Desert Ecosystems: Rescripting Development Paradigms

The book deals with ecosystems of Hot, Cold and Coastal deserts; their present status and emerging challenges in the context of economic development and climate change issues. The book characterises the Thar desert, which is influenced by Southwest Monsoon as well as mid latitudinal westerly weather systems and is facing rapid changes in agricultural land use resulting in land degradation. It further describes the mechanisms and pathways for sustainable farming and conserving the ecosystem in the drylands to achieve sustainable farm production in rainfed ecosystem. It advocates revival of desert bioresources through science-based management of desert biodiversity and its water resources along with traditional knowledge systems. The challenges and opportunities for livelihoods and environmental security in Desert Ecosystems are also discussed. It envisions and maps the ecological concepts on to the landscape of rural economy keeping in view the resilience of agro­pastoral system. The Himalayan cold desert agroecosystems and understanding the fundamentals behind its uncertain future along with details on climate change process in the Himalayan Cold Desert and farmers’ adaptation strategies are captured by the professionals who devoted life time in mountain areas. While discussing climate change the focus is also on degrading land resources and their sustainability through subsistence agriculture in cold arid region. The book also deals with the so far neglected area i.e., management of Desert Ecosystems in Coastal regions. Overall, the book contains useful scientific information for professionals as well as students and also provides good guidance material for policy makers to address the emerging challenges in the hot, cold and coastal desert ecosystems for planning sustainable development and ensuring food, water and livelihood security to the population residing in these areas.

Dr. M.S. Rathore, Ph.D. (Agricultural Economics), selected for the Jawaharlal Nehru Award of the ICAR 1981 in recognition of meritorious research work done for Ph.D. degree at ICRISAT, Hyderabad and H.P. University, Shimla. Associate Professor, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla, 1973-1983, Senior Fellow/Professor, Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur, from 1983-2008, Professional Staff at International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Kathmandu, Nepal during 1987-89, Visiting Professor, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, U.K. 1994-95 and 1997. Presently Director, Centre for Environment and Development Studies, Jaipur (CEDSJ). Published more than 100 research papers in various academic journals, seminars and conferences. Completed 81 research projects, written seven books and many book chapters.

Dr. Tej Partap, is an Ecologist and established mountain agriculture systems scholar, and expert on Himalayan agriculture systems and farmers livelihood systems. He served as Professional staff and Programme Leader at the Mountain Farming Systems Division of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) from 1987 to 2000. Since 2001 he has been serving as Vice Chancellor of several Universities, including Sher e Kashmir University of Agriculture Sciences and Technology, Srinagar; CSK Himachal Pradesh Agriculture University, Palampur; GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar. Currently he is serving as Vice Chancellor of Sri Sri University, Cuttack, Odisha.

Dr. Laxman Singh Rathore is Chairman, Centre for Environment and Development Studies, Jaipur and former Director General of Meteorology, India Meteorological Department (IMD), Ministry of Earth Sciences. He served various international bodies such as: Chair, (Acting 2016-19) Intergovernmental Board for Climate Services (IBCS), WMO, United Nations (UN). Vice-Chair, (2012-16) IBCS, WMO. Permanent Representative (Ambassador) of India with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), United Nations. Member, Executive council WMO, UN. Vice President, Commission for Agriculture Meteorology, WMO. Chairman, Governing Council, SAARC Meteorological Research Centre, Dhaka. Scientific Member, 3rd Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (1983-84) and established the first permanent Indian station.