Globalization and Marginalization in Mountain Regions looks at the global importance of mountain systems, emphasizing their ecological and socio-economic role in light of climate change and globalization. With a special focus on the Himalayas, it also examines the Czech-German-Austrian mountain borderland, the Alps, the Andes, the highland regions of Malaysia, and the Arctic. The contributors, specialists in their fields, all use an integrative approach that develops and argues the concept of mountain regions as a global common good. Readers also discover that mountain systems and mountain communities are often marginalized and left behind by the process of globalization. Case studies throughout detail the effects of climate change and global warming on both nature and local/regional societies, such as declining water supplies, a shifting vegetation line, and other important issues facing not only mountains but also the vast regions depending on them. In addition, the comprehensive coverage offers authenticated viewpoints from some of the most eminent explorers of Tibet in the nineteenth century. More than 50 percent of the global human population draws benefits directly or indirectly from mountain resources and services. Globalization and Marginalization in Mountain Regions provides practitioners, researchers, students, and other interested readers with a compelling look at the global importance of this imposing, yet sensitive ecosystem.
Introduction - Raghubir Chand and Walter Leimgruber
Part 1. Development Potential of Mountain Regions and Globalization
Chapter 1. Mountain Regions: A Global Common Good? - Bernard Debarbieux and Martin F. Price
Chapter 2. Going Global: Livelihoods and Globalisation in the Niti Valley, Garhwal Himalaya, India - Keith Bosak and Sunil Kainthola
Chapter 3. Globalisation and the Indian Himalayan States: Mitigating or Accentuating Marginalisation? - T.S. Papola. Chapter 4. The Impacts of Marginalization and Globalization in the Czech-German-Austrian Mountain Borderland in the Former Iron Curtain Area - Alena Matuskova and Magdalena Bastova
Chapter 5. The Himalayas as the Providers of Essential Ecosystem Services: Opportunities and Challenges - Andreas Schild
Chapter 6. Hydropower Potential, Marginality and Sustainable Development. Examples from Tyrol/Austria and Aisen/Chile - Axel Borsdorf
Chapter 7. Himalaya: Highest, Holy and Hijacked - Shekhar Pathak
Chapter 8. Highlands Developments in Malaysia - Jamalunlaili Abdullah
Chapter 9. The Arctic World in the Twenty-first Century: The Impact of Globalization on Demarginalization - Donald F. Lynch
Chapter 10. Opening the Door of Tibet - R.S Tolia
Part 2. Climate Change, Mountain Ecology and Adaptation in the Himalayas
Chapter 11. Impact of Global Warming on Climate Change Regarding Water Supply in the Darjeeling Hills of the Eastern Himalaya and Change in Mountain Ecology - A. Basumajumdar
Chapter 12. Ambient Air Quality Status and its Sources in Urban and Semi-urban Locations of Himachal Pradesh, India - Harinder Kumar Thakur and Jagdish Chandra Kuniyal
Chapter 13. The Impact of Climate Change on the Shifting of the Vegetation Line in the Indian Himalaya: A Case Study from the Kutiyangti Watershed - J.S.Rawat, M. Kumar, Vivek Viswas, V.S. Rawat and N. Gahlot
Chapter 14. Leguminous Plants of the Kumaun Himalaya: Diversity, Distribution, threats and Management - Kiran Bargali
Chapter 15. Vulnerability of Highland Marginal Communities to Climate Induced Change and Practical Adaptive Capacity in the Sikkim Himalaya, India - Manoranjan Mishra, Vimal Khawas, Amrita Singh, Kausila Timsina, Karma Detsen Omgu Bhutia
Chapter 16. Plant Diversity and Vegetation Composition of Shiwalik Forests along an Altitudinal Gradient in the Kumaun Himalaya, India - L.S. Lodhiyal, Neelu Lodhiyal and G.C. Pathak
Walter Leimgruber's research interest includes boundaries and transborder relations, regional development and inequality issues. He obtained his PhD and university aggregation at the University of Basle (Switzerland) and taught at the University of Fribourg/CH from 1982 till his retirement in 2009. He has authored and edited/co-edited 7 books.
Raghubir Chand's research interest is the mountain geography in the fields of Himalayan environment and land use planning, socio-economic and demographic transformation of Himalayan societies besides his involvement in migration studies, agricultural productivity, cultural geography, environmental and livelihood support systems of tribal communities of Bhutan and other parts of western Himalaya. He has published two books including Brokpas: The Hidden Highlanders of Bhutan (2004). He has published 70 papers in various national and international journals. He is on the editorial board and one of the founder members of PAHAR – a research journal of the people's Association for Himalayan Area Research based at Nainital.