Nestled deep in the Trans-Himalayan belt of Himachal Pradesh of India lies a world within a world known as Spiti and within that world, the fascinating sustainable community of Ecosphere. Ecosphere, an organization whose aim is to achieve a responsive synergy between the economy and the environment, was first established in 2002. The rugged, mystical landscape of Spiti, however, has been around since the beginning of time. The Mahayana sect of the Vairayana Buddhists, a purely homogenous society of approximately 10,000 people, have also lived on this terrain for centuries. They are the keepers of the land and the secret holders to what makes Ecosphere a success.
“We feel that there is a certain amount of ethics and values attached to this culture that we feel needs to be preserved in order to ensure that the pressure of the growing population and its aspirations don’t fall on the natural environment here,” explains Sunhil Chauhan. Ecosphere seeks to find the appropriate balance between a subsidence-based and a cash-based livelihood so that the natural world does not suffer. By focusing on three focus areas of economy, conservation, and development, Spiti has blossomed into a remote and pristine example of sustainable living – an example that we should all be looking at now the the 2009 Climate Convention in Copenhagen is less than a month away.
Ecosphere specializes in the realms of travel, health, and organics to sustain their economy. They offer environmentally-clean, culturally rich eco-tours that take you through the nearby Pin Valley National Park – home to the mysterious snow leopard – and to the Kibber Wildlife Sanctuary. They give you an intimate look at Buddhist life and help you to understand the dangerous pressures that global warming puts on the precarious livelihood of Spiti. For their comprehensive knowledge, Ecosphere was awarded the 2008 Wild Asia Responsible Tourism Award. To practice and teach about health and organics, Ecosphere taps into the secrets of the Himalayans. In the surrounding area, locals grow roasted black peas, wild onion, roasted puff barley, wild mint, and other herbs. They have also built elaborate greenhouses and solar passive houses. To step into the world of Spiti is to catch a glimpse of what our future should be like. So if success isn’t found in Copenhagen this month, might I suggest a convention relocation?
Ecosphere
Ecosphere’s aim is to achieve a responsible synergy in establishing the crucial link between economies, conservation, and development through their range of creative products and services.
- Organizatio n Type: For-Profit
- Website: http://www.spitiecosphere.com/
- Founder(s): Sunil Chauhan
- Founded: 2002
- Location: Spiti, India
- See complete company list here
Contributor Profile: Ashley
Ashley is a friend of anyone who is fighting the good fight for social change. She currently resides in Bilbao, Spain where she is teaching English and researching the history of the Basque conflict. Personal blog
Twitter: @socialearth
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