The National Mission on Sustaining Himalayan Ecosystem (NMSHE) Programme has been aiding scientists in providing farmers with viable scientific information. This assistance has allowed for the promotion of sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture in the Leh region. NMSHE is one of eight missions that fall under the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC).
About NMSHE
This mission was first launched in 2010, but it did not receive formal government approval until 2014. NMSHE is a comprehensive mission, spanning multiple sectors. It contributes to the country’s sustainable development by enhancing our understanding of climate change, its likely impacts, and the necessary adaptation actions, particularly for the Himalayas.
This region is vital as a significant portion of India’s population depends on it for sustenance. Eleven states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and others, along with the Union Territories Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, are within this mission’s purview.
Objectives of NMSHE
NMSHE aims to facilitate the creation of suitable policy measures and time-bound action programs to ensure ecological resilience and maintain key ecosystem services in the Himalayas. Part of the mission is to develop national-level capacities to continuously assess the health status of these regions. It is also designed to tackle issues such as studying the Himalayan glaciers and their related hydrological consequences, predicting and managing natural hazards.
Himalayas: An Overview
The Himalayas, known as the world’s highest and youngest fold mountain ranges, have a young, weak and flexible geological structure. Due to constant Himalayan uplift, the region is highly prone to earthquakes. The Indian part of the Himalayas spans about 5 lakh km2, making up roughly 16.2% of India’s total geographic area. The region is also responsible for providing water to a large part of the Indian subcontinent.
National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC)
Introduced in 2008 by the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change, NAPCC’s coordinating ministry is the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). The primary aim of NAPCC is to increase awareness among the public, government agencies, scientists, industries, and communities about the threats posed by climate change.
Key Missions of NAPCC
There are eight national missions which form the core of the NAPCC. These include National Solar Mission, National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency, National Mission on Sustainable Habitat, National Water Mission, National Mission for Sustaining the Himalayan Ecosystem, National Mission for A Green India, National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture, and National Mission on Strategic Knowledge for Climate Change. Each mission has unique aims, such as promoting the use of solar power, enhancing energy efficiency, fostering sustainable habitats, conserving water, protecting the Himalayas, restoring India’s diminishing forest cover, and increasing agricultural productivity.
Last Modified: February 11, 2024