The Kailash Sacred Landscape Conservation and Development Initiative (KSLCDI) includes remote portions of the Tibet Autonomous Region of China and contiguous areas of Nepal and India. The landscape is environmentally fragile and its people are highly vulnerable to climate change and environmental degradation. KSLCDI aims to improve livelihoods by carrying out activities in farm and non-farm sectors while simultaneously promoting ecosystem management and the efficient use of natural resources including water and energy. The mountains of this landscape provide a rich variety of high value, low volume products, such as non-timber forest products and medicinal and aromatic plants. However, the primary producers and collectors of these products generally receive a relatively low share of the return due to limited access to markets and credits, insufficient knowledge of the market chains, lack of processing facilities, and inadequate quality control. There is a need to ensure participation of the local communities through value chain development in order to increase their incomes.
In India, KSLCDI has identifi ed potential value chains in selected pilot sites that have been prioritized for upgrading and promotion through product development and improved market linkages. These value chains include chyura honey, value-added products from chyura butter (soap, lip balm, etc.), off-season vegetables, kidney beans, and bamboo handicrafts. These products were selected based on their potential for pro-poor value chain development, existing and potential markets, and environmental sustainability of production and trade