Eastern Himalayan Broadleaf and Conifer Forests: Conservation Tips

Although the Himalayas may conjure up images of invincibility, the temperate forests at the foothills of the rugged mountains are teeming with life that faces many threats. By examining some of our choices as consumers, we can reduce the demand for products and services that harm these wild spaces and wild species.

•Be a smart tourist: Tourism to wild areas like the Eastern Himalayas can sometimes degrade the natural environment that draws visitors in the first place. Before your next trip, do some research and support ecotourism operations that help protect biodiversity by creating incentives to protect it. For example, patronize those that use alternative fuel for cooking and heating, such as gas and kerosene, instead of scarce wood that local people depend on. Organized tours, travel agencies, and local facilities that are ecologically sensitive can also boost the local economy, creating demand for accommodations, food, and local guides while minimizing the impact on the local ecosystem.

•Use the right medicine: In many cultures, traditional healers have been treating ailments ranging from arthritis to dizziness for thousands of years using medicines derived from plant and animal parts. Unfortunately, some of the wildlife from which these medicines are derived are now endangered or threatened species.

These species face growing danger from the poaching—most for alternative medicine, especially traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). For instance, many eastern cultures use rhinoceros horn as a cure for everything from high blood pressure to paralysis. Bengal tigers are prized in TCM for many body parts, from their whiskers (to provide courage) down to their tails (to cure skin diseases).

Experts are finding that there are many sustainable alternatives to these endangered or threatened species products. Look for alternatives and make sure products have labels that clearly show what they contain.

•Look carefully at what you buy: Many endangered and threatened animals are being illegally hunted in the Eastern Himalayan ecoregion, often for just a few parts of their bodies that sell to tourists and collectors throughout the world. For instance, musk deer are intensively hunted for their musk gland, which provides a powerful scent used in perfumes and energizing drugs. Snow leopard coats and shatoosh shawls are other examples of illegal trade items that threaten the survival of the ecoregion’s inhabitants.

Experts recommend not buying wildlife products unless you’re absolutely sure they come from a legitimate source and can be legally exported and imported.