MERU - Mountain Ecosystem Rejuvenation Urge

The Impetus

2009-06-14T23:00:00.000-07:00

The compelling need for the protection of Himalayan environment

The Highly Endangered Himalayan Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia)

Most of our country’s delicate mountain ecosystems are in the throes of a serious ecological crisis right now. The population of India is increasing exponentially and human habitation is growing by leaps and bounds, even in those areas that were hitherto considered remote and inhospitable. Areas like the Himalayan Mountain regions. The primary repercussion of this has been that the sensitive environment of these regions has had to bear the brunt of such habitation and its other associated evil; that of unsustainable development.

Deforestation has acquired alarming proportios at many places and has given rise to severe erosion and siltation of the Himalayan rivers: Leading, in turn, to big problems in the upper and lower catchment areas of these rivers. The increased need for more and more cultivable agricultural land and the heightened requirement for timber (for fuelwood and construction purposes), have only served to exacerbate the problem. For this has meant that more virgin forests have come under the axe. Crises in watershed management are prevalent in many of these mountainous areas, and catastrophes like flash floods and landslides have become much more frequent over the years.

This indiscriminate and unlimited deforestation has also translated into a severe depletion of habitat for many species of native Himalayan flora and fauna, which are now on the road to perdition. Already, beautiful and rare species of trees like the Silver oak and Bhojpatra… and splendid animals, like the Snow leopard, Ibex, Markhor and the Himalayan Brown Bear, are tottering over the verge of the abyss of extinction. But, mindless of all this, the heartless juggernaut of human progression and 'Lopsided… anthropocentric development' rumbles on relentlessly. Crushing beneath its merciless wheels, the right to survival of all the other ‘children of the earth.’ Ravaging their realms and stamping out their very existence.

However, in this blind race of blatant avarice, commercial exploitation and profiteering, our foresight seems to have abandoned us. The unmitigated destruction of Himalayan forests coupled with the indiscriminate use of fossil fuels has, in turn, led to a magnification of the global greenhouse effect at the local level: Consequently there is now an unmistakable change, for the worse, in the microclimates of these places. This has started a chain reaction. The substantially increased temperatures and a significant decrease in winter precipitation (in the form of snow), have led to a massive and rapid melting process in all the major glaciers in this region. This phenomenon is called Glacial Recession and is normal to a certain extent. Under the present circumstances though, the rate of recession (or melting) of the Himalayan glaciers, is abnormally high and that is a very ominous development. This is not an alarmist doomsday prophecy… the facts speak for themselves:

Most of the rivers in North India are of glacial origin and everywhere their sources, (which are either glaciers of glacier fed lakes) are rapidly depleting. The Ganga, which is the lifeline of India and on whose shores one tenth of the world’s population dwells, is a perfect case to the point. The Gangotri Glacier, which is the source of this magnificent river, is receding at the average rate of a whopping 27 to 30 Meters per year. Most of the rivers in North India are of glacial origin and everywhere their sources (Glaciers or glacial lakes) are drying up an disappearing rapidly.

At this speed, according to eminent Glacier Hydrology Experts, the glacier will disappear totally within the next 25 years. So, what we are basically looking at is the prospect of the Ganga turning into a seasonal river in three decades time. It is the same story with most of the other rivers of north India. What this means simply put… is that the whole of north India at least will, in all probability, turn into a vast desert in the foreseeable future.

Another factor aggravating the above tragedy, is the continual increase in the influx of tourists and adventure sports enthusiasts into these mountains: Though this has come as a boon for the residents of these areas and has undoubtedly led to their economic well being, it is unsustainable in the long run and it is just a matter of time before this boon turns into a bane for these places. With the concept of ‘Eco –Tourism’ yet to take root and germinate in these regions, unregulated and unbalanced tourist activity is proving to be the proverbial ' Last straw on the camels back', of this already growing ecological disaster

Himalayan Bhojpatra

Dedication

2009-04-06T04:20:00.000-07:00

MERU, the mythical Holy Mountain in ancient Hindu and Buddhist Cosmology, is revered as the center of the cosmos.

It is considered to be one of the favourite haunts of the 'All Pervading - All Inclusive ' LORD - SHIVA,' who is the Supreme Deity in the Hindu pantheon and is the creator, preserver and destroyer of all existence.

For us, the founders of this organisation, 'MERU' is our tribute to the miracle of creation. A tribute to our beautiful collective home...The Earth and, a tribute to the celestial beauty and splendour of the Himalaya.

