Kashmir Region

Gujjar and Bakerwal Indigenous communities sustain diverse Himalayan food systems grounded in pastoralism, transhumance, and forest-based livelihoods. Families depend on mobile herding of sheep, goats, and cattle; seasonal alpine grazing; and foraged foods such as wild herbs, mushrooms, and medicinal plants. Small-scale subsistence farming—including maize, pulses, and vegetables—supplements pastoral diets. Climatic uncertainty, shortened migration windows, and ongoing ecological stressors are increasingly reshaping traditional food availability and mobility cycles.

Gujjar and Bakerwal communities face accelerated climate change impacts in the Northwestern Himalayas, including:

• Early snowmelt and altered pasture phenology affecting transhumance timing.
• Increased frequency of cloudbursts, landslides, and flash floods along migration routes.
• Extreme temperature variability, drought conditions, and reduced water availability in summer pastures.
• Shrinking grazing landscapes due to forest closures, land degradation, and restrictions.

These stresses directly influence livestock health, food security, and the viability of traditional mobility systems.

Key social vulnerabilities include:

• Rising food insecurity linked to restricted movement and pasture access.
• Impacts on mental health and cultural identity due to disruptions in hereditary pastoral practices.
• Barriers to healthcare access during seasonal migrations.
• Increased precarity for women and youth within shifting labour and household roles.
• Pressures from political dynamics, regulation of forest/grassland access, and restriction on free movement—central to Gujjar and Bakerwal identity.