Nomadic Changpas Struggle Amid A Changing Climate

Yaks graze near the Puga Valley geothermal power project in Ladakh (Image: Sameer Mushtaq)

Pashmina shawls, known globally for their warmth and luxury, are made from the fine wool of Changthangi goats in Ladakh.
The semi-nomadic Changpas rely on these goats for their livelihood, but face challenges such as difficult access to healthcare and education, climate change impacts, and reduced grazing land.
Efforts are underway to support the Changpa community by improving living conditions, protecting livestock, and enhancing Pashmina production.

Internationally renowned for their exceptional softness, warmth, and luxurious feel, Pashmina shawls are made from the fine wool of Changthangi goats, which are native to the high-altitude regions of Ladakh. The wool used for these shawls is much finer than ordinary sheep’s wool. It is collected during the spring molting season when the goats naturally shed their winter coats. The Pashmina from Ladakh also possesses a geographical indication (GI) tag, which elevates its worth in the national and international markets.

The Changpa, a semi-nomadic group living primarily in the Changthang region of Ladakh, depend on the Changthangi goats. A significant source of their income is the wool they extract from these goats.

The Changpa keep moving with the seasons, to provide sufficient grazing for their livestock. Fifty-year-old Dolma Angmo is a member of the Zara Camp in Ladakh’s Kharnak. She came to this camp 30 years ago after she got married. According to her, a lot has changed since then. Angmo shares that previously there were about 80-90 households in one camp, but now there are only 14-15 left.

“Facilities like health and education are very difficult to access from our camps. We have a nurse in our camp who can deal with small issues, but in the case of an emergency we have to go to far away places. In winters, the situation gets even tougher as the roads are mostly closed because of heavy snowfall. Sometimes, the government provides a helicopter, but that’s very rare. That’s why, if there is a permanent settlement, it will help us,” shares Angmo.

Climate change also poses a major challenge for the Changpas. Ladakh is a cold desert which is dependent on snowfall and glaciers for its water needs. Over the past few years, owing to erratic weather conditions, snowfall in the northern parts of Ladakh has decreased. Due to the rising temperatures in the upper regions, the glaciers are melting at an unprecedented rate.

“During the winters, we experience heavy snowfall here. There is no help from the government and there is no road for the village residents to access. We don’t even have a mobile tower. Because of these problems, our community members have migrated to Leh. Earlier, there was good grass (for the goats and sheep). This year, we have less grass than the previous year. To manage grass for our goats and sheep, we have to shift our location every 40-50 days,” says Tsering Angchuk.

However, some members of the community are holding on to preserve the Pashmina tradition. There are both governmental and non-governmental interventions that are working to protect the cattle from wild animals, reduce cattle deaths due to cold, reduce migration, improve basic amenities for the Changpa community and increase Pashmina production.

(Published under Creative Commons from Mongabay-India. Read the original article here)