The naming of the organisation after the mythical mountain, is our humble offering to 'Shiva - Girisha,' Great Lord Of The Mountains, Whose eternal spirit forever roams the 'Abode Of Snows.'

Our Mission

2008-03-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

Though the problems are many and the solutions not easily forthcoming, the monster of environmental degradation can be defeated with commitment and indefatigable action. It is our unshakable belief at MERU, that the Himalaya is the very essence of India, and of its ethos & civilization. If these sacred mountains are endangered, our whole existence will also be in peril.

Therefore, our struggle to protect the Himalaya is inextricably linked with our own survival. We believe that there should be a national level movement for ensuring the protection of this ‘Abode of Eternal Snows’. Our vision is to make MERU the spearhead of such a national movement, and it shall be our endeavour to strive tirelessly for ushering in this movement, at the grassroots level.

We foresee that the greatest difficulty in this effort will come from the fact that quite a few of these ecological crisis zones are situated in conflict-ridden areas, like the valley of Kashmir. Our vision however, compels us to look beyond just the human dimension of this problem. For the ecological tragedy of Jammu and Kashmir, that is ruining its snowclad mountains, its verdant forests, its soils and its rivers, will outlive “the other one”… because it may leave behind a devastated land, that few would even be willing to live in...let alone fight for in the future.

Having said that, our unflinching optimism wills us to try the veracity of the adage “Where there is a will …there is a way” in the crucible of our dedication and hard work.

We would like you to be a part of our endeavours. Come, strengthen our hands and strengthen the courage of our conviction. Come and join us in paying obeisance to these sacred mountains, the dwelling place of the gods, and assist us in regaining the glory of the HIMALAYA.

MERU Aims & Objectives

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To rejuvenate and rebuild step-by-step, extensively degraded and ravaged mountain ecosystems in India, wherever they are located within the country.

To try and give healing touches to partially degraded mountain ecosystems and to help them regain their natural glory and splendour.
To endeavour to preserve, in all their pristine glory, all such fully or substantially healthy ecosystems.

To make the organization and its goal of conservation of Indian mountain ecosystems, a concern of the common people.

To work towards ushering in a national level movement for safeguarding the unique environment of the Indian Himalaya.

To spearhead such a movement, at the grassroots levels.

To utilize and harness native traditional wisdom, born out of a natives bond with his/her earth, for our common cherished goal of conservation.

To take up programs for ensuring the protection of endangered species of Himalayan fauna and flaura.

To strive tirelessly towards preventing trafficking and poaching of Himalayan wildlife and help agencies enforce measures taken for the same, under 'CITES' (Convention Against International Trade In Endangered Species).

To work towards minimizing man-animal conflicts in Himalayan regions and evolve practicable solutions to mitigate such conflicts.

To undertake large scale afforestation drives in areas of extensive deforestation and denudation and help other organizations in similar drives with the objective of rejuvenating degraded habitat.

To undertake evaluation of economic and social projects in the Indian Himalayan states from an ecological standpoint.

To organize peoples resistance if such projects are found to be inimical to the general well being of the environment of these regions.

To organize the underprivileged sections of the society and take effective steps for bettering their quality of life, while simultaneously increasing their level of awareness vis-à-vis the necessity of protecting their environment.

To sensitize such sections of people with regard to the program content and facilities provided therein under governmental / non-governmental programs, legal provisions etc. for such purposes.

To take up all kinds of formal and non-formal educational programs and awareness drives, as per the directives contained in the national policy of education – 1986.

To promote the study of environment and environmental conservation as a part of the curriculum of educational institutions and ensure the active participation of school and college students in conservation efforts.

To promote all kinds of research in the field of conservation of mountain ecosystems and conduct workshops, seminars, dissemination programs etc. for the same.

To act as a watchdog and build pressure on the government (both national and state govts.), if they are found to be reneging their responsibility towards the protection of the environment.

To work with the Ministry Of Environment (M.O.E.F.) – Govt. Of India, forest and wildlife departments of the various state govts. of Himalayan states and other similar like-minded N.G.O.’s for the implementation of environmental protection measures in the Indian Himalaya.

To cooperate with tour operators in these regions in strengthening the concept of eco-tourism and to press upon adventure tour enthusiasts the need to stick to the Himalayan code of conduct.

To encourage organic farming methods (such as polyculture, wormicomposting and the usage of biopesticides) and discourage environmentally unsound agricultural practices.

To encourage sustainable energy practices and utilization and help minimize dependence on fossil fuels.

These are some of the objectives that MERU seeks to achieve in the coming years. Needless to add, all our energies will be directed towards the attainment of these aims in the coming years. With the grace of the Almighty, your continued support and our unwavering focus, it is our hope that we'll surely be able to make a difference.

