The Himalaya have been exposed to accelerating environmental and social changes since the 1990s. Change, desirable when it improves the living conditions of the local inhabitants, is also inevitable. Hence it is vital to devise a feasible methodology of change, consistent with the preservation of the unique flora and fauna, spectacular natural beauty, and distinctive cultures of this region. The essays in this volume focus on these and related areas, examining some of the problems that are raised in the process of change. This is not a specialized volume solely for the use of the mountaineer or botanist. It aims specifically to provide the general reader with a wide range of information, and thereby generate interest in some of the major issues at stake in this region....