ABSTRACT
Material and resource scarcity already constrain development in Ladakh, and under climate change this challenge is only expected to grow. Against this backdrop, the husbandry, cultivation and creative land management strategies in support of regional trees stand out as a critical piece of establishing long-term sustainability. In this context, widespread tree planting efforts, in conjunction with both new and age-old Ladakhi practices for the armoring of trees, typify the approach to tree management in the landscape commons. These trees may in turn provide critical services, first for habitat, shade, and thermal comfort, then perhaps as a source of food, fuel, or building material.
