• Company Name: ecosphere
  • Country: India
  • Countries of operation: Asia,India

Company Profile

ecosphere

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Brief Description

Full Description

Ecosphere is a social enterprise that emerged from the formation of Muse, an NGO operating in the Spiti Valley of the Himalayas since 2002. Ecosphere aims to respond to the need for developing alternate and sustainable livelihood avenues within this mountainous high desert region that responsibly use available local resources (natural & cultural) and protect the environment.

Ecosphere has developed options that tap the local surpluses and unique attributes of Spiti, such as Seabuckthorn, a wild berry with high medicinal value. Another emerging livelihood venue is eco-tourism which includes both traditional home stays and adventure travel throughout the Trans-Himalayan range of Himachal Pradesh. Moreover by developing markets for indigenous crops such as barley and black peas, Ecosphere is attempting to promote and thereby revive the cultivation of indigenous crops which are more suitable to the area's geo-climatic conditions as well as to protect the organic practices of the region.

Sustainability Policy

Environmental Responsibility

Ecosphere and its partner organizations have been involved in various projects pertaining to natural conservation of the Spiti Valley. Some of the activities being undertaken and proposed to be developed in the future are:<p> Plantations and Nursery Development<p> Campsite Management<p> Garbage Management<p> Provisions of alternate safe drinking water facilities<p> Wildlife Insurance Schemes

Economic and Social Responsibility

Ecosphere is involved with a number of key initiatives to preserve the unique Spitian cultural heritage. For example, one of the conservation initiatives is the restoration of a heritage site - The Dhangkar Monastery - a 1000 year old monastery in Spiti. Additionally, Ecosphere is involved in the preservation and promotion of traditional crops found in the Spiti Valley such as barley and black peas. The advent of a monetary economy and introduction of cash crops to Spiti threatens the traditional agricultural practices and crops. Traditional crops were grown purely organically and played a pivotal role in conserving the agricultural bio-diversity of the region.

Activities

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Trips