Yartsagunbu: transforming people's livelihoods in the Western Himalaya

Article


Yadav, Pramod Kumar, Saha, Subhajit, Mishra, Ashish Kumar, Kapoor, Mohnish, Kaneria, Manendra, Kaneria, Manish, Dasgupta, Sabyasachi and Shrestha, Uttam Babu. 2019. "Yartsagunbu: transforming people's livelihoods in the Western Himalaya." Oryx: journal of fauna and flora international. 53 (2), pp. 247-255. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605318000674
Article Title

Yartsagunbu: transforming people's livelihoods in
the Western Himalaya

ERA Journal ID3125
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsYadav, Pramod Kumar (Author), Saha, Subhajit (Author), Mishra, Ashish Kumar (Author), Kapoor, Mohnish (Author), Kaneria, Manendra (Author), Kaneria, Manish (Author), Dasgupta, Sabyasachi (Author) and Shrestha, Uttam Babu (Author)
Journal TitleOryx: journal of fauna and flora international
Journal Citation53 (2), pp. 247-255
Number of Pages9
Year2019
PublisherCambridge University Press
Place of PublicationUnited Kingdom
ISSN0030-6053
1365-3008
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605318000674
Web Address (URL)https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/oryx/article/yartsagunbu-transforming-peoples-livelihoods-in-the-western-himalaya/3AF270854F25558AD25CD1838E48C3F5
Abstract

Rural communities in developing countries extract provisioning ecosystem services from the natural environment to meet their subsistence needs, generate cash income and create employment opportunities. Caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis, known as yartsagunbu in Tibet and in the literature on this subject, is a medicinal resource extracted by the mountain communities of the Himalaya. Studies of the contribution of the fungus to local livelihoods in the Indian Himalaya are scarce. We investigated trade and harvest and analysed the contribution of caterpillar fungus to household economies in 32 villages in Dhauliganga Valley, Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve, in the Western Himalaya. Caterpillar fungus harvesting has become an integral part of local livelihoods in the study area, and on average contributes c. 74% of household cash income. The majority of harvesters perceived that harvesting had become more difficult during 2010–2015 as a result of competition and a decline in abundance of the species. The mean annual per capita harvest declined by 54 pieces during 2011–2015. Increasing harvesting and trade, coupled with the dependency of local communities on the fungus, may result in greater extraction of the resource for short-term economic benefits, and could eventually lead to depletion and ecological damage. Harvesting of the fungus has already created environmental, legal and social challenges, although it has become a lucrative livelihood opportunity. The ongoing decline of the fungus threatens local livelihoods. Good governance and livelihood security should be integrated with biodiversity conservation when devising government policies and plans for sustainable management of the caterpillar fungus.

KeywordsBiosphere Reserve, caterpillar fungus, ecosystem services, Himalaya, non-timber forest products Ophiocordyceps sinensis, yartsagunbu
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020419999. Other environmental sciences not elsewhere classified
410401. Conservation and biodiversity
Public Notes

Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions.

Byline AffiliationsCentre for Integration of Conservation and Developmental Accountability, India
Conservation and Livelihood Programme, India
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, India
Global Tiger Forum, India
Forest Research Institute, India
Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, India
Institute for Agriculture and the Environment
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q4zx9/yartsagunbu-transforming-people-s-livelihoods-in-the-western-himalaya

