Pastoralism is an age-old livelihood option for millions of people of different castes and ethnic groups and makes a significant contribution to the economy of the Hindu Kush Himalayas (HKH), both in terms of providing employment and income opportunities and in supplying nutrition to the rural poor. The paper narrates the author’s experience with a nomadic group of Bjobs in Bhutan, his observations on their adaptations to climate change and policy requirements to help protect this lifestyle.

The article takes stock of the Tibetan architecture across the old towns of Tibet, such as Gyelthang, Lijiang and Kangding. It makes a brief yet vivid description of the architectural gems located in these cities and seeks to track the influence of Chinese history in these towns and their architecture. It observes that the “new style” Tibetan architecture is undergoing a boom, whereas traditional Tibetan vernacular architecture is barely surviving.

Kham boasts of beautiful houses made of traditional materials in diverse styles. Tibetan homes in Kham are elegant, spacious and well adapted to their environment. However, with dwindling forest resources and the demolition of old Tibetan houses in Lhasa, the authors explore the present status of traditional wooden architecture in Kham – is it thriving or struggling to survive? The authors also recommend certain methods to encourage preservation of indigenous Tibetan architecture.