The talk begins with a description of the valley. This section describes its location, landscape, flora, livelihoods and society.
Ecosphere has a three-pronged approach to its work:
- conservation of natural resources
- creation of alternate livelihoods
- forging links between the two
The organization started ten years ago with Seabuckthorn. Ishita describes the benefits of this berry and how it was harvested. Later, Ecosphere looked at tourism, and how it could benefit the community and the environment along with the tourists. The various interventions implemented and the benefits that were planned for are described in detail. The dilemmas associated with tourism, such as those of solid waste management are also discussed. Ecosphere aims to make its trips carbon-neutral by consuming less and offsetting any carbon emissions.
Money generated by Ecosphere is used for various green energy initiatives, including solar-passive housing and other solar energy initiatives. Their most ambitous project now is to take Spiti off the grid using solar, wind and other technologies.
Ecosphere has learnt the following in the last decade:
- While changing the world is not possible for everyone, each person can make changes in his or her actions- the sum of these might prove to be world-changing.
- Money is a means to an end- not the end in itself. Economy has its limitations, since it ultimately feeds on human greed.
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