  • 183
    total views
  • 11
    total downloads
  • 4
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Temporal changes in precipitation and temperature and their implications on the streamflow of Rosi River, Central Nepal
Dahal, Ngamindra, Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Tuitui, Anita and Ojha, Hement Raj. 2019. "Temporal changes in precipitation and temperature and their implications on the streamflow of Rosi River, Central Nepal." Climate. 7 (1), pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/cli7010003
Ecosystems, livelihood assets and willingness to pay for wetland conservation in Bangladesh
Al‑Amin, A. K. M. Abdullah, Alam, Khorshed, Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Prodhan, Masudul Haque, Hossain, Mostafa A. R., Sattar, Nahid, Hossain, M. J. and Akhter, Tahmina. 2021. "Ecosystems, livelihood assets and willingness to pay for wetland conservation in Bangladesh." Environment, Development and Sustainability: a multidisciplinary approach to the theory and practice of sustainable development. 23 (12), pp. 17503-17534. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-021-01398-w
Multiple conceptualizations of nature are key to inclusivity and legitimacy in global environmental governance
Coscieme, Luca, Silva Hyldmo, Hakon da, Fernandez-Llamazares, Álvaro, Palomo, Ignacio, Mwampamba, Tuyeni H., Selomane, Odirilwe, Sitas, Nadia, Jaureguiberry, Pedro, Takahashi, Yasuo, Lim, Michelle, Barral, Maria P., Farinaci, Juliana S., Diaz-Jose, Julio, Ghosh, Sonali, Ojino, Joyce, Alassaf, Amani, Baatuuwie, Bernard N., Balint, Lenke, Basher, Zeenatul, ..., Valle, Mireia. 2020. "Multiple conceptualizations of nature are key to inclusivity and legitimacy in global environmental governance." Environmental Science and Policy. 104, pp. 36-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2019.10.018
When parasitism brings prosperity: a case of Yarsagunbu (caterpillar fungus) harvesting and trade in Nepal
Shrestha, Uttam Babu. 2019. "When parasitism brings prosperity: a case of Yarsagunbu (caterpillar fungus) harvesting and trade in Nepal." Studies in Nepali history and society. 24 (2), pp. 415-431.
Key knowledge gaps to achieve global sustainability goals
Mastrangelo, Matias E., Perez-Harguindeguy, Natalia, Enrico, Lucas, Bennett, Elena, Lavorel, Sandra, Cumming, Graeme S., Abeygunawardane, Dilini, Amarilla, Leonardo D., Burkhard, Benjamin, Egoh, Benis N., Frishkoff, Luke, Galetto, Leonardo, Huber, Sibyl, Karp, Daniel S., Ke, Alison, Kowaljow, Esteban, Kronenburg-Garcia, Angela, Locatelli, Bruno, Martin-Lopez, Berta, ..., Zoeller, Kim. 2019. "Key knowledge gaps to achieve global sustainability goals." Nature Sustainability. 2 (12), pp. 1115-1121. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-019-0412-1
Increasing tiger mortality in Nepal: a bump in the road?
Bhandari, Shivish, Shrestha, Uttam Babu and Aryal, Achyut. 2019. "Increasing tiger mortality in Nepal: a bump in the road?" Biodiversity and Conservation. 28 (14), pp. 4115-4118. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01849-x
Climate change amplifies plant invasion hotspots in Nepal
Shrestha, Uttam Babu and Shrestha, Bharat Babu. 2019. "Climate change amplifies plant invasion hotspots in Nepal." Diversity and Distributions. 25, pp. 1599-1612. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.27257r3.
Science in South Asia
Shrestha, Uttam Babu and Bhadra, Anindita. 2019. "Science in South Asia." Science. 364 (6447), p. 1211. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aay4475
Climate change in Nepal: a comprehensive analysis of instrumental data and people’s perceptions
Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Shrestha, Asheshwor Man, Aryal, Suman, Shrestha, Sujata, Gautam, Madhu Sudan and Ojha, Hemant. 2019. "Climate change in Nepal: a comprehensive analysis of instrumental data and people’s perceptions." Climatic Change: an interdisciplinary, international journal devoted to the description, causes and implications of climatic change. 154 (3-4), pp. 315-334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-019-02418-5
Environmental and economic impacts and trade-offs from simultaneous management of soil constraints, nitrogen and water
Kodur, Shreevatsa, Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Maraseni, Tek Narayan and Deo, Ravinesh C.. 2019. "Environmental and economic impacts and trade-offs from simultaneous management of soil constraints, nitrogen and water." Journal of Cleaner Production. 222, pp. 960-970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.079
Decreasing brown bear (Ursus arctos) habitat due to climate change in Central Asia and the Asian Highlands