Team MERU

2008-03-13T07:27:00.000-07:00

PAGE UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

Contact Us

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For any enquiries or information about our work / projects or any other queries, you can get in touch with us at:

mystichimalayantrails@gmail.com

Our phone numbers are:

Landline: + + 91 1902 251274
Mobile: + + 91 9816084461 or + + 91 9958135842

You can also write to us on the following mailing address,

Mountain Ecosystem Rejuvenation Urge.
Near Hotel Mountain Top, Village Dhungri.
P.O. Manali, Tehsil - Manali , District Kullu.
Himachal Pradesh, India. - 175131

Future Projects / Activities

2008-02-28T02:52:00.000-08:00

In the near future, the primary area of our focus will be ‘Proactive Himalayan Habitat And Biodiversity Conservation.’ The pilot project that we have earmarked for this, is our ‘Flagship Species Conservation Program’ (FSCP), which will endeavor to conduct an in depth study of Himalayan Snow Leopard (Panthera uncia) population and habitat in the Western Himalayan Regions.

This majestic mountain feline, which is our flagship species (given its role as the primary predator in the Himalayan Ecosystem), is highly threatened in its native environment, because of poaching and depletion of its viable natural habitat. It has been chosen as our flagship species primarily because of this, as also for the simple reason, that a healthy snowleopard population signifies the well being of the whole ecosystem as it ensures a balance in its various endemic prey species like Himalayan Ungulates (Ibex, Bharal, Urial.) and rodents like marmots, picas etc., with consequential effects percolating into the whole mountain ecosystem and contributing to its overall health and wellbeing.

In the coming years MERU will try to expand its area of activity to include the regions of Lahaul –Spiti and Kinnaur in Himachal Pradesh. We shall also, in the coming years, strive to establish our work in Uttranchal, Ladakh and Kashmir.

Needless to add, dear patron, your continuing support and encouragement will be vitally important in strengthening our conviction and giving that all important 'cutting edge' to our work. Therefore may we take this opportunity to solicit your continuing patronage and blessings.

Our Activities / Projects

2008-02-28T02:23:00.000-08:00

MERU began its fieldwork in the Himalayan town of Manali (H.P.) in the month of May- 2003.The town has seen a boom in tourism since the mid 1980's. Tourist influx into the town and its surrounding areas has increased exponentially in the past couple of decades. As a consequence of this, the whole of the scenic upper Kullu region is now faced with serious degradation of its natural environment. One of the major sources of worry for environmentalists of that region is the continually increasing piles of waste, which are polluting the soil, air and water of the region. The non-existence of effective waste management mechanisms only aggravates this problem.To deal with this problem, MERU evolved a multi pronged strategy,

Starting from May – 2003, two activists from the organisation would, on a daily basis, cover the whole fleet of tourist buses heading for the popular tourist destinations of the upper Kullu valley, viz. Rohtang Pass, Solang valley, Kothi, Naggar and Manikaran etc. The activists would interact with the tourists and talk to them about the necessity of conserving the delicately balanced environment of the Himalaya.The activists would request all the tourists to be very careful and not pollute the ecosystem of these mountains. They would also provide them with either jute bags or cardboard boxes/cartons to facilitate the collection of garbage. The tourists were entreated to not litter these beautiful places and to leave no trace behind. They were also requested to collect as much rubbish as they could and use the bags/ boxes in their buses for collecting this rubbish and their other disposables. On the return of these buses to Manali, the activists would take these bags / boxes and dispose off the garbage as effectively as possible.

MERU took active part in the campaign to rid the upper Kullu Valley of Polythene bags and other disposable plastic derivatives. This was done in co-operation with a local level NGO, SEVA (Save Environment Volunteers Awareness Forum) – Manali.
This undertaking involved protest marches, demonstrations, and aggressive media and signature campaigns and resulted in the official imposition of a blanket ban on the use of poly- bags in Manali.
MERU is currently working with some likeminded organisations in trying to devise an efficient solid waste management system for the upper Kullu valley. There is already a bio-composting plant present in the outskirts of Manali, in a place called Rangri. This plant is however able to deal with only part of the biodegradable waste generated in the town everyday. Till date, there is no mechanism for the effective disposal of non-biodegradable waste (nbw) in Manali. The contribution of MERU has been the attempt to get a low emission, pollution free incinerator installed in Manali, so that the huge quantities of n.b.w. produced everyday can be disposed off efficiently.

