ABSTRACT
The snow barrier band is introduced in this chapter, as a way of redirecting windswept snow into drainages for agricultural use. The snow barrier band is an ancient form of climate adaptive design thinking that has been recently resurrected in Ladakh. Snow barrier bands extend across an entire valley, requiring a careful understanding of the environment, such as wind, solar aspect, snowfall, and location. This chapter discusses the mechanics of this system, and situates this climate-adaptive design strategy within the broader contextual framework of irrigation in the villages. Benefits and limitations of the snow barrier band are discussed, as well as new design directions. Finally, the chapter addresses the idea of self-organizing stakeholder involvement, and then ties this work to traditional practice and more contemporary participation.
