Shifting linkages: Agro-pastoralism changes in the Upper Spiti Landscape and the emerging role of free-ranging dogs

Abstract

The Himalayan mountains have been going through a series of ecological and social transformations. In systems where communities depend on natural resources, externalities in government policies and development interventions can have unexpected consequences for people–environment relationships. Our study investigates agro-pastoralism changes across a decade in the Upper Spiti Landscape in Himachal Pradesh, India. It evaluates these changes in the framework of ecological and social perturbations with respect to human–dog relationships. We compared livestock population trends across a temporal scale using interviews and secondary data. Our results indicate a decline in livestock population across the years from 2003 to 2013, specifically a reduction in small-bodied livestock due to dogs. The study highlights the changing agriculture-livestock nexus with increasing demands for manure from outside. Dogs in the landscape have emerged as disrupters influencing the intricately linked production systems. The research reiterates the need for concerted efforts by multiple agencies for dog population management.