Gender and the Commons: Water Management in Trans-Himalayan Spiti Valley, India

Studies on common pool resource governance have largely focused on men, who tend to have disproportionate rights and ownership with regards property and resources. This has resulted in the access and control rights of women being generally overlooked. Gender disaggregated analyses have revealed the important role of women in the governance of the commons. While certain commons may be relatively more important for women, there are variations in their level of resource access and management role, influenced by social structures and divisions. We examined the role of gender and how such intersectionality could shape the governance of the commons in the Spiti Valley in the Indian Trans-Himalaya. We found that gender, class, and caste intersected in the governance of irrigation water. Our study highlights the role of women in the governance of the commons and points to the nuanced and variable roles found within this gender group

Community-Based Conservation for the Sustainable Management of Conservation Conflicts: Learning from Practitioners

International audienceWe explore the role of community-based conservation (CBC) in the sustainable management of conservation conflicts by examining the experiences of conservation practitioners trying to address conflicts between snow leopard conservation and pastoralism in Asian mountains. Practitioner experiences are examined through the lens of the PARTNERS principles for CBC (Presence, Aptness, Respect, Transparency, Negotiation, Empathy, Responsiveness, and Strategic Support) that represent an inclusive conservation framework for effective and ethical engagement with local communities. Case studies from India, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Pakistan show that resilient relationships arising from respectful engagement and negotiation with local communities can provide a strong platform for robust conflict management. We highlight the heuristic value of documenting practitioner experiences in on-the-ground conflict management and community-based conservation efforts

Livestock Husbandry and Snow Leopard Conservation

Livestock depredation is a key source of snow leopard mortality across much of the species' range. Snow leopards break into livestock corrals, killing many domestic animals and thereby inflicting substantial economic damage. Locals may retaliate by killing the cat and selling its parts. Predator-proofing of corrals has emerged as an important conflict-mitigation tool across many snow leopard range countries, including Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Tajikistan. Decline in wild ungulate populations due to competition from livestock is another threat to snow leopards. Village reserves are grazing set-asides created in partnership with local communities to enable the recovery of wild ungulate populations. A case study in India is applicable to additional range countries. In Pakistan, the Ecosystem Health Program enhances community tolerance toward snow leopards by establishing sustainable, community-managed livestock vaccination programs that improve community livelihoods. Program sites record at least 50% reduction in disease-caused mortalities that resulted in no killing of snow leopards.</p