Ecotourism Development Potential in Higher Himalayan Region of Uttarakhand a Framework for Rural Livelihood Improvement and Climate Change Adaptation

In Himalaya, the traditional crop-animal husbandry combination has limited capacity to improve the livelihood and food security under climate change. Moreover, the depletion of natural resources and climate change have disrupted ecosystem services and stressed Himalayan subsistence farming over the decades. Therefore, the situation calls for looking beyond the traditional agricultural system and creating rural livelihood opportunities in off-farm and non-traditional sectors. The study aims to assess the potential for the development of ecotourism and as a strategy for rural livelihood improvement and climate change adaptation with a case illustration of Bageshwer and Pithoragarh districts located in the Higher Himalayan Region of Kumaon Division in Uttarakhand. The relevant data and information required to interpret various research parameters have been collected from diverse sources. The study indicated that ecotourism could best be developed as a lead sector of sustainable development not only for the well-established reasons of economic growth and source of employment for the educated and professional workforce; but also for its great potential to generate viable means of livelihood for the poor, uneducated and unskilled people and women in rural areas; conservation of nature and natural resources and adaptation to climate change through multi- stakeholder governance and community participation.