MERU conducted signature campaigns in Manali regarding the incinerator and sent petitions repeatedly to the Manali Nagar Panchayat, Deputy Commissioners office –Kullu, Director- Urban Local Bodies – Simla and the Hon' Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.
MERU also talked to experts (notably, Dr. J.C.Kuniyal) of the G.B.Panth Institute of Environmental and Development and collected data regarding the waste problem of Kullu.
We have been in constant touch with incinerator manufacturing companies like Hi-Altech India Ltd., Thermax and Alpha Therm India Ltd. and have been successful in getting very competitive proposals from them for the installation of the incineration plant. We have submitted all the required papers to the Govt. of H.P. and currently the case is being studied (ostensibly) by the office of the Director of Tourism, Himachal Govt., where it has been gathering dust for the last one and a half year.
Be that as it may, MERU, is seriously contemplating approaching the agency – CAPART, with a comprehensive project proposal for setting up the incinerator in Manali. The estimated setting up cost of the plant is Rupees 9.5 to 10 Lakhs and the recurring annual cost for running the incinerator will be about Rupees 3 lakh seventy five thousand. The setting up of this incinerator will, we believe, go a long way in alleviating the waste disposal woes of Manali.

In addition to this, MERU is also exploring the possibility of creating a low cost local level recycling mechanism in Manali, with the help of the local Kabadhi Wallahs, for the management of recyclable waste items like glass bottles, tins and plastic jerry cans etc.

MERU has been active in creating awareness amongst school children in Manali, about nature conservation and the need to protect the environment (especially, mountain environment).

MERU has also been involved with the mobilization of school students (specifically, students from DPS – Manali, where the President of MERU was instrumental in getting an Ecology club called 'Duffdun Eco Warriors' started in the school).
MERU and Duffdun Eco Warriors jointly carried out a number of aforestation and garbage collection and disposal drives. Two of the sites where DPS-Manali kids carried out plantation of Deodhar saplings have since grown into thriving nurseries.
We seek to broaden our ambit in the current year and involve various other bodies like local Mahila Mandals, various village panchayats, college students and tour operating agencies in grassroots level conservation work such as aforestation and garbage collection/ cleanliness drives, organising resistance (through peaceful demonstrations and marches) to unsustainable developmental projects- inimical to the health of mountain ecosystems, cleaning up rivers, streams and springs, helping in the prevention and mitigation of forest fires and checking trafficking of endangered Himalayan wildlife etc.

MERU conducted a workshop on Himalayan Environment Conservation from the 2nd to the 4th of October 2003, for The Songtsen Library and Center For Tibetan and Himalayan Studies in Dehradun, Uttranchal – India. The topic of the workshop was, 'Environmental Degradation in the Himalaya and some remedies to mitigate it at the grassroots level.

'Twenty-five college students from the Indian Himalayan states of Uttranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir (Ladakh), Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh participated in the workshop in addition to a few students from Nepal, Bhutan and the Tibetan community in India.

The workshop was a resounding success and achieved its objective of making the impressionable minds of these youngsters aware of the need for protecting Himalayan Environment and eliciting their commitment towards conservation efforts. Positive feedback from three of the participants since then has kindled the hope that at least some of those young students will start movements similar to MERU, in their home states.

The organisers of the workshop were fully satisfied with its outcome and have expressed a desire to conduct more such workshops in the future with the help of MERU. The workshop received media coverage in the Garhwal Post and Amar Ujala newspapers.

MERU is currently also a part of a spirited peoples resistance movement which is taking place in the village, Jagatsukh, located on the left bank of the river-Beas, in the Kullu valley.
The people of Jagatsukh are protesting against the construction of the 192 Megawatt ‘Allain-Duhangan Hydro Electric project,’ the builder’s of which are grossly flouting all Environmental and humanitarian norms. This project proposes to generate power by diverting the water of the Duhangan Nallah near Jagatsukh, into the Allain Nallah above the village of Prini and running its turbines on the collected waters of the two streams.
The Duhangan Nallah is a beautiful perennial stream that originates from the glaciers on Mt. Deo Tibba. It is a vibrant mountain - riverine ecosystem, which has thrived for millennia. The people of Jagatsukh, for whom the river is the sacred Dhaumya Ganga of yore, depend on this stream for their drinking and irrigation water needs. They have a strong apprehension that once the waters of the Duhangan nallah are diverted into the Allain nallah, they will face a serious shortage of potable and irrigation water.
Till date the builders of the project have not carried out a comprehensive Environment impact assessment about the fallouts of the construction of this project. Only a few halfhearted, stop-gap surveys have been conducted till today.
MERU feels that the construction of the Duhangan project in the present manner will have a catastrophic impact on the fragile ecosystem of the place. The basin of the river will progressively dry up and with it will be destroyed the thriving habitat of a number of species of Himalayan Flora and fauna.
In addition to this, the construction of the project will entail the cutting down of a lot of Himalayan trees such as Deodhar, Moru, Spruce and Bhojpatra. The project officials have given the figure, regarding the number of trees that are slated to be cut down, as 1,400. However, unofficial sources claim that the number could be as high as 4,000 – 6,500. It is not difficult to imagine the kind of impact this will have on the natural habitat of this region.

