Even as Ladakh is beset with a plethora of ecological and social challenges, there is Hope! It lies at 15,000 feet in Ladakh, in the far reaches of Phobrang and its nearby villages of Lukung and Yourgo, which are on the snowline of climate change.
A grassroots movement, pun intended, is gathering force and the game is afoot! Over the next few years, the Phobrang region will make its place on the map: as a global leader in managing climate change and taking back control.
Green Himalayas is a joint venture, and a shared passion, between two NGOs - Go Green Go Organic (Go Green) and Goldenmile Learning. In 2015, Go Green and Goldenmile Learning came together to actualise the ethos that community action is the primary force that can change the world.
The story of Green Himalayas is as engaging as it is inspiring.
His Holiness Chetsang Rinpoche - a revered Buddhist master, head of the Drikung Kagyu order of Tibetan Buddhism, and the founder of Go Green - is an eco-warrior of global stature who radiates a deep love of nature. He has harnessed a network of local and global collaborators that has taken responsibility and drives change without depending on formal authority. He refers to communities as his Bonding and Bridging networks.
'Bonding' networks of locals, indigenous communities and Ladakhis across ethnic and religious lines are creating a common sense of purpose and overcoming social and ethnic differences to make an impact on the environment. 1 million trees were planted across Ladakh, which now hold the potential to become 1 billion across the Himalayas.
'Bridging' networks are bringing people from different groups, with different skills, resources and ideas across the world together to help conceive and execute the project at Phobrang.
HH Chetsang Rinpoche is now building on the success and credibility of Bonding to create a larger Bridge to sustainable climate change management.
Since inception, most of was focused on tree plantations at lower altitudes in Ladakh. Volunteer villagers, inspired by HH Chetsang Rinpoche and armed with rudimentary tools, would donate of their time and freely, to plant on desert land.
Over the years, Go Green had planted close to 1 million trees across Ladakh. After successfully amplifying community voices and harnessing the power of networks to start greening Ladakh, HH Chetsang Rinpoche and his council it wasn't enough to target and deliver isolated success.
Go Green saw in
Go Green and
The paradox: Climate change triggers glacial melting at high altitudes. The tide needs to be
Could they do the unthinkable and plant trees at that height? Would they survive? If they did, it would be a validation of the impact of climate change on mountain systems. It would be a breakthrough in confirming the problem and providing answers, not just to Ladakh, but to the whole of the Himalayas.
As Green Himalayas mulled the possibility and searched for a site to start something, the potential location had been hiding in plain sight. Phobrang had everything that was needed: ample land, melting glaciers (and therefore water), villagers in trouble (but with labour to bring and the motivation to offer it, and if all went well, benefits to reap).
Drawing from the experience at lower altitudes, a plan was drawn up to plant trees on a barren tract of land at Phobrang. The village council at Phobrang backed it and, along with the village communities of nearby Lukung and Yourgo, provided the labour to kickstart the project. In April 2015, 25,000 saplings were planted at Phobrang.
Miraculously, a major proportion of the 25,000 saplings have survived and grown to about 2 feet. What appeared a mad dream just 4 years ago is now looking distinctly sane! With proof of concept established, Green Himalayas is moving on to the next stage – 1 billion trees across the Himalayas and a full-fledged sustainability project at Phobrang.
The resources needed to realise this dream cannot be underestimated. But as the team at Green Himalayas has demonstrated – there's a method in the madness!
“From this moment on, knowing what is happening to the planet, to what do I devote my life?”
Co-Founder, Go Green Go Organic
The Phobrang project is looking climate change in the face and acting on it. Green Himalayas, and the communities it works with, feel privileged to be part of something that is bigger than themselves. The project aims to show that:
Green Himalayas @ Phobrang hopes to inspire individuals and local communities as well as global organizations to take action across the Himalayas and beyond. Each one of us can make a difference!
'A Billion Trees across the Himalayas' is the vision of Green Himalayas. The Phobrang project aims to build a sustainable development model for all Himalayan villages, a village-urban citizen level partnership where the villagers take ownership of our collective Himalayan ecosystem with the support and commitment of city dwellers across the world.
The Phobrang project is a pilot that will establish the viability
The model integrates holistic education, management and remunerative employment. The project begun with a pilot in Phobrang, Lukung and villages, near the famous Pangong Tso lake at 15,000 feet in the Himalayas in Ladakh, around 40 km from the border to China.
The Phobrang project stems from the very core of sustainable and equitable development for the remote communities battling with multiple challenges including lack of opportunities. It builds a model of development that is environmentally, socially and economically viable while the Himalayan ecosystem and remote village lifestyles are inevitable to change - both ecologically and socially.
An attempt to introduce the Miyawaki technique of forestation is part of the plan at Phobrang. The aim is to do this using less of conventional power and bringing in solar power wherever possible. 500,000 trees will be planted on the site to provide a forest green cover as part of the 1 Billion trees vision.
The Miyawaki method of afforestation / planting trees involves planting a number of different types of trees close together in a small pit. Planting many random trees close together in a small area enriches the green cover and re-inforces the richness of the land.
This will lead to
The Phobrang project embodies the core Ladakhi principle of Circular Economy thinking as opposed to conventional Linear Economy thinking. The Circular Economy is a 'closed loop' approach is inspired by living systems. It encompasses the following elements:
Once proven, Green Himalayas aims to adapt and scale the Phobrang project across the Himalayas and, perhaps, the rest of the planet!
“I find my deepest conviction and connection to the Earth by communing with the mountains. I have lived amongst them all my life. Today I know in my bones that my job is to learn to listen to them ever more deeply, and to share what they are telling us with those who are also listening.”
Buddhist Monk, Teacher, Activist
Roping in experts from development, environment and sustainability, the Phobrang project will create a model site/village that is centered around generating economic avenues for youth, women and larger communities that is sustainable in the long term.
This mode of alternative development will promote green architecture honed with local traditional knowledge and technology to cater to tourism or other economic prospects and promote dynamic local market opportunities.
The project is being implemented in 4 phases, and, we are off and running!
