This site uses cookies, as explained in our terms of use. If you consent, please close this message and continue to use this site.
An energy crisis is looming large in rangelands and is becoming a fundamental barrier to breaking the cycle of poverty and promoting sustainable livelihoods and environmental security. The rangeland resources in the HKH region are being increasingly exploited by overgrazing activities to fulfill the energy needs of local people. Addressing sustainable energy service provisions for rangeland communities is thus becoming paramount for sustainable management of rangelands. The challenge is particularly demanding in arid rangeland environments that are beyond the limit of woodlands where the conventional approaches to finding sustainable energy solutions which work well in other circumstances, remain ineffective. ICIMOD has embarked upon a pilot phase in four Himalayan countries on addressing the energy service needs of the people residing in the project sites where ICIMOD’s regional rangeland programme is operational.
Develop sustainable energy solutions for people living in selected rangeland areas regarding access and affordability of sustainable modern energy resources and carry out pilot demonstration of feasible energy technologies and practices for replication and scaling up across the rangelands
The project follows a demand-oriented learning-by-doing approach based on participatory action research. It is based on the premises that the issue of energy provision is not merely technology provision – it is about empowering local communities to have a voice in shaping their energy service choice; and that sustainable energy solutions call for harmoniously addressing the three broad criteria of sustainability – availability, acceptability, and affordability.
November 2006 – September 2008
Bhutan: Soi Yaksa and Nubri villages China: Hongyuan country Nepal: Upper Mustang Pakistan: Chitral
Australian Development Agency (ADA)
Bhutan: Department of Livestock, Ministry of Agriculture China: Sichuan Academy of Grassland Science, Chengdu Pakistan: Aga Khan Rural Support Programme (AKRSP), Chitral Nepal: National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC)
Bikash Sharma Energy Specialist
