Visualizing Sustainability of Selective Mountain Farming Systems from Far-eastern Himalayas to Support Decision Making

Bandana Shakya, Anil Shrestha, Ghanashyam Sharma, Tulsi Gurung, Dollo Mihin, Shuo Yang, Amba Jamir, Soe Win, Xi Han, Yongping Yang, Dhrupad Choudhury and Flurina Schneider
Additional contact information
Bandana Shakya: Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
Anil Shrestha: Department of Viticulture and Enology, California State University, Fresno 93740, CA, USA
Ghanashyam Sharma: The Mountain Institute India (TMI), Gangtok 737101, Sikkim, India
Tulsi Gurung: College of Natural Resources, Royal University of Bhutan, Lobesa 14001, P.O Wangdu, Bhutan
Dollo Mihin: North Eastern Region Community Resource Management Project, Shillong, Meghalaya 793001, India
Shuo Yang: Yunnan Institute of Environmental Sciences, Kunming 650034, China
Amba Jamir: Sustainable Development Forum Nagaland, Kohima, Nagaland 797001, India
Soe Win: Department of Plant Breeding, Physiology and Ecology, Yezin Agricultural University, Nay Pyi Taw 15013, Myanmar
Xi Han: Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
Yongping Yang: Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
Dhrupad Choudhury: International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), Lalitpur 44700, GPO Box 3226, Nepal
Flurina Schneider: Centre for Development and Environment, Department of Integrative Geography, University of Bern, 3012 Bern, Switzerland

Sustainability, 2019, vol. 11, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: Mountain farming systems rely on both empirical and academic knowledge. Their sustainability depends on how effectively diverse knowledge is used for solution-oriented decision making. For mountains, decisions must be conducive to rural farmers whose livelihoods depend on agriculture and related activities. Adopting transdisciplinary research approach, we define a composite Sustainability Space indicator that will help decision makers better understand the ingredients for sustainability, and formulate policy and management decisions to reinforce on-the-ground sustainability. Sustainability Space was derived through analysis of the positive and negative impact factors co-defined by community and disciplinary experts, and visualized through a radar diagram. We used Principal Component Analysis to understand relationships between factors. The results on Sustainability Spaces for eight cases of farming systems from the far-Eastern Himalayas indicated that the sustainability of farming systems is strengthened if decisions holistically cater to (i) geophysical pre-requisites, (ii) ecological foundations, (iii) integrated processes and practices, (iv) resources, knowledge, and value systems, (v) stakeholders’ development and economic aspirations, (vi) well-being of farming communities, and (vii) government support mechanisms. More equitable the attention to these seven components, the higher the sustainability of farming systems in this region could be.

Keywords: sustainability assessment; farm performance; sustainability space; transdisciplinary approach; mountain agriculture; Far-eastern Himalayas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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