Gyalsa Nomad: A Story of Contemporary Herding from Outskirts of Leh city, India
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Keywords: Pastoralism, Himalaya, Herding, Political Geography, Political Refugee, Political Ecology
Abstract Type: Paper Abstract
Authors:
Tenzin Yangkey, University of Arizona
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Abstract
Herding in the Ladakh region is a common yet dwindling practice as Ladakh faces changing political and socio-economic conditions. In the Changthang region of Ladakh, Changpa (Ladakhi) and Tibetan refugee nomads continue to practice herding and support their livelihood. However, in the last few decades, they are facing compound challenges to sustaining their traditional herding livelihoods due to urbanization, youth migration, and generational change. In this study, I look at how Tibetan refugee nomads in different parts of Changthang move to the outskirts of Leh city and continue their nomadic livelihood. By studying this unique case of Tibetan refugee herders, I will explore how their political status affects their ability to navigate their new herding landscape. Drawing from the political ecology of climate adaptation and political geography literature, I situate the experience of Tibetan refugee nomads and their plight in the global climate conversation and the regional climate change dialogue.
Gyalsa Nomad: A Story of Contemporary Herding from Outskirts of Leh city, India
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Paper Abstract