Resilience Practices of trans-Himalayan Nomadic Yak Herding Community of Upper Mustang, Nepal

Abstract (English)

This paper focuses on the resilience of Yak herding in the trans-Himalayan regions. Yak farming is one of the age-old main occupations of people settled in the Himalayas regions of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Tibet, and Bhutan. Yak have adapted in the high altitude region of the Hindu Kush Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau ranging from 2000-5000 meters above sea level (masl). 'Yak', however, refers to male and 'Nak' to female, but in this paper, the term Yak is chosen to mean both sexes to make communication convenient. Yak is scientifically referred to as Bos grunniens. The Drokpa are Yak herders who follow a nomadic lifestyle in Upper Mustang, Nepal. Yak herders are facing several challenges but the most crucial challenges as reported by the Drokpa are labor migration and extreme weather events. These extreme weather events include recurrent drought and excessive snowfall. Climate change has contributed greatly to the yak herding occupation and the livelihood of the Drokpa. The younger generations are crucial in deciding whether to continue their yak herding and nomadic way of life. The objective of this paper is to highlight the resilience practices of nomadic yak herders to cope with climate change and labor migration. This study was carried out using a mixed-methods approach. The qualitative data were generated by applying structured questionnaires using ethnographic approaches such as observation, and Key Informant Interviews (KII). The quantitative data were collected using a household census survey. A census survey was useful as the Drokpa population is small. To understand the livelihood crisis researchers have applied migration theories, the theory of environmental degradation, and modernization theories in Nepal. In this paper, I see how those theories are unable to capture new realities regarding the environmental and livelihood crisis in the Himalayas and trans-Himalaya region and the new resilience system developed by the nomadic yak herders. The finding of this study shows that despite the high economic, cultural, and social viability of yak farming and low pressure on the natural ecosystem the number of Yak is decreasing. This study focused on the motivation factors of the younger generation to continue yak herding in the trans-Himalayan is in a critical situation due to Drokpa seeing the uncertainty of their traditional livelihood. Nomadic yak herders have focused on modern education, labor migration, and technological uses as resilience. At present middle-aged households have continued yak herding. The implication of this paper is to contribute to the specific issue of the resilience practices of marginal people and their traditional livelihood and policy on biodiversity and sustainable use of marginal resources for the holistic development of Nepal.