MERU is taking an active part in the People of Jagatsukhs resistance against the construction of the Duhangan project in the present manner. MERU regularly takes part in any protest demonstrations that are carried out against the project. We are also trying to mobilize the people of the entire upper valley against the heedless construction of the Duhangan Project.
MERUalso submitted a petition in May –2004, to the World Bank which is one of the major sponsors of the Allain – Duhangan Hydro Electric Project, voicing our opposition and the opposition of the people of Jagatsukh to the construction of the project in this ham handed manner without a comprehensive study of its impacts, by a panel of independent Environmental experts. In the coming years, MERU will intensify its campaign against this detrimental project.

MERU conducted a seminar on the 6th of June 2005 on "Strategies and Methods For Preserving Himalayan Environment During Trekking and Mountaineering Expeditions."The venue of the seminar was the Western Himalayan mountaineering Institute – Manali and most of the major adventure tour operators in Manali participated in it. The main resource persons for the were Dr. J.C. Kuniyal, of the G.B.Panth Institute Of Environment and Development( H.P.) and Capt. R.S. Salhuria, Deputy Director, Directorate Of Mountaineering and Allied Sports - Manali.
The agenda of the seminar was to evolve a practicable code of conduct for trekking and climbing expeditions and groups heading into the Himalaya and devise methods for implementing it. The seminar was a success and a resolution was passed by all the participants expressing their support for the abovementioned code. Copies of the draft resolution and of the code of conduct have already been sent to the concerned authorities for their ratification. The local print media covered this event.

As a direct outcome of this seminar and the resolution submitted to the concerned authorities, the Department of Tourism, Himachal Govt. organized a six-day sensitization cum training program for guides, tour leaders and porters of various adventure tour organizing agencies in Manali. This program was conducted in The Western Himalayan Mountaineering Institute (WHMI) Manali and was very productive. The code of conduct was approved after a unanimous resolution and was sent for ratification to the HP state govt.

MERU founder, Mr. Rahul Ogra, took part in a workshop conducted by World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF) - India, on 'Saving high altitude Himalayan Wetlands,' as one of the main resource persons.The workshop was conducted on the 7th & 8th of April, 2010 in Manali (H.P.), India and a number of adventure tour operators from all over Himachal Pradesh took part in the same.
Our founder made an impressive presentation and was able to raise awareness about the issue as well as suggest a host of amelioration measures. Our efforts were very well received were praised highly by the organisers of the event (WWF - India).

MERU Founder, making a presentation at the WWF workshop (April 2010)

Mentioned above are some of the activities which, we believe, are representative of the 'credo' of our organisation. For future projects, please check out the next section titled Future Projects / Activities.

In the short duration of its existence, MERU has achieved substantial results despite a dire shortage of funds. Its major strength has been a committed cadre of activists and members. It is the long-term vision of MERU to become the spearhead of a grassroots level nationwide movement to preserve the pristine environment of the “Abode of Eternal Snows” (The Himalaya), in all its splendor and glory.

RSVP:

E-mail : rahulogra@gmail.com,
(Tel.) : ++ 91 1902 251274 & ++ 91 9816084461

Our Inception

2008-02-27T05:03:00.000-08:00

In the year 2003, a few like-minded individuals with a deep-rooted love for mountains got together. They pondered over the fate of these mountains and deliberated over the imminent ecological catastrophe, which was just waiting to be unleashed on the Himalayan region. Specifically the Indian Himalaya. Out of this meeting was born a strong conviction that NOW’s the time for Concerted action…if the scourge of environmental degradation (which is all set to devour this region of immense but fragile natural beauty), is to be stopped in its tracks.

The breathtakingly beautiful Chandrataal Lake, high up in the Himalaya.

Mountain Ecosystem Rejuvenation Urge was born on the 14th of February – 2003, to facilitate such 'Concerted Action', which would assist in the preservation and rejuvenation of ‘Indian Mountain Ecosystems’