Su, Junhu, Aryal, Achyut, Hegab, Ibrahim M., Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Coogan, Sean C. P., Dalannast, Munkhnast, Sathyakumar, Sambandam, Dou, Zhigang, Suo, Yila, Dabu, Xilite, Fu, Hongyan, Wu, Liji and Ji, Weihong. 2018. "Decreasing brown bear (Ursus arctos) habitat due to climate change in Central Asia and the Asian Highlands." Ecology and Evolution. 8 (23), pp. 11887-11899. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.4645
Community perception and prioritization of invasive alien plants in Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape, Nepal
Shrestha, Bharat Babu, Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Sharma, Krishna Prasad, Thapa-Parajuli, Resham Bahadur, Devkota, Anjana and Siwakoti, Mohan. 2019. "Community perception and prioritization of invasive alien plants in Chitwan-Annapurna Landscape, Nepal." Journal of Environmental Management. 229, pp. 38-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.06.034
Potential impact of climate change on the distribution of six invasive alien plants in Nepal
Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Sharma, Krishna Prasad, Devkota, Anjana, Siwakoti, Mohan and Shrestha, Bharat Babu. 2018. "Potential impact of climate change on the distribution of six invasive alien plants in Nepal." Ecological Indicators. 95 (1), pp. 99-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2018.07.009
Socio-economic factors and management regimes as drivers of tree cover change in Nepal
Shrestha, Sujata, Shrestha, Uttam B. and Bawa, Kamal. 2018. "Socio-economic factors and management regimes as drivers of tree cover change in Nepal." PEERJ. 6, pp. 1-25. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.4855
Early-career experts essential for planetary sustainability
Lim, Michelle, Lynch, Abigail J., Fernandez-Llamazares, Alvaro, Balint, Lanke, Basher, Zeenatul, Chan, Ivis, Jaureguiberry, Pedro, Mohamed, A. A. A., Mwampamba, Tuyeni H., Palomo, Ignacio, Pliscoff, Patricio, Salimov, Rashad A., Samako, Aibek, Selomane, Odirilwe, Shrestha, Uttam B. and Sidorovich, Anna A.. 2017. "Early-career experts essential for planetary sustainability." Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability. 29, pp. 151-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2018.02.004
Biodiversity, drug discovery, and the future of global health: Introducing the biodiversity to biomedicine consortium, a call to action
Neergheen-Bhujun, Vidushi, Awan, Almas Taj, Baran, Yusuf, Bunnefeld, Nils, Chan, Kit, Cruz, Thomas Edison dela, Egamberdieva, Dilfuza, Elsässer, Simon, Johnson, Mari-Vaughn V., Komai, Shoji, Konevega, Andrey L., Malone, John H., Mason, Paul, Nguon, Rothsophal, Piper, Ross, Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Pešić, Milica and Kagansky, Alexander. 2017. "Biodiversity, drug discovery, and the future of global health: Introducing the biodiversity to biomedicine consortium, a call to action." Journal of Global Health. 7 (2), pp. 1-5. https://doi.org/10.7189/jogh.07.020304
Contribution of REDD+ payments to the economy of rural households in Nepal
Shrestha, Sujata, Shrestha, Uttam Babu and Bawa, Kamaljit S.. 2017. "Contribution of REDD+ payments to the economy of rural households in Nepal." Applied Geography. 88, pp. 151-160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2017.09.001
Perceptions of climate change by highland communities in the Nepal Himalaya
Uprety, Yadav, Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Rokaya, Maan Bahadur, Shrestha, Sujata, Chaudhary, Ram Prasad, Thakali, Ajaya, Cockfield, Geoff and Asselin, Hugo. 2017. "Perceptions of climate change by highland communities in the Nepal Himalaya." Climate and Development. 9 (7), pp. 649-661. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2017.1304886
Economic dependence of mountain communities on Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (yarsagumba: a case from western Nepal
Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Dhital, Krishna Ram and Gautam, Ambika Prasad. 2019. "Economic dependence of mountain communities on Chinese caterpillar fungus Ophiocordyceps sinensis (yarsagumba: a case from western Nepal." Oryx: journal of fauna and flora international. 53 (2), pp. 256-264. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317000461
Beyond money: does REDD+ payment enhance household’s participation in forest governance and management in Nepal’s community forests?
Shrestha, Sujata and Shrestha, Uttam Babu. 2017. "Beyond money: does REDD+ payment enhance household’s participation in forest governance and management in Nepal’s community forests?" Forest Policy and Economics. 80, pp. 63-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forpol.2017.03.005
