Prospects and Challenges for Biodiversity in the Anthropogenic-Induced Cold Arid Landscape of Ladakh, India

Abstract

Ladakh, a high-altitude cold arid region, exhibits conspicuous signs of climate change across its vast landscape. The unique biodiversity of Ladakh faces various challenges due to both exponential anthropogenic activities and the significant threat of climate change to the region's environmental landscape and physiographical variations. The region's unique topography, from high-altitude deserts to soaring Himalayan mountains, makes it a biodiversity hotspot. However, biodiversity is under threat from climate change, infrastructure development, the upward movement of invasive species, and water scarcity due to glacial retreat. There is enough potential to combine traditional ecological knowledge with modern conservation strategies. Climate change, with rising temperatures and glacial retreat, poses a significant threat to Ladakh's biodiversity, particularly that of alpine flora and fauna. Infrastructure development, including roads and hydropower projects, can fragment habitats and dislocate wildlife corridors, leading to reduced genetic diversity. Long-term field observations form the basis for an indepth exploration of prospects and potential threats to the biodiversity of Ladakh's cold arid zone, emphasizing the role of anthropogenic factors in this study