Prof. Dr. Sarah Halvorson (University of Montana) "A new narrative of resilience in the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalaya? Observations from Bhutan" Mittwoch, 05.07.23 um 15:45 Uhr im Hörsaal 1004 / Gebäude T

The presentation will discuss resilience and reflect on the concept in relation to mountain communities and Indigenous ways of knowing in Bhutan. Located in the Eastern Himalaya, Bhutan is a global biodiversity hotspot. Further, the spiritual, cultural, and political context of Bhutan supports conservation as a core value and integral component of community resilience. Since 2002 Dr. Halvorson has observed Bhutan’s conservation and sustainability commitments and the unique approaches to help sustain biodiversity even as the country modernizes and increases development. The presentation will draw from field research campaigns and case studies on ecotourism, alpine-based livelihoods, and climate smart agriculture. Findings from a recent collaboration with mountain farmers will shed light on place-based knowledge and the co-creation of enduring solutions to environmental and climate change-related challenges. The presentation will briefly touch on the implications of the recent global pandemic on Bhutan’s resilience trajectory.