Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 21: UNESCO has brought global attention to the seasonal migration practices of the Gujjar and Bakarwal pastoral communities in Jammu and Kashmir through a landmark case study, describing their traditional lifestyle as a vital model of climate change adaptation in the Himalayas.
The study, co-authored by Dr Mrinalini Atrey, Secretary General ICICH-ICOMOS and Shahzad Ahmed Malik, SETU Aayog, Uttarakhand, with guidance from tribal scholar Dr Javed Rahi, documents how these communities interact with the fragile mountain ecosystem using inherited ecological knowledge, passed down through folk songs, rituals, and oral traditions.
It details their unique ability to identify water sources, edible plants, and safe routes for sustaining livestock across altitudes, while warning that this centuries-old wisdom is now increasingly threatened by climate change and modern lifestyle pressures.
The report calls for urgent policy interventions to safeguard this intangible cultural heritage, stressing the need to formally recognise migration-related losses within disaster relief frameworks so that the disruptions faced by migratory groups are not overlooked.
It recommends systematic documentation of oral histories and migratory practices, which have long served as informal repositories of environmental knowledge, and emphasizes training the younger generation in traditional, nature-based skills to ensure cultural continuity and climate resilience.
The study also underlines the importance of protecting fragile mountain routes that support these movements, noting that they are critical not only for the survival of pastoral communities but also for maintaining ecological balance in the region.
Published with support from international organisations, the case study contributes to global conversations on safeguarding intangible cultural heritage, community resilience, and adapting to climate change.
By highlighting the Gujjar and Bakarwal way of life, UNESCO has reinforced the need to preserve living traditions that embody both cultural richness and environmental wisdom.
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