exploitation and its negative side effects | Harness, enhance through support systems, infrastructure, prevent over-exploitation | Encourage traditional skills and crafts | Harness with better terms of trade |
Adaptation Experiences | Incorporate ethno-engineering knowledge in development interventions | Incorporate folk knowledge of resource utilisation/conservation in development options | Incorporate rationale of traditional practices in development activities | Complement new interventions with traditional economic activities |