The Himalayan region, with its breathtaking landscapes and ecological sensitivity, is also a volatile and temperamental ecosystem. Rapidly changing global climate is impacting this geologically young region even more. Ridden with flash floods, glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs), landslides, cloudbursts, glacial retreat, and earthquakes, this “water tower of the world” shows the profound impacts of the Anthropocene.The signs are clear as we witness an increase in forest fires, pre-season flowering, drying water resources, rising average temperatures, and the growing unpredictability of traditional farming seasons.

Amidst this unfolding crisis, a quiet revolution is taking place in the Himalayan ranges. Once again, it is led by women, but empowered by technology and grounded in local wisdom. Women, the backbone of society for ages, have long been the harbingers of the socio-cultural fabric of communities that are part of this fragile ecosystem. They have created systems in sync with nature to sustain their presence in otherwise precarious environments for millennia.

As providers and resource managers, women have consistently navigated the changing weather and climatic patterns of the Himalayas, braving extremes and enduring disasters. From west to east, even as we observe cultural differences, there are stark similarities: women are farmers, forest gatherers, water managers, and caregivers. They manage their surroundings with the repository of generational knowledge within their communities, even before the advent of formal education systems. Although rapidly changing global conditions have made the Himalayas more fragile than many other vulnerable systems worldwide, women at the community level understand how to manage climate change and weather patterns. However, the intensity of change and the impact of disasters now present challenges that may........

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