The Himalaya should be a nature reserve

The Himalaya should be a nature reserve

The Himalaya should be a nature reserve

The Himalaya straddles seven nations and has a unique ecosystem of mountain peaks that act like isolated islands to drive speciation. But this scientific wonderland has one of the world’s highest rates of deforestation, is facing rapid warming and is the site of border conflict between two nuclear powers, India and China. Environmental scientist Maharaj K. Pandit offers a vision of the Himalayan highlands transformed into a peaceful nature reserve, and that the huge public funds squandered on managing conflict are invested instead in infrastructure for health care, education, conservation and welfare.

Nature | 4 min read