On 5th May 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Development Alternatives (DA), Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) and Ladakh Ecological Development Group (LEDeG) to collaborate in integrating ecotourism, waste management, and green construction for community resilience and livelihood enhancement in the Indian Himalayan Region. This comes at a crucial time for Ladakh’s rapidly evolving landscape, offering DA the opportunity to integrate sustainable development in partnership with LAHDC and our implementing partner, LEDeG.

To mark this collaboration, the MoU signing in Leh was accompanied with an Inception Workshop for the ongoing project on ‘Creation of Eco-Smart Village model’ with emphasis on promoting ecotourism, sustainable disaster resilient technologies (construction), and waste management techniques that support sustainable livelihoods for the local rural communities. The convening involved key stakeholders to share insights and experiences that will inform the development of the roadmap ahead and also serve as a platform to explore potential collaborations with aligned organisations.

Mohak Gupta, Assistant Programme Director, Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy, DA, addressed the audience in the Inception Workshop with a comprehensive presentation, highlighting the goals, deliverables and outcomes of the project. This was followed by a presentation by LEDeG on the learnings from baseline assessment conducted in the selected project villages of Alchi and SkiuMarkha, that further strengthened and validated the project outcomes.

During the workshop, Tashi Gyalson, the Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor of LAHDC addressed the gathering and led emphasis on the opportunities from tourism and indigenous artisanal knowledge from Ladakh. Expressing his support to the project, he highlighted LAHDC’s strong focus and accomplishments in tourism, green energy, resilient built environment and waste management resulting in the behavioral change of locals and tourists alike in the recent past.

The workshop had participation from ‘All Ladakh Tour Operator Association’ (ALTOA), All Ladakh Hotel & Guest House Association (ALHGHA), Gobas (Village Heads) from the 2 project villages, Departments of Tourism, Rural Development, and NGOs working in the field of tourism, water, and waste management.

Under this collaboration, DA, LAHDC and LEDeG will work jointly in key areas such as action research, capacity building, policy support and the development of tools and frameworks to promote sustainable ecotourism practices, resilient construction and waste management, through guidebooks, compendiums, campaigns, reimagined tourism packages and business models. The project is being implemented with community participation and involves outreach and dissemination through consultative workshops.