Human environment interaction in high altitude landscape the case study of Pangi Tehsil Chamba Himachal Pradesh

Abstract

The present work is an exploration of evolving processes of human-environment interactions in a high-altitude mountain landscape by analysing its physical, cultural, socio-economic, and political aspects. The methodological framework followed physical, socio-economic, and cultural perspectives in order to understand the high-altitudinal human-environment interactions in a geographical perspective. The objectives of the study were to examine the distinctive nature of physical and cultural landscape; land use/cover transformation; sustainable livelihood options, and various efforts promoting sustainable human- environment interactions with a view enhancing the well-being of population. The study through examining the high-altitude landscape reveals distinctive features in terms of both its physical and cultural landscape. Moreover, the distinctive features of the physical landscape present a profound influence on the cultural characteristics of the inhabitants of Pangi Valley. However, the changing patterns of land use and land cover in the form of infrastructure development combined with climate change poses threat to the delicate balance of the natural environment. The sustainable livelihood options have undergone changes, with certain traditional practices maintaining their sustainability, while others have transitioned to being both sustainable and unsustainable. However, the community efforts, marked by their active involvement in the conservation and utilization of various resources, contribute to the sustainability and well-being of the population. The research concludes a delicate balance between human activities and the high-altitude landscape, with the inhabitants of lowland areas experiencing cultural assimilation alongside better capital asset possession, while upland areas maintain traditional practices but face challenges in terms of capital assets possession. newline