to outside pressures and external threats looking to exploit their unique, natural resources. By practicing ESD programs with local communities for more than a decade, we report that the implementation of community-based resource management is an effective way to empower these communities to protect the resources that sustain their livelihoods. There is an urgent need to support community empowerment on the Tibetan Plateau so that communities are better equipped to participate in decision- making processes to ensure access, control and sustainable management of the natural resources they rely on for a living. Although the Shangri-la Institute for Sustainable Communities (SISC) and The Greater Shangri-La RCE (GSR) have implemented a series of ESD initiatives both on the Tibetan Plateau and the national level, in this paper, I will focus on how the program seeks to facilitate a learning process that helps Bazhu communities on an individual, institutional and societal level to meet their basic socio-economic needs, while conserving their environmental assets and preserving their cultural heritage. Bazhu Village is a rural area on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, with abundant natural resources, a variety of ecosystems and a rich cultural and biological diversity. However, there is only 2,400 mu (1.6 km2) of farmland in total in the village, or 1.75 mu (11.67 m2) per villager. Forest coverage is 98.2% or 86,814 mu (57.87 km2), among which, 37,143 mu is national-grade ecological protection forest, 22,264 mu (14.84 km2) is provincial grade and the rest is county grade. There are also 7,611 mu (5.07 km2) of grassland in the forest area. Experts have warned against over-development and exploitation of natural resources in this area. “In the Bazhu Forest, there are many species of birds, but the number of each is not large. It is because of the limited natural and geological conditions, which are complex, allowing many different species of birds to survive. Each species needs a suitable space to live, however, so the numbers of each species are limited. Therefore, people must be very careful in developing the natural resources in this area.” “The development of natural resources, mining development in particular, will definitely damage the ecological environment in this area. Therefore, people must be very careful in opening it up, even for tourism” Prof. Han Lianxian For this reason, the village of Bazhu has been chosen as the site to establish a d e m o n s t r a t i o n p r o j e c t o f community empowerment and or community conserved area, that can be scaled up and replicated to other areas of the Tibetan Plateau, China and internationally. Due to its unique climate and location, the Bazhu forest is extremely important to ecological conservation. However it is also fragile; if damaged, it could only regenerate slowly, creating problems for future generations. Fortunately, this area is inhabited by ethnic minorities with strong religious beliefs, providing a foundation for self-managing communities. The strong faith of the villagers is reflected in their good deeds toward the forest and nature. Most villages in Tibet worship their local sacred mountains and so does Bazhu. There are 7 sacred mountains around the Village. The biggest one is Mount Benboshu. Different sacred mountains have different resident deities. The holy mountains are the taboo place of the deities and nobody is allowed to behave badly there. The villagers pray and make offerings on the mountains, but no loud noise, no collecting of firewood or dry leaves, no tree felling and no hunting is allowed. Even if there are dead trees on the sacred mountains, people should leave them alone. Thanks to the mountain deities, the 130 Proceedings of the International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
Proceedings of International Conference on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Sustainable Development Goals : Policy and Practice 27-29 June 2016 at the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park, Cha-am, Phetchaburi, Thailand
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