Horizontal integration of multiple institutions: solutions for Yarshagumba related conflict in the Himalayan region of Nepal?
Pant, Basant, Rai, Rajesh Kumar, Wallrapp, Corinna, Ghate, Rucha, Shrestha, Uttam Babu and Ram, Ashok. 2017. "Horizontal integration of multiple institutions: solutions for Yarshagumba related conflict in the Himalayan region of Nepal?" International Journal of the Commons. 11 (1), pp. 464-486. https://doi.org/10.18352/ijc.717
Global lessons from successful rhinoceros conservation in Nepal
Aryal, Achyut, Acharya, Krishna Prasad, Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Dhakal, Maheshwar, Raubenhiemer, David and Wright, Wendy. 2017. "Global lessons from successful rhinoceros conservation in Nepal." Conservation Biology. 31 (6), pp. 1494-1497. https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.12894
Assessments of ecosystem service indicators and stakeholder's willingness to pay for selected ecosystem services in the Chure region of Nepal
Bhandari, Pratima, KC, Mohan, Shrestha, Sujata, Aryal, Achyut and Shrestha, Uttam Babu. 2016. "Assessments of ecosystem service indicators and stakeholder's willingness to pay for selected ecosystem services in the Chure region of Nepal." Applied Geography. 69, pp. 25-34. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2016.02.003
Predicting the distributions of predator (snow leopard) and prey (blue sheep) under climate change in the Himalaya
Aryal, Achyut, Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Ji, Weihong, Ale, Som B., Shrestha, Sujata, Ingty, Tenzing, Maraseni, Tek, Cockfield, Geoff and Raubenheimer, David. 2016. "Predicting the distributions of predator (snow leopard) and prey (blue sheep) under climate change in the Himalaya." Ecology and Evolution. 6 (12), pp. 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.2196
Factor people into tiger conservation
Aryal, Achyut, Ji, Weihong, Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Bencini, Roberta and Raubenheimer, David. 2015. "Factor people into tiger conservation." Nature. 522 (287). https://doi.org/10.1038/522287a
Disaster response: volunteers, unite!
Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Shrestha, Sujata and Aryal, Achyut. 2015. "Disaster response: volunteers, unite!" Science. 349 (6249), pp. 699-700. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.349.6249.699-b
Is trophy hunting of bharal (blue sheep) and Himalayan tahr contributing to their conservation in Nepal?
Aryal, Achyut, Dhakal, Maheshwar, Panthi, Saroj, Yadav, Bhupendra Prasad, Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Bencini, Roberta, Raubenheimer, David and Ji, Weihong. 2015. "Is trophy hunting of bharal (blue sheep) and Himalayan tahr contributing to their conservation in Nepal?" Hystrix. 26 (2). https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix-26.2-11210
Harvesters’ perceptions of population status and conservation of Chinese caterpillar fungus in the Dolpa region of Nepal
Shrestha, Uttam Babu and Bawa, Kamaljit S.. 2015. "Harvesters’ perceptions of population status and conservation of Chinese caterpillar fungus in the Dolpa region of Nepal." Regional Environmental Change. 15 (8), pp. 1731-1741. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-014-0732-7
Chasing Chinese caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) harvesters in the Himalayas: harvesting practice and its conservation implications in western Nepal
Shrestha, Uttam Babu, Shrestha, Sujata, Ghimire, Shivaraj, Nepali, Kamal and Shrestha, Bharat Babu. 2014. "Chasing Chinese caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) harvesters in the Himalayas: harvesting practice and its conservation implications in western Nepal." Society and Natural Resources. 27 (12), pp. 1242-1256. https://doi.org/10.1080/08941920.2014.928394
Impact of climate change on potential distribution of Chinese caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) in Nepal Himalaya
Shrestha, Uttam Babu and Bawa, Kamaljit S.. 2014. "Impact of climate change on potential distribution of Chinese caterpillar fungus (Ophiocordyceps sinensis) in Nepal Himalaya." PLoS One. 9 (9), p. e106405. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0106405
Economic contribution of Chinese caterpillar fungus to the livelihoods of mountain communities in Nepal
Shrestha, Uttam Babu and Bawa, Kamaljit S.. 2014. "Economic contribution of Chinese caterpillar fungus to the livelihoods of mountain communities in Nepal." Biological Conservation. 177, pp. 194-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2014.06.019